By Megan Waterfield

I can’t believe how quickly 40 Days flew by! I think everyone was a little emotional at our last meeting — it’s amazing how a group of people from all walks of life can form such a strong bond after just a few weeks. When everyone has something in common, it doesn’t matter what your background is; with a strong leader and a group of ambitious students looking to succeed, meaningful connections are bound to be created.
I challenged myself in new ways during the last half of 40 Days, and the tools I learned for my practice and for myself are tactics I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life. Keep reading to learn more!

The Power of Fruit

One of my biggest faults is my late-night snacking habit; if I’m craving anything (and usually it’s something sweet or salty), I’ll convince myself that I’m hungry just to satisfy my palate. It always results in an upset stomach or bloating as I’m trying to fall asleep. I was determined to reverse this habit during 40 Days.

The epitome of our personal revolution with food happens in Week 4 with the famous “Fruit Feast.” This was definitely the most challenging and rewarding part of the program for me. For 3 days, we ate nothing but fruits or any produce with a seed: think apples, oranges, berries, pineapple, cucumbers, tomatoes, squashes, etc.

I was so proud of myself when I successfully completed the Fruit Feast WITHOUT cheating! By Day 3, my cravings for refined sugar and processed chips were gone, I felt light and energized during my practice, and I discovered new foods and recipes that I plan on making regularly. I have a new goal of completing a 3-day Fruit Feast seasonally as a way to detox and make room in my body for the new season.

The Power of Workshops

Each Saturday during this 6-week program, an EPY (Evolution Power Yoga) studio hosted a workshop that related to that week’s 40 Days theme. I didn’t attend any for the first half of the program, but I made a commitment to myself to attend the rest for the remainder of the program. I’m SO glad I did!

The 4 workshops I attended were Core Integration, Restorative, Backbend, and Acroyoga, and each workshop was hosted by a different EPY teacher in different EPY studios. Needless to say, I learned numerous new tips and tricks to incorporate into my practice, and I’ve been challenging myself to try new poses and alignments each week. However, the most rewarding part to me was visiting the other studios for the first time.

Since I joined EPY a year ago, I only ever practiced and interacted with the Harrisburg community. Once I became a Karmi for the Harrisburg studio, I became more and more interested in meeting teachers and students from the other EPY locations, but never stepped out of my comfort zone until 40 Days. I absolutely loved meeting my fellow EPY yogis in York, Lancaster, and Lititz because we all have something in common: a passion for growth, wellness, and community.

The Power of Community

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again — we truly have the BEST community at Evolution Power Yoga, and not just at my home studio! 
I’ve been toying with the idea of going through our ACCESS teacher training in a different EPY studio, and when I brought it up to teachers and students who didn’t even know me, I received amazing support and encouragement that wiped away my fear of going through the program with instructors I’ve never met. ACCESS is definitely on my bucket list to complete in the near future, and I’m excited for the challenge of practicing in an unfamiliar space and the opportunity to build new relationships. 
The most notable aspect of our community is the strong connection we all have with each other, regardless of which stage of life we’re in. I’m a 23-year-old recent college graduate, and I can genuinely say that some of my closest yogi friends are 15 years older than me, married or divorced, have worked multiple jobs, have a family, have lived in multiple states….the list goes on. However, none of it matters when your personalities click, and I’m so thankful to share a deep passion for personal growth with some of the most empowering people I’ve ever met.

Life After the Revolution 
The tools you learn during Baron Baptiste’s 40 Days to Personal Revolution don’t end on Day 40! I’ve been forming new habits based on what I learned about myself during the program. Here are a few I’ve started to put in place:

• Drink a homemade fruit smoothie at least 4 times per week
• Eat spaghetti squash or zoodles at least twice a month
• Meditate for at least 5 minutes each day
• Reduce screen time! When I notice myself mindlessly scrolling or checking my phone, I actively put it away and do something else.
• Place phone across the room each night and read a book before bed
• Practice yoga at least 5 times per week (in studio or at home with Evolution GO)
• Attempt at least 1 challenging pose whenever I practice in the studio
• Write in my journal when I feel extreme stress or anxiety

What did you learn about yourself during 40 Days? We’d love to hear about it! If you’re interested in enrolling in our next 40 Days program (starts in April!), you can sign up here. We’ll see you on your mat!