Challenge yourself to

40 DAYS OF YOGIC LIVING

Our 40 DAY SADHANA YOGA CHALLNGE has 5 parts:

A physical challenge – Minimum of 30 minutes of yoga every day

A nutritional challenge – a strict vegetarian diet using Ali’s 85+10+5% rule

A mental challenge – sattvic fasting once a week, a strictly limited alcohol intake, no synthetic drugs or food (see avoidances)

An emotional challenge – Daily yoga journaling (shared with the group on Saturdays).

A spiritual challenge – two hours of contemplative silence once a week

Main Dates

Start Up Class

Saturday, April 25th, 11:00am at Sadhana Yoga Studio

We will kick off our 40 Day Sadhana Yoga Challenge with a specialist yoga class, followed by a social gathering strategizing how to get through the next 40 days following a strict yogic lifestyle. This is a great opportunity to get to know your fellow challenge participants so that you can each offer encouragement along the way.

Weekly pot luck dinners hosted by willing participants

Every Sunday at 7.30pm you can welcome fellow challengers to your house for a potluck vegetarian dinner. The host will offer the venue and everyone will pitch in with setting up at the beginning and tidying up at the end (including dishes!). This team effort counts as a session in Karma Yoga – the yoga of mindful and dutiful action!

Halfway Class

Saturday, May 16th, 11.00am at Sadhana Yoga Studio This special class allows us to share our experiences and review our progress to date.

Final Party Class

Wednesday, June 3rd, 7.30pm at Sadhana Yoga This will be the last class of the 40 Day Yoga Challenge and participants will be celebrating in everyone’s success by sharing our experiences and choosing a prize winner.

To register for the 40 Day Yoga Challenge ask Ali to email you a Commitment Form. Read it, sign and email it back to Ali at sadhanayoganz@gmail.com

Here is how it works:

Register by emailing or expressing your interest and Ali will email you a Commitment Form which you will sign and return.
Joining the Challenge is FREE, although each class taken at the studio will either be deducted from your pass or you pay as you go.
To show you are serious and to keep you on the straight and narrow path of yoga you need to pay a cash-deposit of $20.
Once you have paid your $20 deposit, Ali will email you a copy of your Yoga Journal template, which you can print and collate.
If you complete a full 40 days (following the 5-part challenge) your deposit will be returned to you on the final day and you will enter the prize draw.
Please be advised – this deposit will not be refunded if you forfeit the challenge or break your commitment code.
On a positive note, any non-refunded deposits will go towards buying provisions for Guruji’s ashram in Barsana/ India!
Think of how pure and bright you will be at the end of 40 days!

Vegetarian sattvic diet

In traditional yoga, there are of three kinds of diets: Sattvic diet, Rajasic diet and Tamasic diet. Sattvic foodstuffs included: organic milk, whole grain (oats, wheat, cereals), butter, vegetarian cheese (no animal rennet), all vegetables (except garlic, onions, mushrooms and eggplant), honey, organic or local fruits, naturally dried fruits like dates, nuts and seeds. Rajasic foodstuffs include: fish, eggs, meat, chillies, coffee and tea. Beef, wine, garlic, onions and tobacco are Tamasic foodstuffs. They fill the mind with anger, darkness and inertia.

Saturday Fasting – We will fast for 6 consecutive Saturdays drinking only herbal teas, milk or nut milks, organic yoghurt, honey, coconut water and eating fruits, organic fruit vegetable juices, seeds and nuts.

Alcohol – Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday & Sunday are alcohol free days. Participants may drink a limited amount on Monday, Thursday & Friday. Women should not exceed 3 units in one sitting (9 units total per week). Men should not exceed 4 units (12 units per week).

Our 40 day yogic diet will follow Ali’s 85% + 10% + 5% rule

85% of each serving should include …

Most vegetables (minimising or abstaining from onions, garlic, mushrooms and eggplant).
Whole grains, especially oats, whole wheat, and brown rice
Beans, lentils, peas, tofu,
Herbal teas (minimising caffeinated teas and coffee)
Any type of fruits, especially organic and/or locally produced fruits – including tomatoes, avocado, and lemons.
Preparing and cooking with care, giving gratitude before eating

Up to 10% of each meal servings can include …

Organic and/or local dairy products: organic milk, butter, vegetarian cheese (no animal rennet), yoghurt (no gelatine), cream
Raw nuts and seeds, (not salted)
Cold pressed oils such as sesame, sunflower, and olive oil
Raw sugar, honey, molasses, agave syrup
Sweet spices, like cumin, coriander, cinnamon, cardamom, mint, basil, turmeric, ginger, nutmeg, fennel

Up to 5% of meal servings may include rajasic foods

Garlic, onions, leeks, chives
spicy foods or salty foods
Lightly fried foods
Eggplants (aubergines)
Tinned foods, except naturally canned organic beans, lentil, tomatoes and fruit
Chocolate or caffeinated drinks – coffee, tea, green tea
Alcohol
Mushroom(tamasic)

Rajasic foods are those that a stimulating effect, leading to irritability and competitive tendencies.

Strictly avoided

All meat and fish of all types, including eggs (NB soaked chia seeds make a great binding agent as a substitute to eggs)
Non-vegetarian cheese or halal gelatine
Animal fats or margarine
Deep fried foods
Processed, refined and/or artificial foods with artificial colours and preservatives, including artificial sweeteners (chewing gum, breath freshers)
White flour and white sugar
Microwaved foods
Soft drinks – cola or energy drinks
Tobacco and synthetic drugs
Fast food from fast food restaurants