Feb 18

Welcome to the Spring 2020 Ten Day Meditation Challenge!

I am so excited that you are here!

Please take a moment to watch this quick 10-minute welcome video and let me know in the comments who you are and your experience with meditation and a reflection on where you believe that meditation leads. I love connecting with you here and learning more about you and hearing your reflections and about your journey.

In order to comment, simply scroll down to the comment section! I wanted to make this easeful for people to participate (even if you don't have a Facebook or Youtube account) so I am hoping to keep community discussions here on the website where everyone can comment and see content πŸ™‚ 

In this video I also talk about what to expect, that I'd love to hear from you in this challenge and see who is here, and towards the end I talk about an awesome prize giveaway for challenge participants! 

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About the Author

Ally Boothroyd is a yoga educator and meditation teacher with a passion for yoga nidra and the healing power of conscious rest. She is the founder of Sarovara Yoga, a yoga space and women's retreat centre in Ontario, Canada. A sanctuary on the water where she fosters local community and supports health, personal growth, emotional resiliency, authenticity, awareness, and awakening. Ally also leads Retreats and Yoga Teacher Trainings in Nosara, Costa Rica

  • Ally says:

    Thank you for Joining the Challenge!!! I’m so excited that you are here πŸ™‚

    • Melinda says:

      My name is Melinda. I have practiced yoga for about 12 years. I am new to meditation and am looking forward to this challenge. I found Ally through my yoga instructor who introduced me to yoga nidra with one of Ally’s YouTube videos.

    • Cindy says:

      Hi my name is Cindy and I am so excited to begin this challenge with you. I am new to mediation and keen to get started. I am a teacher and am recently off work due to illness and feel meditation will help with my healing.

  • Suzanne vanhalteren says:

    Hi. My name is Suzanne. I have had the pleasure of studying yoga with Ally for the past year. I am very excited to be part of the meditation challenge next month. I tend to only meditate when in crisis and am really hoping to make meditation a natural occurrence in my daily life.

    • Ally says:

      Hey Suzanne! I’m so super excited that you are joining the challenge!!! Welcome and thank you for being here. Yes, we will talk lots throughout the challenge about how a consistent practice can really turn into this “meditation doing you” type of presence in life πŸ™‚

      • Liz says:

        Really excited to digging and discovering with your amazing expertise and sharing with others, my journey continues as I continue to rebuild and strengthen my self awareness and spirit!! πŸ€—

  • Mary says:

    Hi there, my name is Mary. I am relatively new to meditation this past year. After shoulder surgery I struggled with sleeping and tried sleep meditation in lieu of medicinal sleep aids. I still use these meditations each night. I have branched out to other meditation chakra balancing, gratitude etc however not as consistent as the sleep meditations. I do feel meditation brings me calm and peace within, I would like to work towards daily practice all while learning how to make it work best for me πŸ™‚

    • Ally says:

      Thank you for sharing Mary!!! I too find meditation to be the most amazing aid for sleep troubles. I’m so glad you are here and eager to develop a daily practice. This is the most common thing I’ve heard from past meditation challengers, that it’s a habit that they’ve stuck with daily! So great πŸ™‚

  • Liz says:

    Ally! I am so excited to join this community of people who want to journey into self care, self discovery and soul balancing. I’m finally taking this challenge to heart and look forward to engaging and sharing!

    • Ally says:

      Liz, I have to tell you how EXCITED I am that you are here!!! Yay! I think this will be such a great journey and exploration for you. πŸ™‚ Thank you for being here and your presence! Ox

  • Donna Babcock says:

    Hello. My name is Donna. I have meditated in the past but have not been doing so for a long time. I find my life is a little bit rocky right now and realize that I need to meditate. I am so looking forward to this session. Thank you so much for offering.

  • Michele says:

    Hi everyone. My name is Michele. I was introduced to meditation through a mindfulness based stress reduction program when I was in my 40’s. I had an active practice for several years and then stopped for some reason that I don’t recall. For me meditation brings a sense of inner peace and joy regardless of what is happening around me. It has helped me to pause before I respond/react. I am so grateful to be able to participate in this challenge. Thanks Ally.

    • Ally says:

      Hey Michele, super happy to have you here in the challenge with us! I’m excited to begin! We have such an amazing group forming, thanks for being a part of it!! πŸ™‚

  • Teghan G. says:

    Hi Ally, and all – my name is Teghan.
    My past experience with meditation is primarily as a part of my yoga practice (or with some mindfulness exercises) but it’s not something that I’ve really taken a chance to dive into with more commitment, so I am excited to try this challenge. I have struggled with anxiety since childhood, and yoga is a key part of the healthy habits that help me manage it, so I am hoping to add meditation to that tool kit. I look forward to learning from this community as well, and engaging with you so thank you in advance for sharing your stories and experiences <3 and thank you Ally for guiding us!!

