Top 5 ways to get back into your yoga practice

A few weeks ago a friend posted a request on my Facebook page asking for advice on how to get back into her yoga practice. I saw her post late at night and asked for a bit of time to think about a real response.

In truth I was flattered and a bit surprised that she asked me specifically. Although I LOVE yoga - the practice, philosophy, lifestyle, comfy clothes - I am not even a yoga teacher...yet... and thought "What could I possibly say to inspire, encourage, and support her in doing something that I am sure will bring her joy?"

A word about the "yet" posted above. I applied to Kripalu's 200 hour Yoga teaching program on June 10th, and just heard back that I got in! I am excited to be a part of their upcoming October-November training program!

So in the hopes of providing some service to my friend, here's my top five ways of getting back into your yoga practice. (Kristy, this blog's for you!)

1. Find your source

When I first practiced yoga in my late teens, early twenties, I found it to be a great exercise. I particularly like a challenging Vinyasa Flow with plenty of playtime to highlight my flexibility. (Standing splits no problem! Dancer pose? How high do you want me to lift my leg?) Now I know that there has been a lot of flack on social media about the "exercise" version not being the "true point" of yoga, but hey, it drew me to what has become a lifelong practice. If I hadn't been attracted to it at that point, might I have found it later in life? Who knows?

Flash forward a few years, less practice time (which I am remedying now) and too many jobs where I sit all day, and my interest in yoga has completely changed (as has my body's abilities). Now my passion springs from a place of joy when I practice for a few minutes, the gratitude I feel for being able to explore my body's limits and capabilities, and the healthy lifestyle encouraged by mindfulness and love for my fellow human beings.

So ask yourself, what is the source of your desire to start up a yoga practice?

• Is it for the improvement in your physical and mental health?
• Is it because you saw some cool photos online and want to try it? (No judgement here...I find that curiosity is one of the great motivators in life!)
• Is it to lose weight? 

Fun fact: Regular practice of yoga actually slows your metabolism, not speeds it up as many yogis claim. The weight loss tends to come from the fact that a regular practice seems to lead to a more mindful lifestyle in your eating (healthy wholesome foods), social activities (increase in outings involving sports or physical activities), and mental health (improvements in how we view ourselves tends to result in us taking better care of our physical bodies)!

My source for yoga...sheer joy!

2. Pick your flavor

Forget (vegan) ice cream. Modern yoga comes in more flavors than a gourmet scoop shop! Out of a scandalous and sometimes sketchy past (no really...do your homework), sprang such wonderful traditions as:

• Hatha
• Vinyasa. 
• Ashtanga
• Hot Yoga
• Kundalini 
• Yin Yoga

Feeling a bit randy and ready for a walk on the wild side? How about:

• Aerial Yoga
• Slackline Yoga
• Acro Yoga
• SUP Yoga (Stand Up Paddleboard)
• Yoga Dance

And if that is not enough, a plethora of teachers have trademarked their styles into such wonderful traditions like:

• Kripalu Yoga
• Bikram Yoga
• Forrest Yoga
• Iyengar Yoga
• OM Yoga

There is truly a style for everyone!

Learning to fly in an Acro Yoga workshop with the amazing Tom Widdison!

3. Commit to your practice PUBLICLY

Starting something new can be really scary. As human beings we are often afraid of looking silly in front of our peers. So hold on to your hats my terrified peeps, because I am advising you to embrace your fear and TELL EVERYONE that you are going back (or starting) a yoga practice!

That's right. I'm advising you to commit to your practice, vocally, publicly, loudly and proudly. Tell your friends, neighbors, followers on each and every social media site you own, the guy standing next to you at the supermarket, your mom, dad, crazy Aunt Sue, your co-workers, spouse, significant other, teachers, and random strangers!

Yes, some may look at you like you are crazy for doing that hippie exercise (as my mother-in-law likes to call it) BUT you may be pleasantly surprised at how many encourage you, offer advice, share an interest in the practice, or confess that they want to try it too! Talking about yoga has led to the following positive interactions in my life:

• Dear friends who share my interest who I may not had the chance to get to know better
• Teachers who have gone above and beyond answering questions
• Information on festivals and events I may not have heard about otherwise
• Exposure to new activities that I had never tried before

​
Plus talking about yoga not only is fun, but it gives you a support group who can help you be accountable to your commitment! 

Posting my acceptance from Kripalu on social media was terrifying. What if I fail the course? Am I too old, slow, plain old crazy to think I can do this? But as I start this next journey the outpouring of love from my peeps has given me strength and encouragement!

4. Create SPACE

I get it. We are all extremely busy people. We get up, rush through our breakfast (if we even bother to eat one), to get to work. We rush through our morning, to get to our lunch break. We pray the afternoon goes quickly so we can rush home. On the way home, we rush through our errands so we can get to activities/dinner/more errands. So much rushing around to get to...nowhere.

