Ringing in the New Year with Rest
Make rest your resolution for 2024
It’s New Year’s Eve! This issue of Root&Rise marks the last of day December, the end of 2023 and the final installment in our month of rest.
I hope you found some time to read the newsletters, engage with some of the practices and, above all, rest.
It’s challenging to slow down this time of year, when so many exciting things are happening all around us. I definitely struggled to rest. I had a wonderful time making memories with my family and soaking up every last drop of joy during all of the festivities, but I am exhausted now.
So, in an effort to model the messages I am sending out into the world, I am ringing in the new year with rest.
If you haven’t subscribed to Root&Rise yet, please consider doing so now. There’s a lot to come in the New Year and, trust me, you do not want to miss any of it!
My parting thoughts for the year: What if you chose to anchor the sweetness of rest into your new year?
What if you woke up on 1/1/24 and resisted the urge to “hit the ground running”? How would it feel to luxuriate in bed for a few extra minutes, make yourself a fresh cup of coffee (or tea) and sit down with pen&paper to reflect on the experiences of 2023?
What patterns, beliefs and behaviors you are ready to release? What intentions can you set for 2024? How do you want to show up in the upcoming days, weeks and months?
What if that new diet/exercise regimen/budget/yoga challenge could wait? Just one more day…
What if it wasn't too late to rest? Do you feel like you missed out on the month of rest? What’s stopping you from starting now? Why not make rest your resolution?
Put It Into Practice
Today I’m sharing a few New Year Yoga programs from various teachers. The beauty of these programs? They are available forever! So you can start them whenever you are ready, pause and come back, skip classes that don’t resonate, and practice your favorites repeatedly.
Check them out to see what feels compatible, for you and your personal practice. I will be participating in the “Yoga With Adriene: 30 Days of Yoga” in January and circling back to the others, later in the year. There are so many interesting programs and excellent teachers to choose from!
FLOW: 30 Days of Yoga 2024 - Announcement | Yoga with Adriene
Adriene has been offering her annual “30 Days of Yoga” challenge for ten years. The highly anticipated event is attended by millions of yogis from all over the world and continues to deliver an astounding level of quality, care and value, year after year.
Adriene’s challenge kicks off on the 1st, but she doesn’t release the first practice until the 2nd. She gets it. New Years Day is for jammies and snacks and rest!
New: Body, Mind, Soul: 30 Days of Yoga Transformation Challenge | Black Yogi Nico Marie
Nico is quickly becoming one of my favorite YouTube yoga teachers. I love that she always includes space for savasana at the end of her classes.
I’m looking forward to exploring these classes as she publishes them and throughout the coming year.
Movement as Lifestyle | New Year Challenge | Arianna Elizabeth
Ariana Elizabeth is a recent discovery for me. I’ve been enjoying her classes and I am so curious about her New Year’s challenge. It’s different than challenges i’ve see before.
For one, Arianna has chosen an every-other-day schedule. This might feel more manageable if you don’t already have a daily yoga practice.
Second, she provides a list of recommended props: A yoga mat, 9" Pilates ball, light hand weights (3lbs max), ankle weights.
Lastly, the challenge is a combination of different types of practices, including yoga, meditation, pilates and sculpt.
Here is the link to Arianna’s YouTube channel: Bright & Salted Yoga Studio
***I read through the comments and discovered that household items can be used in place of the recommended props. Check out this article on equipment substitutions : Equipment Substitutions - Fluidform Pilates
2024 Prosperity Challenge : A Kundalini Experience | Jai Dev Sing
If you’re ready to try something radical, I cannot recommend Jai Dev’s prosperity challenge highly enough.
Jai Dev teaches Kundalini Yoga, a unique style of yoga known for intensity and powerful results.
You can register for the challenge now. When you sign up, you will receive an email with a free 25 minute, introductory class. I just practiced it and it’s awesome. I cannot wait for the full challenge to start on January 9th!!
To participate in the full, 11 day prosperity challenge, you have to be an active member of the Life Force Academy (Jai Dev’s online community) but he offers a $1, 14 Day trial membership that will easily get you through the challenge.
Access the registration here: Prosperity Activation Meditation
New Years Root To Rise Intention Setting Workshop | Yoga With Kassandra
I usually like to keep my recommendations cost free.
However, I decided to include this one because I am a huge fan of Kassandra, plan to participate in her Root to Rise workshop, and thought some of you might be interested too.
The cost is $33 and she will be guiding us through yoga, meditation and journaling. It’s a great option if you want to engage with New Year’s content but don’t want to commit to an entire month.
The best part is, it’s available to anyone who purchases it….indefinitely! So you can go back in and do it as many times as you want.
Here’s the link to register: New Years Intention Setting Workshop
Final Thoughts
Remember, Day 1 is the day you start! If you wake up feeling tired on new year’s day, cut yourself some slack. It will be there waiting for you tomorrow.
Please consider sharing this issue. I think we can all use a little extra rest and a lot of other people who can too. Spread the rest revolution far and wide!!
Happy New Year Everyone! See you next Sunday.
Thanks Jenny! I intend to do Adriene’s 30 days of yoga too and love your review and recommendations! Happy New Year!