By: Lela Cloud, Life Yoga Instructor

It is vitally important to be clear about and stay connected to your intention, your reason, for participating in and staying committed to the Life 30 Day Yoga Challenge.

Why? Why this challenge? Why now? Is it the massages? One woman participating in the challenge said she won’t even look at the rewards of completing unless she needs the motivation to keep her going.  She knows that if her focus is on the material, it’s not enough to sustain her.

Take some time to examine why you have embarked upon this adventure.  I’ll bet that in this searching you uncover a noble intention, something bigger than yourself, and perhaps even something that is rooted in compassion.

The intention to say, “fit into my skinny jeans,” (an enticing intention), might not sustain you. One can always buy new jeans, and in our hearts, we know that acceptance of ourselves as we are right now is more compassionate than attaining a fleeting moment of “perfection” that has nothing to do with the soul. (Not that any of you have ever practiced yoga for this reason, but I might have).

If, however, your intention is to complete the Challenge to develop a more joyous relationship with your body by strengthening and stretching it with daily devotion, your intention will probably sustain you. What a gift to share - a happier, healthier you. Imagine the joy of your practice spreading like fire through your community.

Other noble intentions include absorbing yourself in the sheer adventure or courage or healing work involved in completing the challenge. Perhaps your intention is to develop discipline. If you really want to get noble, you can dedicate your Challenge to someone who who you know who needs love.  You could dedicate your practice to a country in need, or to noble cause. You can even dedicate your practice to your very worst enemy and really get on the fast track to freedom.

Then, at the end of the 30 days, you and your world are more courageous, disciplined, joyous and healed. And you might even fit into your skinny jeans.