    • Ally says:

      Hey Teghan! Thank you for joining the challenge!! Similarly, yoga is a vital part of managing my anxiety and meditation has really, really taken things to the next level. I hope that it can do the same for you πŸ™‚ Excited to begin soon! Mark your calendar for March 9th!

  • Elizabeth says:

    Hi All!
    I’m Elizabeth. The start of 2020 has been just bananas for me, and so I am seeking ways to focus, relax and be more in the moment. I have been to a few classes at Peterborough Living Yoga in the past (where Ally led the group) – and loved it. I have been following her social media on the periphery for a while – and when I saw this it seemed like a great opportunity to focus on some of my goals.

    • Ally says:

      Hey Elizabeth! I’m so glad you are diving in! Meditation always helps me so much when life gets banana sandwiches. I’m so happy that you are joining our group! Welcome πŸ™‚

  • Lynn says:

    Hi my name is Lynn, I am a certified pilates instructor and a certified Tai Chi, Qigong, Shibashi instructor, who has been practicing meditation for over 10 years. My meditation practice has been mainly through online meditation communities with teachers such as Davidji and Deepak Chopra, among many others. Meditation is an important tool in what I call “my emotional tool box” to help me navigate through life’s inevitable challenges, particularly as I age into my later 50’s. It helps be become the calm in the chaos and see things in clearer perspective. I am so excited to join Ally’s meditation community. Ally has been an incredible mentor and role model to my kids over the years and I have witnessed her transformation into an incredible young women who has definitely found her Dharma.

    • Ally says:

      Lynn! I’m so happy that you are joining the challenge! Thank you for your kind words. So grateful to have you in our lovely community. πŸ™‚

  • Amy Famme says:

    Hello, my name is Amy. I look forward to participating in the upcoming meditation challenge.

    I have been practicing yoga for 10 plus years and through it became intrigued with other energy healing modalities, including meditation. In particular I have practiced daily yoga nidras for the last two plus years. It has helped me find a peace and calming space.

    I participated in Ally’s meditation challenge last year and found it very beneficial, confirming the positivity of self-care, discipline and overall wellness. I look forward to reconfirming and building
    on this positivity with this challenge. Life happens and with it circumstances that are both within and beyond our control. A calm mind and presence, leveraged through holistic practices I strongly believe provides us with the strength and resilience to manage all aspects of what we are presented.

    Thank you Ally for providing this opportunity, and for your energy and commitment in continuing to build a community of caring practice πŸ€πŸ™ŒπŸ»

    • Ally says:

      Amy!!! So great to have you back in the challenge again with us. It’s so wonderful to have your presence in the group. We are both such huge fans of yoga nidra πŸ™‚

      I really resonate with so much of what you said. Excited to get started next week!!

      Thank you for your kind presence

  • Angie says:

    My name is Angie and I’m so happy to be joining this meditation challenge. I also discovered meditation through yoga. Forever grateful and always amazed and in awe of how this practice of meditation continues to unfold – the benefits seem endless. In this moment of my life I am in great need of carving out a sense of spaciousness and calm amidst a very hectic and often times overwhelming schedule. I really love being part of a collective too and look forward to meditating with everyone here. Thank you Ally! xo

    • Ally says:

      Thank you for taking the time to introduce yourself to the group and connect with us here Angie. I’m so happy to have you in the challenge dear friend πŸ™‚

  • Michelle says:

    Hello Ally and new friends! I’ve been dabbling with meditation on and off for the past year. I seem to have a challenge with being consistent with it. I know I feel so much better and more like myself when I am doing it daily. Looking forward to having a community to connect with and to connect more with self. Thanks Ally for this great opportunity!

    • Ally says:

      Hey Michelle! Thanks for joining the challenge and for taking the time to introduce yourself to the group πŸ™‚ We’re so happy that you are here. I too, feel so much more “myself” when I have a daily, consistent practice. So helpful.

  • Kim says:

    Hi Mamacita! I can’t wait to join you in this challenge! You truly are an inspiration!!

  • Susie says:

    Hi everyone!
    My name is Susie, I am so excited to join in on this 10 day meditation challenge. I am a yoga teacher and a Recreation Therapist. I work in a hospital and spend lots of my time each week guiding teens through various yoga, meditation and mindfulness practices but often/basically always neglect my own! I’m looking forward to slowing down and spending some time on ME πŸ™‚ Also I love Ally so there’s that too..

    • Ally says:

      Awe, I love you too Susie! I’m so glad that you are joining the challenge, and your work is so admirable. Such an inspiration Ox.

  • Wendy says:

    Hi, I’m Wendy. I have practiced yoga for over 10 years and love the calming effect of it. I would like to learn how to meditate successfully and make it a part of every day. I look forward to being a part of this large community.

    • Ally says:

      Wendy! Welcome to the challenge πŸ™‚ We are so happy that you are here! The calming effect of yoga is so sweet. I also am in love with it!

