Yoga Motivation Tips
How Students Can Rejuvenate Their Practice
Spring is traditionally a time of rebirth and renewal. People often ring in the season by spring cleaning their homes, refreshing their environment, and sweeping away the staleness of the winter's chill.
But what happens if one's yoga practice has begun to feel a little stale? Spring can also be a great time for yoga students to take stock and breath new life into their practice.
Challenges Arising in Yoga
It is not uncommon, especially for those who have been practicing yoga for a while, to feel as though a plateau has been reached, or to feel "stuck" in one's yoga practice.
Perhaps it is a perceived lack of progression in particular postures causing the frustration. Or maybe there are personal issues that make it difficult to get motivated to attend class, resulting in a lack of focus during yoga practice.
Turning off the mental chatter is one of the greatest challenges in yoga. It is often helpful to turn inward to reconnect with the essence of one's practice.
Why Practice Yoga?
Students are often asked to set an intention at the beginning of each class, which is a useful way to keep focused on one's practice and to remain present during class.
Keeping in tune with the breath is a frequently suggested intention, and is an integral part of yoga. But sometimes it's helpful for practitioners to take a step back and look at the bigger picture, and remember what it is that brings them to their mat.
Why practice yoga? What brings one back to the studio each day to sweat, strengthen and stretch one's muscles? What is truly at the heart of an individual's practice? The answer to this question involves a bit of self-examination, but to really understand why it is that one does yoga is incredibly enlightening, and will enable the student to establish a greater connection to their practice.
Don't Overthink the Postures
Often yoga students become overly concerned with their body's alignment in a pose. While physical alignment is important, focusing too much on this can end up being at the expense of the alignment of the mind.
By the time one has figured out what body part goes where, the pose is over, and some of the integrity - and ultimately the reason for doing yoga - is lost. As instructors will sometimes say: "Don't just do yoga; BE yoga." In other words, feel the pose rather than think the pose.
Take a Mini-Break from Yoga
Sometimes a day or two away from the yoga studio is helpful, especially if there is the sense that one is forcing themselves to come to class. One should take this time to do something for themselves, and create some mental space away from yoga, in order to return refreshed, renewed, and with an open heart and mind.
Nourish the Body
What goes into the body has a direct impact on one's mental state, as unhealthy eating habits can cause feelings of depression, irritability and anxiety. So if one is feeling a bit sluggish, it might be an ideal time for a dietary overhaul.
A gentle herbal cleanse is a good jump-start to a healthier diet, along with a higher fruit and vegetable consumption, and an increased fiber and water intake.
Try Something New
Sometimes just changing one's routine and trying something a little bit different can help bring the spark back onto the mat. Anything that brings new light into one's life will most certainly have a positive effect on one's yoga practice.
Maintaining Motivation in Yoga Class
Yoga practitioners, especially those who feel they may have reached a plateau in their practice, must always remember that what happens during class is uniquely their own: it's just the students, their mat, their energy and their breath. If students take care of themselves, their yoga will take care of them in return.
Further Reading:
Learn about the benefits of a hot yoga practice in the article Hot Yoga: A Beginner's Guide
Find the right yoga mat for you in the article Choosing a Yoga Mat
Pigeon Pose in Yoga
|
What do you think about this article?
Latest Articles