I have some advice for anyone who wants to do yoga but can’t start, who has quit halfway or lost their enthusiasm.
Our minds may be adept at keeping us from doing some of the actions we want to do. Therefore we may be sabotaging ourselves, finding excuses, and postponing things all the time. This may naturally prevent us from acquiring a habit in the direction we want. As someone who has been practising yoga at home since 2015, I will share with you some tips that made it possible for me to practice yoga regularly. (Before you proceed, I would like to remind you that yoga is not just a physical exercise.) Let's go!
1️⃣ A minimum time frame
Set a minimum time frame for yourself. Maybe 15 minutes, maybe 5 minutes. But don’t conclude “I will do yoga for at least 15 minutes every day!!!” Instead think this way: “I can do 15 minutes of yoga every day.”
2️⃣ Some hours are more equal than others
"All animals are equal but some are more equal than others." This is valid for the hours that you are going to practice yoga! All hours are equal but some are more equal than others.
Yes, it's true. What time of the day does your body want to move? Or at what time of the day does your mind want to get away from the usual bustle of life and return to yourself? Only you can know this best. No rule says everyone gets up early in the morning to do yoga.
3️⃣ A place of one’s own
“A woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction,” said Virginia Woolf. We can adapt this logic to our yoga practice, putting aside gender: "If someone wants to practice yoga, they must have a space in their own practice to deepen."
In the last 7 years, I have done yoga regularly in 5 different homes. Each of them had a room of my own. But more importantly, I opened a space where I could practice yoga at home. While thinking about this, it is useful to create alternatives. Thus, if the room where your yoga space is not available due to external factors, you can use the other option.
4️⃣ Flow, not result
Unfortunately, social media creates the perception that only people with incredibly flexible and aesthetic bodies do yoga. Try not to be result-oriented. Instead of going after the poses, be in the present, be in the flow of your practice. If you do it regularly, you will see the change in the direction you want to see anyway 🫠 That's why I suggest you practice regularly and try new poses when you feel ready, using the flexibility and endurance your practice will bring you.
5️⃣ Set the limits
Listen to your body. Do not go there if it says no to you. If you do not draw the boundaries for your physical practice, you are the one who will suffer. It is your responsibility to move forward slowly but surely. But don't worry, perhaps one of the most beautiful aspects of yoga practice is gradually discovering one's own mind and body motives.
6️⃣ Recognize your mental bondages
How do you approach yourself on the mat? What kind of excuses do you find not to go there? Do you avoid your emotions? Watch your mind as a cat watches a mouse. Observe the patterns. Let's say you couldn't do yoga on the day you planned. Does this affect the next scheduled day? The 'all or nothing' mindset is a whirlpool that the mind often pulls us into as we try to form a habit. Be careful not to get into this. Yesterday remains as yesterday. Today is a different day.
All of these are the basics that enabled me to hold on to my yoga practice over time. If we go into detail, the number of these items increases considerably. If you want to start yoga but don't know where to start, please don't hesitate to contact me!