One hundred classes in...

DAY 1- Getting up and down: Oh great, I've signed up – there is no turning back. Let's face it, I am really not up to this. My hip is on fire, I feel creaky from head to toe and I am trussed up like a turkey with this SI belt around my hips for support - ridiculous. Pick a spot way at the back and now the first challenge: how to get down on the mat, not to mention, how to get back up again? Child's pose- cat/cow- and then I am heaving myself up to warrior one. A warm voice from the front, “In your own time, no rush, no rush”. Well, OK then...

DAY 14-Falling over: I can do this. Arms reach overhead, foot nestled on the ankle- just a little wobble, a bigger wobble a-aa-aa-and over I go. Lurching for the ledge -gah! Nothing to see here. Just the old babe in the back with the gimpy hip. After what feels like eternity, my lumbering efforts reach savasana. What is this lovely warmth in my body? It has definitely been a while...we sit up and the young woman beside me leans toward me and beams “That was great, wasn't it?” Well, OK then...

DAY 23-My best excuse: Brain refused to stop chattering in the early hours, not enough sleep, my hip aches, I should probably just rest today, missing one day won't make much difference, so much to get done today, not enough time, isn't it better to do a class when fully rested? I detest these leggings, I should shop for some new yoga wear this morning, I think I'm dehydrated. Too late to cancel...sigh! Grab the mat, get in the car. Well, OK then...

DAY 48-In the early light: Off to 6:30 am class, driving in the dark - this feels way too early. Not really awake yet. May as well just go with it - let the heat in, let the breath in, let the familiar voice in, let the words in... hold, breathe, reach, extend, release. The next pose, transition, pose, a sliver of morning light coming through the blinds. Lying on my back, arms open. Tears are mingling with the infrared sweat, rolling down my cheeks to the mat. It's OK, no one is noticing. The kind voice says, 'Say something nice to yourself.” A beat. “And mean it.” Well, OK then...

DAY 61- Keep breathing: Really must make this class count. Gotta focus- FO-CUS. Got to let go, gotta rotate the upper body, got to really plant all corners of the foot, got to keep that front knee bent, got to use the abs for support, got to look past the middle finger, got to... got to what? Got to breathe. Just keep breathing. Well, OK then...

DAY 88- It is called a practice: No matter what, I can't seem to pull my leg through from downward dog. Can never do it. Here we go. Up on my toes, tent the hands, tuck the knee, look forward and hop... hang on here! My foot just pulled through 4 inches closer to the top of the mat. Not there yet , but hey! Everybody! Did you all see that? This is progress - albeit, incremental progress. Seriously, did you all see that? Of course not, silly, silly me. Well, OK then...

DAY 100- Glad: Sitting cross legged at the end of class, such a marvellous feeling. I am definitely getting there. Yup, so close to getting there. Almost. There. There? Where exactly is there? Gazing forward, coming back to the body. At the front of the class a young woman is wearing one of the studio's hoodies. On the back are the words “Glad you exist.” Glad you wore that hoodie today, my dear, glad for this time, glad I have become a part of this community, glad to know Charlee, Jeff, the shining instructors, the fine people of MoveYoga - and me, come to think of it. Glad. Well, OK then...

Leona Winrob is closing in on her 150th class as well as her 70th birthday and we couldn't be more privileged to have her as a part of our community.

I hope you found this beautiful blog she has written as inspirational as we have. 🫶