C.A.T.

The Acronym for Success

I went out for a run the other morning in Central Park after I dropped my boys off at school. It was already almost eighty degrees and getting up to the mid nineties that day. As I was running, I thought to myself, “Wow I can’t believe I am doing this.” I would never have chosen to just go out and run (especially in steamy, humid NYC heat) prior to having ran a full marathon. Marathon training has set me up for weekly runs that feel pretty good and I actually look forward to.

So what is it that’s helped me get to this place? I think it’s because I’ve been consistent. I also think it’s because I had to be accountable. If I didn’t put in the miles, I would never make it to the finish line. I also have discovered amazing treats along the way from meeting new friends, to getting stronger, to feeling more fit, to being proud of myself for completing something I set out to do.

C.A.T. Consistency, Accountability and Treats. If we incorporate these three things into our lives, we can utilize this system to stay the course and accomplish all of our goals. Consistency is key to everything. All you have to do is just show up, again and again and again. You don’t have to be the smartest, strongest, best looking person to make it in life; you just have to keep going. I truly believe, if you stay the course long enough, you will be rewarded for your efforts. In Malcolm Gladwell’s book The Outliers, he refers to the “10 000-hour rule,” he says if you put in consistent practice for 10,000 hours you’ll be proficient in any skill. That is about 20 hours a week for 10 years.

I discovered yoga in the early 90’s maybe around 1994 is when I really started practicing consistently. In 1997, I began teaching. In 2003 I shot the first ever MTV Yoga Dvd. So approximately 10 years later. I was definitely putting in more than 20 hours a week as well. I lived, breathed, ate and dreamed yoga. I was at the studio 24/7 and I’d teach as early as 5am and as late as 9pm. I did whatever it took to learn and grow and become a better student and teacher.

When I ran the marathon, I had a set date. I spent more like 20 hours a week for 4 months training for the race. The 30 years of yoga, Pilates, strength work and conditioning, and even meditation sure helped me. But I really only had about 480 hours of running under my belt; enough to finish my first marathon at a slow pace. The runners who whizzed by me breaking records running 4:36 minute miles (I mean that is insane!) surely have at least 10,000 hours of running/training behind them.

Who was I accountable to as I was becoming more and more of a yogi? I think I was accountable to myself and to my students. I wanted to discover more about this incredible practice and share what I was learning with as many people as I could. It made me feel so much better, I felt an almost obligation to spread the word so I could help others feel better too. The marathon was a set date. I did have set timelines along the way for my yoga career as well. For instance each teacher training program I went through; or when I had to choreograph, shoot and be fully prepared to film the MTV DVDs (we went on to film 3 more after the original yoga DVD was released). I consistently showed up and I always felt accountable to do a good job.

As you are consistently putting in the hours and have someone or something holding you accountable, you’ll inevitably start to discover the treats that come along the way. I recently wrote a post about savasana and its importance in yoga practice. Savasana is even more rewarding after a deep yoga practice. It’s the fruits of our efforts that give us so much satisfaction.

I am a big proponent of treating yourself. If we are all work and no play, life isn’t much fun. But some of the biggest treats come from putting in the effort and showing up. I mean running across the finish lines at the NYC 1/2 marathon and the London marathon will be something I remember for the rest of my life. Creating a library of yoga, Pilates and meditation classes over 6 years at Peloton will always remain such a huge treat to me and to others.

You can treat yourself with little pleasures along the way; a bubble bath, new shoes, glass of wine, massage, whatever it is that floats your boat. You will also realize the real TREAT comes from truly realizing everything is already there. You have so much inside of you, it’s just a matter of discovering your passion and purpose and putting in the time and knowing you’re worth it to stay the course.

I was running so freely the other morning and it was such a treat to feel like a runner. To be one of those people who say, “hey I’m going for a run.” and not think twice about it. It’s really remarkable what we can do. The day to day hours will be filled with little treats as well each time you notice the benefits of staying consistent with your efforts. When we first learn to read it feels tedious, soon it becomes second nature. Eventually everything can have that “second nature” feeling, as long as we stay accountable and consistent. Soon what may have felt impossible, feels joyous. What a treat is it to keep challenging ourselves and to grow in so many ways. Keep showing up for yourself. You’re worth it!