So why not practice to make every day a good one?
Gratitude practice
Ideally first thing when you wake up, think of or write down a few things in your life that you are grateful for. If there is a day when this does not come easy, consider feeling gratitude for the fact that you can breathe and are alive that day. That is a good start.
Breathwork
This is also known as pranayama. There are many styles of breathwork out there, so find a type that works for you. Practicing breathwork can help you get grounded and present in your body, as well as calm the mind.
Yoga, or another form of physical exercise
Consider a brief and gentle session just to awaken the body and move the energy around.
Meditation
There are many styles of meditation out there, so find what works for you. For beginner stages, using a guided meditation can help. That said, it is best to keep any electronics away from this space and time of practice, or at least have them in airplane mode.
Prayer/mantra/affirmation/chanting
This can be part of meditation or an element of its own. Devotional singing, also known as kirtan, can be a deeply spiritual practice, and you don’t need a singing voice for it.
Reading a passage from a spiritual text and contemplating on it
The choice of the text will depend on your personal preference and overall life and worldview. I believe that regardless of spiritual orientation, most ancient spiritual texts teach similar values and lessons. One does not have to be Hindu to read and benefit from the Yoga Sutras or Bhagavad Gita, two great texts for yoga philosophy.
Journaling
Consider a style of journaling that is focused on stream of consciousness or contemplative writing, rather than documenting your day, so the purpose of it is contained in sadhana.
Using inspirational/oracle decks
This can be an easy and enjoyable way to start or close the practice. There are many types of decks out there, so you can simply pick one that draws you. Remember that any of the items proposed here are simply ideas and tools. Ultimately, you do not need any specific thing in order to go within yourself.
Connecting with nature
There is a practice originating from Japan called shinrin-yoku, meaning forest-bathing, which can be deeply calming and even spiritual. To have a sample of this experience as part of your sadhana, consider keeping a plant or flower by your sacred space and touch its leaves. Alternatively, you can walk barefoot on grass or dirt, or look up at the sky for a while. This can be a calming experience and a good reminder of the beauty that is all around you.
Any other rituals that call to you
Make the experience feel sacred and personalized. I like to light up a candle, burn incense, and use crystals, for example.
Once you identify your reminder-motivating factor and dedicate the space for your spiritual practice, the next thing to do, and the most important, is to just get started and do it regularly.
Ideally, try to get to it daily, first thing in the morning, before getting to your phone, messages, or to-do list. This will help you reset yourself to homeostasis within and fill up your cup before attending to any other parts of life.
Remember, this is a practice, so it may shift and change, and there may be days when you don’t get to it. And that’s okay.
Also remember that, ultimately, sadhana is how you live your life. You can take the peace of your altar space with you and access it through the breath—anywhere, anytime.
Learn to enjoy the process of remembering your truest you, that sweetness within you that has been there all along since the day you were born, and beyond.
Deep down, sadhana is about reconnecting with your highest self and remembering that you are a soul having a human experience.
Author: Erinda Martin
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