31 in 31 Challenge- Really!

Good morning. Even though it's Friday, I started my morning like it's a weekend, with some mango and banana pancakes! These were inspired by a combination of a random cafe menu I was looking up yesterday (that had mango banana pancakes) and Madeline , who made me realize, wait a second I can make my own mango banana pancakes!

I used Kath's recipe for an oatmeal pancake, including: 1/3 cup of oats (I used old fashioned, it seemed to work fine), 1/3 cup of egg whites, 1/2 tsp of baking powder, 1/2 tsp of vanilla, 1/2 banana mashed, and a little bit of cinnamon. For some reason this cooked a lot faster than I was expecting, so if you try it just be careful. On top I sliced up the other half of my banana and on the side I microwaved some frozen mango chunks from Trader Joe's for dipping :) It was delicious. Depending on how well it holds me over, I may be recreating this very very soon. Like tomorrow? Speaking of tomorrow...

Tomorrow begins May, and in May I will not set the usual goals for myself, though I do want to throw away a LOT (especially in my classroom) and read more books. Instead in May I will take on one giant goal...

Complete 31 yoga classes at Prana Power Yoga in 31 days.

Why?

1. It's fun to do physical challenges. A lot of people run races or do triathlons, but my knee will not allow those physical challenges. So instead I will do a yoga challenge, which will hopefully be more beneficial than harmful as far as my knee (and hopefully my whole body) is concerned.

2. I love Prana. I've honestly never found another yoga class I truly enjoyed until I found this place. Yet of course, like everything, there are always excuses not to go consistently. It's expensive. The times of classes don't work with my schedule. Etc. I want to put all excuses aside for one month. Since the 31 in 31 challenge is hosted by Prana themselves, it is only $4 per class if I make it to all 31 classes. In fact, if I don't make it to 31 classes I have to upgrade to a monthly pass which is $20 more, so I'll LOSE money if I don't go to yoga. Excuse over. Also, I will MAKE my schedule work with the classes. Excuse #2 over.

3. May and June are very stressful months at my job. Transitioning kids on to the next grade is harder work than it looks and includes placement into next year's classes (aka nightmare), report cards, making memory books, planning fun activities, finishing up everything we haven't done yet (oops), making a slideshow of pictures and loading them onto DVDs (obviously with technology problems because why would it be easy?) and probably about 100 other things I haven't thought of yet. Add that to the fact that I have 2 weddings in one weekend later this month, my own wedding to plan and all those wedding related events. Let's just say I might be a little insane in May and June. I know it seems like yoga is adding yet another thing for me to do, but I think it promises at least an hour a day, sometimes and hour and a half that is time to relax and breathe. If I get enough reminders to breathe during a difficult pose in yoga, maybe I'll start breathing during difficult moments in life. Maybe.

4. I talked to a girl at my studio who has done the 31 in 31 challenge before. She told me that I am going to need to remember two things, one: drink water and two: take breaks frequently. This is going to be hard for me. I usually only go to child's pose once at the absolute most during my practice, but when I am going EVERY day I am going to have to become very good friends with child's pose. I'm hoping if I learn to put my pride aside and take breaks during yoga class, I might get a little better at it in life. Yoga = life right?

5. I want to build a bit of flexibility in my body. This has never been my strong suit. When I was in elementary school I use to rock the fitness testing EXCEPT for sit in reach, where I would be in the 20th percentile or something...and I don't think I've actually improved since then. I know how important flexibility is in preventing injuries so, let's get flexible.

Have you ever tried a yoga class? What did you think? What is the hardest physical and/or mental challenge you have ever completed? If I can finish this it will probably be the hardest physical challenge, but my hardest mental challenge was my first year teaching- I hope next time I hit a hard mental challenge I can manage it with a bit more grace :) Happy Friday everyone!