Tips to Maintain A Regular Yoga Practice

It's high time to pull yourself out of the deep dark well of excuses and procrastination. I have some advice for everyone who has been wanting to do yoga for a long time but could not start, quit halfway, and lost their enthusiasm. The things I am going to mention are suitable for all levels. They will be about some important details that I have concluded based on my own experiences over the years and that helped me maintain my motivation.

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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!

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1- A minimum time 

If your goal is to do yoga daily or at regular intervals (for example, every other day), set a minimum time frame for yourself. It might be 15 minutes for me while it is only 5 minutes for you. I think the key point in this method is instead of using assertive sentences such as "I will do yoga for at least 15 minutes every day!!!" go and tell yourself  "I can do 15 minutes of yoga every day." More moderate and positive sentences will be more reachable and adaptable. 

2- 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. There is no rule that says everyone gets up early in the morning to do yoga. In an article I read recently, I learned that being a morning or night person is genetic. Maybe it will be torture for you to wake up at 5 in the morning and do yoga. So, you should find the hour that is superior to you and practice at that hour.

3- A space 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. Choosing at least 2 areas is better than skipping your practice by saying "But the space where I do yoga is not available now, I'll do it tomorrow"! I would also like to state that I enjoy practicing in the same place every day. If you are someone who finds it boring, going between your options should definitely be considered. 

4- Flow, not result

Unfortunately, social media creates the perception that only people with incredibly flexible and aesthetic bodies do yoga. That's why people who are new to yoga (including me once) want to do pose-focused flows. I have no problem with that. If you feel that doing that asana will do you good, of course, you should work on it. But forcing yourself into a pose is not the right method that works in yoga. As a result, you can get injured, divert your practice from its purpose, and easily lose your motivation. This affects the continuity of the process very badly. 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.

5- Setting the limits

Sometimes we tire ourselves more than necessary due to aesthetic perceptions, sometimes due to impatience and sometimes lack of time. You are on the mat, you have your body. You are on the mat to treat yourself, your environment and the universe better, to remember the power of the whole, to realize your presence. 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. Otherwise, you can quickly get tired, bored, or worse, injure yourself. But don't worry, perhaps one of the most beautiful aspects of yoga practice is gradually discovering one's own mind and body motives.

6- Motivation letter

Doing yoga regularly (or any exercise) undoubtedly requires discipline. Some days we may be more reluctant and more prone to making excuses than others. Write a letter to your future self for days like that. Your letter can contain motivating phrases such as "I know you're unmotivated right now and you're feeling down. But if you get up and get on your mat, you'll feel lightened and relaxed at the end of your practice.". It's entirely up to you what to write to move your body! Go and trick your future self.

7- Monitoring the process

I opened a yoga blog to share my yoga journey in 2018. My goal was to keep records of this process and include everyone who read it in my journey. Over time, I realized that I am very happy to see my body and mind change and develop. Even if you do not prefer to share it on the internet, it can be a good reference for the future to write your thoughts and take videos/photos of your practice from time to time. Your progress will definitely satisfy and motivate you.

8- Recognizing mental bondages

Let's say you couldn't do yoga on the day you planned. Does this affect the next scheduled day? In other words, does your mind tell you "You couldn't do it yesterday anyway, and doing it today won't change anything!". Such an approach will blunt your will to act. 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.

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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!

I hope this information will be effective in gaining the habit of regular yoga practice. Don't forget to save the content and share it with your friends!