  • Paula says:

    My name is Paula. I had been part of a mediation group a number of years ago, however over the last few years I fell away from it. I truly do miss how I felt after mediation and I’m looking to make it part of my life again.

    • Ally says:

      Hi Paula! Welcome to our online meditation group πŸ™‚ It’s so great that you are getting back into it. We’re so happy that you are here!

  • Julie says:

    My name is Julie and I started practicing yoga and meditation with Ally a few years ago and now have a daily home practice. Yoga and meditation help to keep me grounded and focused in the moment. I’m able to step back and observe my emotions in any given situation and move through it with more ease then before I started. That’s not saying I don’t have bad days or mess up but when I do I am able to forgive myself and not fall into a depression or start beating myself up like I used to. Also when I am at a crossroads and not sure what to do I meditate and sometimes it takes a while but the answer always comes to me clearly without fail. I love that part of meditation. So many good things have come from it. Compassion for oneself and for others..the list goes on. It will always be a part of my life now and I’m excited to explore this challenge with Ally as you were a pivotal person in the beginning of my yoga and meditation journey. 😘❀️

    • Ally says:

      Julie!!!! I am SO EXCITED that you are here!!! I think of you OFTEN! (Hopefully not creepy lol) and I’m absolutely overjoyed to hear that you are still practicing and have a home practice and loved reading about how meditation improves your life. Welcome to the challenge. I’m so happy to read this. πŸ™‚

  • Amanda says:

    Hi everyone, my name is Amanda. I found Ally through Ashley’s YPS course. Just finishing the meditation module and I’m keen to keep my practice regular so thought this sounded great. I first started guided meditations about 20 years ago and jumped straight in to a 10 day Vipassana Retreat here in Queensland Australia. It was a life changing experience for sure but I found the integrating back into regular quite difficult. Have mediated on and off since then and my partner and I are into mindfulness and I teach yoga. I want to model better ways of living to my children before they finish growing and leave for the wider world. Thank you for having me. Xxx

    • Ally says:

      Thank you so much for being here Amanda! I love YPS so much πŸ™‚ I’m so glad you are joining the challenge, such a great thing for your littles to witness. Ox

  • Nicola says:

    Hi my name is Nicola and I’m so exited to join this meditation class with you guys πŸ™‚ I started just a few weeks ago to meditate because my life changes a lot and i hope through meditation it will get a clearer mind.

    • Ally says:

      Welcome Nicola! I’m so happy that you are here. In tomorrow’s practice we talk about clarity, I think you will love that πŸ™‚

  • Linda says:

    My name is Linda. I have had some experience
    with meditation from online sights. I also use prayer as a daily meditation which brings me peace in facing life challenges. My daughter invited me to join your 10 day challenge.

    • Ally says:

      Hi Linda, wonderful! We’re so happy that you are here. Welcome. Meditation is so great for resilience through life’s inevitable challenges, I couldn’t agree more! πŸ™‚

  • Sue Legree says:

    My name is Sue. I have been meditating for about ten years and have been fortunate enough to have experienced Ally as my Yoga Teacher Trainer, and participated in her Yoga Nidra classes. Change yourself, change the world.

  • Sarah Condo says:

    Hello! I’m a little late posting my intro, but my name is Sarah and I have meditated on and off for years, but never really consistent enough to reap the true benefits I know it can have. I first started yoga when I was pregnant with my daughter, and since then have always come back to it when I’m going through a rough patch in life. I suffer from anxiety/panic attacks and while I’m usually pretty good at managing It in my day to day life, I’m wanting to start venturing out of my comfort zone and start more adventures! I’m hoping if I can keep up with a consistent routine of meditation it can help me through those timers when I feel uncomfortable and out of my β€˜comfort zone’. Something I can take with me anywhere! Thank you for hosting this challenge, I look forward to the next 10 days! ❀️

  • Sharon says:

    Hi my name is Sharon I’ve done yoga in the past and started up again in 2019 but haven’t been to a class since November for various reasons. I am new to meditation and looking forward to this challenge. I hope I can keep on track but I’m already starting late :). I found this challenge on my sister Marlene’s fb page and thought I could benefit from it.

  • Donna Cuthbertson says:

    Looking forward to more opportunity for guided meditation in hopes to
    implement a consistent practice. Free the mind and great self care.
    Thank you Ally.

  • Patricia godin says:

    Hi
    My name is patricia
    I am very new to meditation. I basically started a few days ago with the encouragement from my daughter kristal. I need something to help calm me after a stressful day and meditation has been helping. Looking forward to meditating with you. Namaste 😊

    • Ally says:

      Wonderful Patricia!!! Do you know where all the meditations are? Did they come to your inbox! Meditation is the most useful tool. I’m so happy for you. Namaste!

  • Ioannis says:

    Hi, my name is Ioannis (Greek origin)! I am looking forward to the meditation challenge. I have experience with yoga nidra, following the suggestion from a friend.

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