CENTER 2023 thread 2: support thread for those doing CENTER (or MOVE)

[Sooverthemill]

Hello peeps

Just checking in! I think Day 30 has been a self guided one for a few years hasn't it? Eek, that means tomorrow may be the last guided one. I'm another who struggles with self led practice so normally choose one of the previous days.

Loved, loved, loved today!! My head was full of home decoration thoughts so I thought I’d find it hard to switch off but trying to follow new moves was the distraction I need. I found today really fun!

A little side note to add that my strength in plank is now unrecognisable. I keep a daily journal (just a couple of lines of what I thought about the practice) & on 5th January I found plank incredibly difficult & had to modify to half plank. Now, I’m strong in plank without any modifications & I can do the leg crunches without feeling the need to collapse. I’m incredibly proud of myself.

Thank you for the new thread!

I also loved today, I have saved this one to repeat in the future.

Coping in plank was the thing I noticed most after move last year too! This is the longest I've managed to keep up. Such a positive start to the year!

Can I join your thread please? I’m so rubbish at consistency,but I’m a so much nicer person when I practice regularly. I gave up on Centre early on ,for some reason it just didn’t gel with me,but I’m here for Move if you guys are doing that in Feb?

Welcome @Yogachick i think it's going to be a mix on here, I'm doing CENTER gain but lots will try MOVE. So you will have support!
@happytobemrsg yay! I also am strong in plank which is good, never used to be an issue before I got covid.

I adored todays made as ever trickier by presence of small cat, this is her at a different time ( was trying to knit). She's very loving.
day 30 is always self guided and I don't do it ( I repeat a different day) but as Adrienne says she's 'got your back'.

anyone noticed the absence of crow this year?

Oh and did anyone read yesterdays email? I think it echoed what most of us have said about the ability to really feel the moves this year.

Loved todays too - found it quite mentally challenging which helps keeps me focussed and present.

feeling quite emotional about finishing. I didn’t truly think I’d do it as never managed before. Checking in on here has definitely helped.

I feel so grateful for Adriene and the work she puts in

@Sooverthemill YES I've missed crow! The first year I can actually do it and it's not in the challenge!!

I’m really wobbling on whether to do Centre again or Move. I’m running out of time. Arghhhhh. Any advice?

Thanks for the new thread @Sooverthemill

Little cat looks tired after the yoga

Day 29 done.

Love reading the comments.

Agree about plank/downward dog. I always have to move my hands, but I notice she doesn't.

Had a little practise of downward dog to lunge after the session, if I have time I will do her video from way back. But it looks a bit strenuous

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rjVzsLU2TwM

Thank for the new thread! I've done all of Center now and I like bits of it - some new moves and I like the focus on core even when not doing core but I found it too easy. Thanks to the originally threads I've now been doing daily yoga for 11 months.

I normally do 2 back to back as it can take a while for me to warm up. I found the centre ones too short and not challenging enough. This is a minor miracle as I'm sure 11 months ago I'd have found most of it impossible.

I was planning for Feb still following Center and doing move alongside - so day 1,2 and 3 etc of both on the same day.

I found myself chucking the odd move one in in Jan so this might be the best of both worlds for me.

Really enjoyed this morning. Assuming non guided practice tomorrow!
I definitely missed crow. Usually makes an appearance but not this year!

I'm probably not going to carry on. I usually use this journey to reestablish a daily practice after Christmas but I want to mix yoga with pilates going forward to get more strengthening in alongside flexibility

@happytobemrsg I don't think it matters which one you do, obviously depending on what you got out of it. But there will be people doing both so you won't be alone! I'm doing Move because I really want to reflect as I go this time, and I feel like Center is too recent for me. But if you liked Center maybe stick with that?

@Shannith I can't imagine being able to do 3 practices in a row!

@Fandangles yes she is amazing! I have got so much from Adriene over the years!

Welcome @Yogachick I think this thread definitely helps me keep going. Whichever one you pick you'll have company.

29 done. Does anyone else find that hip massage incredibly painful? I had to stop.