As my peeps who are reading my blogs regularly know, I stopped working at my normal job on Fridays recently. And while not everyone has the luxury of doing so, and my change in schedule was thought about for a LONG time before doing it, I am inviting you to reflect on your daily routine and find some space for your yoga practice. For me, having one day a week which I could concentrate on my interests, and living a mindful, healthy life was an answer to what had been becoming an extremely stressful situation. However even before I took this leap, I began carving out SPACE in my day, my physical surroundings, and even my life, to be able to invite myself back into my practice. 

Is there a way for you to invite your practice back into your life? Consider some of the following options:

• Are you a morning, afternoon, or evening person? What time of day might you be most receptive to a regular yoga practice?
• Do you have any flexibility in your work schedule? Can you come in early or later to accommodate a class or home practice? (You never know until you ask! Since making my change, several people I know have asked their bosses about having some flexibility with their schedule for various reasons, and with positive results!)
• Is there a physical space you can use in your home to lay out your mat or towel? (Neither a mat nor a towel is necessary! You can practice on your floor. I like having a mat because it gives me a sense of space and is a little easier on my hands and knees...)
• Is there a yoga studio nearby, or a gym/YMCA/community center which offers classes at a time you can attend?
• Is there a park/beach/green zone where you can practice in nature?

The SigO and I currently live in a studio apartment. For my home practice, I lay my mat out on the floor in a corner of the room near our windows. (I like a lot of natural light.) I put on a playlist from my iTunes and just go for it. Sometimes the external distractions can be LOUD - laundry running, dishwasher churning, the SigO cooking, people walking and talking in the courtyard outside...But generally once I have begun, the world falls away, and it is just me and my mat, one breath at a time.

At a work conference in Arizona everyone made a beeline for the sugary snacks during breaks...Instead I snuck out during breaks to practice under this gorgeous waterfall! It's a space I will be forever grateful for experiencing...

5. Have fun

At a not-so-fun female checkup recently, I mentioned to the nurse practitioner that I practice yoga regularly when she asked about my normal activities. She gave a half-smile, looked at me, shrugged her shoulders and said "Gosh, I really SHOULD do yoga." 

Uuuuhhhhgggg. My heart sank a little hearing her say THAT phrase, one that I have heard all too often. There is no SHOULD in yoga. A practice is not a chore or errand that needs to be completed before going on to the next item on your checklist. If you look at it as such, you are dooming yourself to NEVER practicing!

When I practice yoga, I feel happy, light, and strong. For a few moments, or longer, there is just the breath. My mind quiets from its incessant chatter, and I feel as though I am dancing in space. For me, the practice of yoga is filled with JOY and FUN! So if the fun has gone out of your practice, try the following:

• Invite a friend on a yoga date. My friend Megan and I have a fairly regular tradition of yoga and lunch/dinner. It's a great way to hang out, plus we get to invite each other to try different yoga styles that we might not have tried on our own.
• Try a yoga retreat. My friend Christy and I took a weekend to test out SUP yoga at Kripalu. We made friends with some wonderful people, and deepened our friendship along the way. Six months later, my sister-in-law, Trisha, and I got to spend time doing a Spice it up cooking class also at Kripalu. Good food, great friends, and yoga...what more can you ask for?
• Incorporate yoga into activities you already enjoy. Going on a hike? How about picking a gorgeous tree and challenging yourself to hold tree pose under it for as long as possible...(Photo op!) Preparing for a bike ride? How about a few sun salutations to stretch those muscles before and after the ride?
• Started back in your practice, but feeling bored? Why not try a different style than what you are used to? (See suggestion no. 2 for a list of just SOME of the styles you can try.) Although I loved my regular practice when living in Cape Cod, I jumped at the opportunity to try aerial and hoop yoga. Recently I have been playing with acro yogis and learning slackline yoga - which has upped the fun factor even more!
• Give yourself permission to goof off. Not every practice has to be a perfect flow, or a set of postures. Some days I just want to play. So after a nice warmup, I may practice tree pose with my eyes closed, or challenge myself to work on my handstands, or giggle my way through a warrior flow...just because it makes me happy to do these things. Invite the playfulness back into your practice, and you may surprise yourself on how often you WANT to practice.
• Head to a yoga event. Being back in southern California means I have access to a ton of fun, inspiring events in my region through Wanderlust, YogaJournal, among many others. Going to an event, whether with a friend or on your own, means you will be sharing your day with a community of people filled with positive-energy who are often excited to share their passion for yoga! Fresh air, music, yummy eats, and yoga...sounds like my idea of a good time! (Google yoga events in your area and I am sure you will come up with some options...Live out in the boonies? Host a yoga party of your own!)

Big smile before the Wanderlust event in San Diego this year! A day of running a 5k, music, yoga, and laughter!

Hopefully these tips will help you invite yoga back into your life! Have suggestions that have worked for you? Please feel free to share! I am always listening...with smiles...