“Consistency is key” ~ Unknown
Yoga can be a powerful practice to include into our daily lives. For me, following the yoga teachings of the yoga sutras by Patanjali has been life changing in my ability to manage anxiety and become a person who observes before reacting. I feel empowered to tackle bigger and bigger projects and to seek greater understanding of the life experiences I am presented with.
Yoga requires daily practice. Develop your sadhana today!
How to set yourself up for success in five steps:
- Dedicate a space for practice – this can be a place on the floor where you lay out a mat or a special cushion.
- Schedule the daily practice – start with a time commitment that you will be consistent with. This might literally be two minutes of practice. Maybe even one moment you pause during the day and take one, full, deep breath. Trust me, the more you spend time in your yoga practice, the more time you will want to spend in your yoga practice. Watch this TedTalk for great insights for habit change.
- Invest in yourself by acquiring the tools you want for your practice.
- If you are going to be doing more physical poses (asanas) invest in a good mat, blocks, a strap, and a bolster or two.
- If you are going to be doing mostly meditation, invest in a cushion and mala beads.
- Hold yourself accountable. Look forward to your daily practice or tell a friend or family member to check-in with you to make sure you follow through with your commitment.
- Set a goal or two. In rehab, we always set goals with our patients. Writing SMART goals can help you stay on track and motivated to keep up with your daily yoga practice. SMART stands for:
- S = Specific
- M = Measurable
- A = Achievable
- R = Realistic
- T = Time-bound
- Example = I will practice yoga for at least five minutes every morning before 8am for at least 5/7 days of the week.
All the best in your yoga adventures!
Namaste,
Heidi
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