To yoga or not to yoga?

That is the burning question.

I understand the idea of doing yoga along with eating raw has been off-putting, challenging, impossible, downright scary for some of you.

And, I'm here to tell you, you don't need to do yoga. Nope, not at all. Not even half a downward facing dog, or a quarter of a lotus. Nothing.

Yoga does not have to be in your life if you don't want it to be.

Whew - huge weight off the shoulders for some of you. You can breathe easily now.

I chose this plan that included yoga simply because...

1) I knew the teacher and so I trusted the information

2) I thought daily yoga would be a good way to help me keep focus

You see, yoga is what I live for (okay, maybe I'm overstating a little), it's my poison, it's my drug, it's my morning coffee when I can't have coffee. I just love yoga, it makes me feel alive and healthy and strong....... (and un-coordinated, and fat, and un-supple and crazy)... and for the good and the bad, it's just what I like to do.

But you really don't have to do it to change your life.

What you do have to do if you want to get fitter and healthier is move. Yup, you heard me - move. It doesn't matter if is bowling, badminton, basketball, bobsledding, back country skiing or basket weaving (okay, I ran out of B exercises), just move more than you normally do.

Swim if you like to swim, dance if you love to dance, walk if you love to walk. Do it at the gym, around your neighbourhood, at the local YWCA, at your friend's house or in the privacy of your own four walls.

It doesn't matter what you do or where you do it. Just get that body movin' and shakin' and jigglin' and wigglin'.

I met a group of people when I lived in the States. And I have to admit, I laughed at them at first (bad me).

I must have been living under a rock, because I had never heard of this, but they would go to a huge shopping mall before opening hours, all decked out in tracksuits and trainers and they would walk and walk around the mall.

What I realised later was that they were all people who felt vulnerable in their neighbourhoods. They were either older, or infirm, or female and they felt that it was unsafe to walk alone around their area, so they walked around a mall where there was security and people and stuff happening. And they would go round and round on their circuit until they had enough.

Every day.

I think that's great. It's clever, it's safe and it's cheap. It shows that their really is no excuse to not get out there and just do it.

Now, if you do this, don't go walk around during peak hours when you will be fighting mom's, babies and groups of teenagers. Go when it's quiet. Oh, and stopping every 10 steps to check out the merchandise doesn't count either. You have to stay focused and walk and get your heart pumping.

Yes, stay focused.

And find something you love. Find an exercise that makes you happy. And do it.

It doesn't have to be yoga.

(Photo - mine)

DAY 7... Rain and hot chocolate

Before I get to the hot chocolate, did you see the number in the title?

7 to be exact ..... I'm well into single digits, only 1 more week to go. I can hardly believe it.

When I began this, 40 days sounded like the biggest number in the world. A number that I might never succeed in reaching. It felt like being asked to count to 100 when you are a little kid and your brain can't quite figure out how to get there. And, no matter how hard you try you always get stuck around 20-something because counting to 100 seems like the hardest thing in the world. It is so far away, and so difficult, and the obstacle of three digits seems insurmountable.

That's how 40 felt a few weeks ago. And now, I'm down to a single digit and I feel like I can just see the finish line in the foggy distance. A finish line towards which I am hurtling myself at a ferocious speed.

That being said, it's pouring today. There has been nothing but driving rain since I first opened my eyes this morning. Oh, and grey skies. Rain and grey skies.

I've already been out for two sopping wet walks with my exercise partner. She enjoyed it, I didn't. She doesn't mind being wet, I do.

And now, all I want is a nice big mug of hot chocolate. A big mug I can warm my hands around while I sit next to the fire and watch the rain pour down outside.

Peppermint tea with blue agave just doesn't have the same ring to it does it? But it will have to do. I'm not giving up now silly.

DAY 25... The sun shone brighter

Today. Which is how I like it. After my grey sky day yesterday I woke up ready to tackle the universe. Okay, so maybe 'tackle' is a strong word, let's face it if my sparring partner is the universe, we know who has the leverage to win, and I'm not that stupid. If I'm going to take someone on, I have to at least have half a chance of winning.

Nevertheless, I looked the universe in the eyes and said 'you will not beat me, I will win this' or something to that effect. I might have hung my head a little and mumbled as I said that, just in case the universe decided on a quick retribution.

Then I went out for my morning walk. I lengthened my gait, increased the tempo of my stride, held my head just a little higher, thrust my jaw forward, swung my arms a little more determinedly and definitely, definitely mumbled to the universe under my breath.

Yesterday might have been a hurdle, but today I was going to show that hurdle just how high I could jump. I sat down and re-read all the goals I had written down before I started this little journey. Goals are important when you venture into the land of Raw, they remind you what you are aiming for. They help you navigate the over abundant obstacles of cabbage and carrot and kale. They remind you why you started this crazy little journey in the first place. They set you straight.

I went to yoga and did the 90 minute class instead of the 60 minute class. Yes, I was going to get as much stinky sweat out of me as I could before thrusting my jaw in the general direction of the universe again and mumbling 'look here buddy, I will win'.

And now I'm going to celebrate.

Why? Because today I looked frustration and weakness and anger and lethargy in the face and I out-stared all of them.

Why? Because I can, simple as that.

Why you ask? Because in the words of Maya Angelou - I am woman, Phenomenal Woman. http://www.feminist.com/resources/artspeech/insp/maya.htm

(Photo by Robby M - Australia)