@ScottishBeth I mean do day one of move and centre on the same day. I can compare and see if the focus of one helps with the other

@hoochyhag I did wrote a long post in response to and then poof but

I had the same issue. I noticed she seems to stay within a rectangle on the mat and I was all over the shop and having to readjust. So I decided for one month for 2 weeks I'd really focus on doing everything properly - even though it was harder and slower and meant to had to pause the videos at points. It really worked. So I now I pick something each month to really focus on and nail. This month is was rolling up to stand properly - really feeling my feet/bend legs/coming up slowly and powerfully into mountain. And then in mountain being both soft and strong at the same time.

I'm trying to train my brain to do it properly automatically if that makes sense. As I said I'm 11 months in and this helps keep it I tested to g for me so I'm always making small improvements.

It makes it so much easier. And breathing - I reckon it's taken me 8 months to really breathe properly

@Shannith that means both day 6s one after the other 😱might be even worse than 3 in a row. That's really interesting what you've said about focusing on one thing for a month. It sounds like it's made a big difference. I find if I go to DD from plank I need to move my hands closer to my feet. I've read that I shouldn't move them but just find it so much better. Do you have any thoughts?

Thankfully I think my breathing is OK (though I guess I might not know). I'm a singer and also did loads of breathing exercises when I had health problems a couple of years ago.

@ScottishBeth yes day 6 had occurred to me - but the move one I've done quite a few times now so I feel that's in the bank - and they work different muscles - the move one is more your obliques. But yeah you can laugh at me when I report back on day 6 unable to move.

From DD to plank I found I was doing the opposite - so having to jump my feet back. I worked out my DD was too narrow. The excessive she does in one of the later centre ones (can't remember exact one) where you go backwards and forwards between plank and DD is useful.

Either your DD is too wide and your plank is too long or vis versa. Switching between the two while trying to keep feet and hands in the same place might help.

I've found my DD has naturally got wider as my hip/hamstring mobility has evolved. I was focussi g in getting g my heels down and because my legs were tight I narrowed the gap to compensate. Now my hands and feet stay in the same place as I go from DD to plank and back - and I can drop my heels down in the wider stance. 11 months though - wasn't overnight at all!

I enjoyed today. I agree center was easier than move but it's actually what I need. I like the shortness but have missed a few moves from other series.
I think I will repeat center then try a harder one after (and maybe just skip the days I don't like at all). Not sure I can keep up with daily yoga but will aim for most days.

I have really enjoyed this challenge. Thanks to all of you for the lovely comments. It does definitely motivate me. I really like how we all enjoy different things and find different things hard. Made me accept my weak areas with less self judgment if that makes sense. I realised it's not a case of everyone else can do it, why can't you.

I did Centre Day 10 today. I really enjoyed it, not sure why I stopped. I got to Day 27 with Move before I fell off the wagon last year. I would love to complete it consecutively

Thank you for the lovely welcome btw!

I'm so impressed. I did 28 followed by 27 yesterday. Was not keen on yin as I can't settle but it means I should do more of it. Loved day 28

About to do 29 and will do the two I missed tomorrow (day 25 and 11) tomorrow as not keen on self guided.

I'm not sure what to do next. I might do Centre again or I might alternate between move and centre. I probably will do 5 days a week rather than 7.

Hello @Yogachick !
I also can't decide which one I am going to do for February- I am really surprised how much Center grew on me !
I absolutely loved today it really shifted me out of a grumpy tired Monday mindset .

Something weird happened in the squat - my feet were completely flat and I felt really stable and comfortable- this has never ever happened before !

I do have to adjust in plank to DD though - I really can't imagine not doing that.

I don't know what Adriene has done to me this month but I am even tempted to go with the self guided session tomorrow which
I have always avoided in the past.

That's great progress @happytobemrsg I'm really impressed.

D29 Another great day done. I am going to do as she asks tomorrow, I'm not quite sure what to expect, is she doing her own thing, or not? Really intrigued.

I have improved so much in these 29 days, I am able to follow, have gained strength and confidence, my flexibility has improved a tiny and I have a new inner peace.

Day 29 done. I liked that one.

I can't decide what to do tommorow, I think I'll stick with it and do my own thing but tempted to try something else as a one off before returning to move. For anyone wanting to do their own thing with a little guidance, there are some lovely minimal cues yoga practices on Yoga with Kassandra.