What I Learned from a 30-Day Yogalates Challenge with Yoga with Kassandra

My cat Georgia also loved doing yoga! We added red light for extra health benefits.

Last month, I completed a 30-day Yogalates challenge with Yoga with Kassandra, and it was one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had in my wellness journey.

I’ve practiced yoga off and on for years. Each time I’ve returned to the mat, it’s been during a challenging season of my life. Yoga has always been a sanctuary, offering structure, community, and a sense of peace when everything else felt uncertain.

A few years ago, I decided to recommit to my yoga practice. That’s when I discovered Yoga with Kassandra on YouTube. Her short evening yoga classes (just 10–15 minutes) became a nightly ritual and a calm, grounding way to end my day. That consistency helped me regain my motivation to attend in-person yoga classes again and reconnect with my local yoga community.

Why I Joined the Yogalates Challenge
When Kassandra announced her 30-day Yogalates challenge in September, I immediately signed up. Yogalates combines the strength and core focus of Pilates with the flexibility and mindfulness of yoga.

I was curious. I’d heard about Pilates for years but never really committed to trying it. Plus, I knew this challenge would be a great way to ensure I moved my body every single day, even if just for 20 minutes.

The Real Challenge: Staying Consistent
I’ll be honest; I thought completing a 30-day yoga and Pilates challenge would be easy. But life had other ideas.

One weekend, I was out of town with my daughter and didn’t want to wake her early to do my video. Then, I caught a cold and had to take a few days off.

But instead of giving up, I decided to keep showing up, imperfectly, but consistently. That’s something I remind my clients of all the time: progress isn’t about perfection. It’s about returning, even when it’s hard.

When Pilates Met Postpartum Reality
The Pilates exercises were humbling. After four C-sections, my abdominal strength is definitely a work in progress. Some of the core workouts were so tough that I found myself laughing (and sometimes groaning) through them.
But I kept going.

And by the end of the challenge, I noticed real results. When I returned to my in-person yoga classes, my range of motion, flexibility, and overall strength had noticeably improved. My body felt stronger, steadier, and more capable.

The Inner Shifts: Strength and Flexibility Beyond the Mat
The most beautiful part? The changes weren’t just physical.
As I moved through the challenge, I realized that the practice was also helping me grow in less visible ways. I became more flexible in my thinking and more grounded in how I approached everyday stress.

Kassandra often weaves affirmations into her classes, giving each day a theme to focus on, such as patience, courage, or gratitude. I found those affirmations grounding and inspiring. They reminded me that yoga is as much about mindset as it is about movement.

What the 30-Day Yogalates Challenge Taught Me
This challenge wasn’t perfect. I missed days, struggled through some workouts, and questioned my ability more than once. But I finished.
And that, I realized, is the essence of yoga: showing up, being present, and giving yourself grace.

Whether you’re a beginner or someone returning to your mat after a long break, a Yogalates challenge is an incredible way to rebuild strength, balance, and mindfulness — both physically and mentally.

The 30-day Yogalates challenge with Yoga with Kassandra reminded me that growth isn’t always graceful, but it’s always worth it. If you’re looking to reignite your practice, try something new, or simply move your body with more intention, I highly recommend giving it a go.

Every pose, every stretch, every affirmation brings you one step closer to strength, inside and out.

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