I attempted Commune’s 10-Day Community Challenge …

Well, I tried to, and am so bummed at how it turned out!

Here’s my brief history with yoga: imagine yourself on a cheap yoga mat from Wal-mart watching a scratchy VHS of Rodney Yee‘s voiceovers on top of his amazingly fit, tone and strong yoga body. That was the beginning. Then my VHSes turned into DVDs and I spent my time with Pilates-guru Jennifer Kries. (She’s making a comeback, just so you know. <3)

I also hung out with Craig T. Nelson (okay, I know that’s the actor and not the Yoga Journal instructor, I can’t remember his name offhand), did some Budokon, and anyway, my point is: I ALWAYS DID MY PRACTICE AT HOME.

I went to a few in-house yoga classes here and there, but if the classes weren’t forced on me by a friend, it wasn’t my jam.

Enter the digital age and YouTube, where Adriene Mishler‘s Yoga With Adriene stole my heart, breath and soul and my yoga practice finally became a regular thing.

I then finally signed up for that yoga training that had been on my mind for about 15 years — and was looking forward to being WITH THE PEOPLE for once. In an actual studio. And not just *any* yoga, but hot yoga!

Enter Covid-19.

I was back to doing yoga alone again. In the comfort of my pajamas. But hey — that’s what it’s really about, right? Going within?

So when Commune recently came around with their 10-day challenge, I was excited to try some different teachers out along with different methods. Adriene has made me so much stronger in my practice — and while ultimately her style is probably more my style than anything else, it is simply fantastic to change things up every so often to gain not only perspective, but experience in YOUR BODY.

From my yoga space, in my OWN HOUSE! (Because that’s apparently what I do.)

Day 1 with Schuyler Grant – I hadn’t really read what I was getting into, so I was a little taken aback that the first video seemed to be more of a demo for shoulder strength than a practice. However, after I dropped my expectations, I was infinitely delighted to focus on alignment. Then I realized there would be 3 videos to choose from each day, with varying skill levels and/or focus… now THAT is something I have never come across in these free offerings, and I think it was brilliant.

Day 2 with Chelsea Korus – I chose to do the medium difficulty and yes! It was more of a flow that kicked my butt in a good way, enticing different muscles than I normally use.

Day 3 – Wups. I forgot to do it.

Day 4 — er, Day 3 with Matt Phippen– Luckily Commune kept the sessions available for me to use even if I missed a day/fell behind. In the past they closed things up after a day or two — slightly nerve-racking.

I chose another medium difficulty and fell in love with the instructor. He gave the best cues for someone instruction-challenged like me and I worked on my hamstrings. After his instruction ended, I continued on with some shoulder lengtheners for me.

Day 4 with Mary Beth LaRue – I chose to do the easy one because I was tired and in pain from poor body mechanics earlier in the day at work. Easy! Ha! Beginner! Ha! Did I love it? Yes. Her cues weren’t as fantastic as the guy from the day before, but the poses were just what I needed. Mostly common poses, but with added stretches and flair to them. What a fantastic reminder to make your practice your own — in ANY pose. Don’t be afraid to branch out and try out something new that feels good.

Day 5 — Oh boy, this really isn’t going well is it? The child’s summer endeavors are taking a toll on my time management! It’s all pool this, playground that. I still had laundry to do by 9 o’clock at night so another non-starter.

Day 6 – er 5 with Jennifer Elliot – Okay, so I chose Level 1 and rocked the yin supported poses. I definitely felt the inspiration for yomassage as I got a little distracted and imagined a lovely foot massage in these gentle supported bridge postures. I liked all the props we used, and holding the postures for oh-so many breaths. Just what my tired mind needed. Be proud of me — I had even done traveling this day and still found my me time at the end of the day.

Day 6 with Adriene Mishler – I typically do yoga at night but this time I did it in the morning with my main squeeze. She seemed slightly different on this platform than on her own — but the practice was just what I needed to wake up though.

Day 7 -10 – The accessibility to the classes end tonight sometime, and I am so bummed I wasn’t able to partake in it more.

And I guess that’s the realism to a yoga practice in this world. It needs to be incorporated into your daily life — even outside of a full asana practice — as much as possible. And when you HAVE that moment, even if it’s just 20 minutes – to do a full series of some sort — take it and run with it.

Overall I think this course was AWESOME. The different levels with various teachers and longer accessibility was great — if it were in fact a slower time of the year for me. I would have loved to truly explore each of these sessions — not just one a day. Maybe some I would have just watched instead of performed.

They added some binaural beats at the end of the series for soothing listening. They had a community you could chat with during your practice, as well as podcasts and a chance to win some tea apparently.

They offer freebies throughout the year, but you can also join and have access year-round. I promise I am not affiliated with them in any way. I don’t even remember how I first came across it, to be honest. Maybe in the future they will sell access to certain courses only instead of access to the whole platform — I would purchase the yoga challenge in a heartbeat.

UPDATE!!!! (7/6) Link to purchase here for $19.99 lifetime access!