After the pandemic many wished to re-establish a healthy life style. Yoga gives helpful guidelines as to how to cultivate regular exercise, breathing skills, and meditative practices with which to calm the mind, create focus, clarity and peacefulness. Following these practices will naturally lead to a healthier diet, good sleeping patterns, emotional stability and overall wellbeing.
Use a measured approach for a smooth introduction to Yoga or the re-kindling of the love you have had for it in the past. Here are some basic ideas for a step-by-step introduction to Yoga.
Set achievable goals
It is important to be realistic about how many Yoga practices you can fit into a week. Also, take into consideration the time of day you would like to schedule in your Yoga. In an ideal world you might like to be an early morning riser, but it might just not be in your nature. In that case, commit to an evening practice. Set yourself up for a schedule you will be able to follow through.
The key to overall wellbeing is regularity, consistency, and long-term commitment. Yoga practices which are too strong and done intermittently, will be short-lived and not sustainable. They would set you up for feelings of inadequacy, failure, and disappointment; whereas you are after uplift, fulfillment, reaching your goals, achieving your expectations and gaining peace of mind. Therefore it might be an idea to start with just one practice per week for one month and only then increase to two weekly practices etc. In no time at all you’ll find yourself going to Yoga three times a week…
Accountability
Let others know of your goals and report back to them as to how you are going. Pre-schedule your Yoga class and put it as an appointment with yourself in your diary, so you can’t double book yourself. Set the alarm for the time when you need to get ready to leave for your Yoga class. It can help to commit to a number of Yoga classes upfront, which would motivate you to attend. If you have difficulties rousing yourself to go to Yoga, always remember how wonderful you feel after a practice.
Have fun
You should be able to look forward to your Yoga practice. First of all find an authentic Yoga school, where teachers have undergone extensive training, have their own practice, and are able to cater to your needs more individually. Choose a teacher whom you can relate to, and who inspires you.
There will always be a challenge in your Yoga practice, which is good and necessary. But over-all you certainly should enjoy the practice. Remember that the intention is to still be doing this for many more years to come.
Be motivated by your peers
You are not alone on this journey. Others share the same obstacles as you. It is much easier to make it to class, if you have arranged to go with a friend. Also, over time you will get to know others in the class, who will expect to see you there.
Regular Yoga practice shows miraculous results. Yoga doesn’t only take care of your physical, emotional and mental health, it also prompts you to cultivate healthy routines and habits, regular sleeping patterns, refreshing sleeps, and makes you shine from within. Practice Yoga!
OM Shanti, Angelika
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