I managed six out of 7 days of daily yoga – which I still think is very good. My first obstacle to overcome was Oscar the dog, who joined me every morning to show me his own downward dog every time I rolled out the mat. I love him dearly but dog breath in the morning wasn’t motivating me.

Secondly I have been somewhat surprised how hard I’ve found the online yoga classes. I thought I was quite strong but I’ve found myself sweating and wobbling throughout. I have been relieved that I have been at home so no one could witness my red-faced-tongue-between-my-teeth efforts.

I’ve loved the theme of ‘inner strength’ with Bridge Woods-Kramer and loved the idea of ‘locking in’ your inner strength by pulling up the pelvic floor.I often feel that my strength can ‘leak’ out – and I like the idea that I can exercise my ‘inner strength muscle’ and become stronger by creating a yoga practice around this.

I really loved the class with Ana Forrest – releasing and transforming. I was so inspired, I looked up her book and Fierce Medicine: Breakthrough Practices to Heal the Body and Ignite the Spirit. If you weren’t a yoga convert before, you are by the time you’ve finished the book. Yoga isn’t just keep-fit in tights, it’s a transformative practice. Forrest’s book is a raw example of how yoga can transform the darkest of experiences and childhoods.

I have a habit of getting over enthusiastic when I take up something new (have you noticed?!) – I buy all the kit, with matching sweat band and then four weeks down the line, find myself unmotivated and guiltily looking at the big pile of new clothes/equipment/sweat-band for every day of the week discarded at the bottom of the bed a month later. This month, I’m determined to make do with what I have – a rather muddy yoga mat (I’m blaming Oscar!) and a log from my log basket as a yoga prop. If I keep up my daily practice, I promise myself I will upgrade.

But maybe it’s all worth a few splinters, sweat and mud as I’m very surprised to find I’ve lost 3 pounds this week! 3 pounds in a week without even trying?! I don’t believe in diets but after the summer of stuffing myself with ice-cream, it’s a welcome added bonus.

Ok, week 2 begins.