Challenge Inspires Yoga Sessions Worldwide
Rachel Brathen, international educator, yoga director at Manchebo Beach Resort & Spa in Aruba and Stand-Up Paddleboard Yoga pioneer, loves getting people excited about this mind-body form of exercise. This year she is hosting a yoga challenge to inspire her social media followers—and has used the free Client Challenges tool that is accessible through IDEA FitnessConnect.
Below she talks about her experience:
Why did you do a yoga challenge for January? “There were a ton of yoga challenges out there, especially on Instagram, where I have 200,000+ followers,” she explains. “However, many of the challenges were dangerous. People were challenging others to imitate very advanced poses, one after the other. I got an email from someone who got injured from one of those challenges, and I decided to create a real challenge! This was a challenge to take care of your body, to practice yoga daily and not just to imitate poses.”
What was the response like? “People loved the challenge!” she said. “I think many felt the same way I did. The challenges that were out there were unsafe and had nothing to do with real yoga. People were looking for a way to incorporate yoga into their daily lives and be motivated to get on the mat every day! That’s how #yogaeverydamnday was born.”
Had you ever done any kind of challenge like this before? “Never! First time. It’s our 4th month now, and [we’re] still going strong with a new twist every month.”
Why did you continue the challenge? Online followers liked the challenge so much they wanted to keep going, says Brathen. “February’s theme was #yogaeverydamndayGOALS, to set a goal for your practice; March’s was #gratefuleverydamnday, to be grateful daily; and April [was] #healthyeverydamnday, to incorporate healthy eating to your challenge. In all of these challenges, I encourage people to still practice yoga every day.”
Why do people like these challenges? “They’re fun!” she says. “You get to connect with thousands of people worldwide who have the same interests and goals—we all want to be happy and healthy. Knowing that 4,000 people are all stepping on the mat today, just as you are, doing #yogaeverydamnday is extremely motivating. And we’re making new friends! People are also exchanging tips and advice on the page, which I love. There’s so much connection.”
To join Brathen’s yoga challenge, visit
challengeloop.com/challenge/new-years-yoga.
Note: You can find the Client Challenges tool by going to the “Quick Links” section of your IDEA Fitness-
Connect profile.