Janet Perry: Daughter-Inspired Yoga

A long breath in... held at the top and slowly released. Muscles responding in surprising new ways to my demands. Stretching out muscles further than I believed possible... breathe into the belly... draw air up into the ribcage... slowly release.

Before starting the 45-Day Yoga Challenge, I had been looking for something to help me get back into shape. Approaching 50, I knew it was important to make a commitment to my health. I had watched my daughter, frustrated over an injury that kept her from running, turn to yoga to stay in shape. We had done yoga for a time when she was younger, and I was thrilled to see her go back to it. I watched her transform as her body grew stronger and she became more flexible. The most amazing part, was of course, that body-mind connection that happens during yoga. I watched her grow more peaceful. When she encouraged me to do the Yoga Challenge, I was ready to embrace it. I wanted to be transformed too!

A month and a half of constant yoga practice gave me a great understanding of how and why that is so absolutely wonderful. I found myself looking forward to the next day's class, and felt addicted to the peacefulness I felt afterwards. I found the breath to be the most important component of my yoga practice. There were days when I could not move very far into the poses, but a concentration on my breath helped me to relax with where I was. "And that's good yoga," as instructor Justine would say.