Every January, we’re flooded with challenges promising transformation in neat, measurable packages: 20 days, 30 days, 40 days to a better body, calmer mind, newer you. Yoga often gets swept into this culture of improvement, reduced to something to complete, track, and check off. And while these challenges can be motivating for some, they can also quietly teach us that if we fall behind, miss a day, or need to stop, we’ve somehow failed.

When we come to the mat, we often think we’re stepping into a separate space — a pause from the rest of our lives, a moment carved out just for breath and movement. And while that’s true, our practice doesn’t end when we roll up the mat. In many ways, that’s where it begins to ripple outward.

As we move into the holiday season—a time that can feel both tender and overwhelming—I invite you to consider how your practice can become a quiet anchor. Not a task, not another item on an already heavy list, but a way of softening the edges of what can be a complicated month.

One thing I’ve learned again and again—both in my own practice and in the work I do with students—is that living and working in line with your values isn’t something that just happens.

Today’s surya namaskar practice was difficult. Difficult to get to and difficult to do. It’s currently a once a week 7:30am practice in studio, so only a 10 minute drive from home. It’s also a by donation drop in, so there is always a chance I’ll be there by myself.