Last year I floated through the holiday season on a blissful high that only 25 straight days of hot yoga can induce. I’m back at it for 2010, but this year I’m adding in a charity fundraiser element because it just feels right. I’ll kick off my practice November 30 and end on Christmas eve.

I hope you’ll consider supporting the effort or even joining me for your own commitment to a consistent yoga practice–be it once in the month of December or for the rest of your life.

To get you up to speed, I started the December “challenge” for three reasons:

1. I felt like I wasted my money on a studio membership in November by not going often enough
2. I find the commercialism of Christmas to be overwhelming (not because I don’t like presents but because I find myself uncharacteristically wanting more and needing less) and thought yoga could pull me away from that
3. My blog and healthy new lifestyle were a mere 3 months old and I wanted a way to stay on track during a time of excess in alcohol, food and stuff in general.

I started off excited…

Described it as “euphoric” on Day 10 when I dragged Stew with me…

And recapped it all on Christmas Eve.

As with so many things in life, when it comes to 25 Days of Yoga, I believe in the more, the merrier. Don’t worry, 25 Days of Yoga doesn’t have to mean 25 straight days in a studio. Check my recap from last year to see how I practiced from home to escape the heat and even spent some days simply reading Meditations from the Mat. Yoga is yours no matter what. Whether you’ve been practicing a short time like me or your entire life, it’s yours. Make this challenge whatever you want it to be.

Aside from the obvious therapeutic relief I received last year, I was also in the best shape of my life, albeit a bit dehydrated. I consistently have trouble staying hydrated, and it’s only because I’m lazy. I just don’t like to drink water if it means having to wash out a water bottle or risk a cat paw going into my glass. There. I said it.

Yes, this is a uniquely American problem and a disgustingly privileged one if you ask me. In this land of safe, clean, FREE drinking water, I can’t even be bothered to fill up my glass while all over the world more than 1 billion people suffer without access to this very same thing I have in excess.

So this year, in an attempt to shake myself free from the mindset that clean water can be taken for granted, I’m pairing my 25 days of yoga with a fundraiser for The Water Project, which supports the drilling of fresh water wells and other sustainable water projects in the neediest places on earth.

I know the holidays are a stressful time and money is stretched thin for many, which is why I’m asking for a small donation of $2, equivalent to a bottle of water, in hopes of raising $250 in 25 days.

Be on the lookout for some yoga- and water-related giveaways this month. Winners will be selected from those who donate and help spread the word via twitter and blogs. More info to come… I’ll also share links to yoga podcasts and yoga DVDs you can do at home.

Interested in donating? Visit my Water Project Fundraising page (100% of donations go to support projects to provide clean water to those who need it)

Interested in joining in for some yoga? Great! Email me at sweettaterblog@gmail.com to let me know what you’re up to. Feel free to blog about your experience or even send me content for a guest post on Sweet Tater.