It's sometimes difficult to stick to our practice... Some tips below!
If you are a long-term yoga practitioner
or are just growing your yogi wings, you may want to find ways to incorporate
it smoothly or at least regularly into your day to day lifestyle. Here are
three suggestions to give you a hand, a stretch, or a lift.
1.
Get into a Rhythm, But Don’t Be A Dictator
While commitment and perseverance are important to
building healthy habits, it is okay to have off days. Sometimes you may have a
short practice session, or maybe even just squeeze in some yoga
at your desk.
A good way to develop a pattern or rhythm of practice
is to spend some time analyzing your daily routines and look for moments or
junctures where you could use an energetic shift or some centering, or where
you simply have some extra time that could be used for yoga.
Some people practice first thing in the morning or right after
work religiously so they don’t get off schedule. You may practice every other
day, or every weekend. Sometimes you might have a cold or be feeling
overwhelmed and need to just practice walking meditation or sit under a tree
rather than fully engage in asana practice—and that’s okay.
Whenever you are engaging in a positive change or
setting goals for yourself, try not to become your own judgmental enemy, and
focus on the positive, self-befriending aspects of your practice. Aim to find
those moments which repeat throughout the week that could be good times to
check in with your body, either for a full yoga practice or a quick mindful
stretch.
2.
Find Places in Your Life to Put Poses
While a yoga mat, blocks, straps, etc. are wonderful and integral tools,
you may find that you can also practice yoga without them in a very satisfying
way throughout your day.
There are lots of ways yoga (asana) can become a
normal part of your day, even when you are not using yoga gear and
accoutrements. For example: how about trying this standing version of Upward Dog on the counter once you’re
done washing dishes or brushing your teeth?
You can also stand in Tree
pose while doing various, seemingly mundane tasks, like writing
grocery lists, talking on the phone, washing dishes, etc.
3.
Focus on Your Posture and Your Yoga Opportunities at Work
If your work involves standing and walking, you can
bring awareness of your body’s weight distribution and alignment throughout the
day. If you are working at a desk, there are a variety of yogic activities,
exercises, and postures you can incorporate. Here are five great chair-sitting
postures recommended for fibromyalgia relief, but can also be wonderfully
helpful for anyone who spends a good portion of the day seated.
It is also essential that you get up and go for walks whenever
you can. You can set a timer to remind you to stretch, stand and move around
every 20 minutes or so. This mindfulness bell
site provided by the
Washington Mindfulness Community can be set to play beautiful meditation bells
at the intervals you choose.
In Meditations from the Mat, Rolf Gates
tells us that, like nature, “Yoga brings us from disconnection and fear to
connection and love”. He also quotes Lau-Tzu; “Stay in the center of the circle
and let all things take their course.” Your yoga practice can help you to
slow down, connect with loving energy, and reclaim the powerful center place
that is your own body.
While
having a “refuge” and quiet place to do yoga can be very helpful, your practice
does not have to be limited to certain times of day or locations. Hopefully
these three suggestions, and above all listening to yourself and your body,
will be helpful as you explore integrating yoga more into your world and life.
Keep breathing, namaste, and good luck!
Also www.soyoga.com.sg
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