Yoga Pathways

I love my job. I literally love waking up each day. The times I don’t want to teach my 7am Zoom class can be counted on one hand— yoga and meditation are my hobbies, my special interest, my passion, and now my income. Even if no one paid me, I’d still be doing it, because my life has been transformed by these practices, and new doors of learning and growth just keep opening. I know I’ll never run out of things to discover here.

This week, I’ve had a wonderful—and slightly weird—feeling of being taken back to childhood. It’s just like all the games where I would teach my friends dances to perform in front of our families or in competitions. There’s a special kind of magic in everyone playing the same game, swimming in the same pond, evolving and progressing together, laughing and learning as one.

That’s exactly what being inside this 30-Day Meditation Habit Journey feels like—the joy of belonging to something bigger, vibrant, joyful, and alive. So, to give you a little glimpse behind the scenes of week one, here’s how the journey has unfolded, with participants embracing weekend homework challenges that brought mindfulness into the messy, beautiful reality of daily life. I was actually charmed by how swotty and keen some of them were to get stuck into the homework.

Weekend Homework: A Smorgasbord of Mindful Choices

For our first week, everyone had a little weekend homework—choosing a mindful challenge to bring some extra awareness and presence to a moment in their daily lives. And wow, did they choose some good ones! From phone-free mindful walks to weaving wallabies out of willow (yes, really), and even tackling the dreaded pantry while staying present ( tough love), the variety was as delightful as the discoveries.

Strange but True: Mindfulness in the Wild (or Asda)

We often imagine mindful walks as calm, elegant strolls through peaceful parks or dappled woods. Reality? Far less serene. One brave soul decided to test their mindfulness chops right in Asda. Guess what? It did not go according to plan. What should have been a peaceful practice turned into a comedy of errors: declined cards, redoing the same shopping trip twice, and a narrow escape from a full-on meltdown during the busiest shopping time of the week. But there was of course a silver lining—they learned a lot about their patience levels, personal triggers, and ultimately decided that, for now, getting the shopping delivered might be the most mindful choice of all.

Mindful Chores: Who Knew Pantry Sorting Could Be Well …So Mindful?

Some folks brought mindfulness right into everyday chores. One found calm and focus weaving a literal wallaby out of willow (that’s dedication!). Another tackled pantry sorting with a ruthless Marie Kondo vibe, combining mindfulness with decluttering prowess.

Others savoured breakfast mindfully, truly tasting their overnight oats instead of unconscious scoffing (speaking personally here), or practiced focused breathing by candlelight, crafting little pockets of calm amid the daily chaos.

The Triumph of Just Showing Up

It hasn’t all been plain sailing (thank goodness). Perfect experiences would get boring fast. Many admitted to battling wandering thoughts or hurried “mindful” moments in between… well, everything. Some walks were more like mental to-do list sprints between trips to the recycling centre. But the big truth? Just showing up, even imperfectly, counts.

The Power of Sharing: More Fun (and Sanity) in the Circle

What really blew me away was how eager everyone was to hear about each other’s chosen challenges and the good, the bad, and the giggle-worthy moments. Sharing brought laughter, connection, and turned these individual journeys into a joyful team game. Knowing someone else wrestles with a wandering mind—or a hilarious shopmindfully-fail—is strangely comforting.

Mindfulness clearly isn’t just a solo silent practice—it’s a collective “ah-ha” moment generator, full of personal mishaps to giggle at and encouragement to keep going. We’re all beautifully human.

New Horizons: Moving From Mindfulness to Loving Kindness

With a fond farewell to mindfulness, we’re submerging ourselves in loving kindness this week. It’s a whole new challenge: bringing intentional warmth and compassion into daily life. Honestly, I’m so excited to see how everyone weaves kindness into their routines.

Taking part in a journey like this sharpens your alertness and presence—it highlights how often we drift through days on autopilot, caught up in distraction or unconscious habits rather than fully waking up to each moment. That awareness alone feels worth celebrating.

Looking Ahead: Week Two and Beyond

As we dive into week two, stories will get richer and laughter louder. We’ll celebrate small wins, the painfully hilarious struggles, and the gentle discoveries that come from simply showing up for ourselves every day.