Yoga Practice Hints and Tips
Discover just how beneficial yoga can be for your health. You probably already know that yoga can give you a good workout in only a few minutes a day. However, to make the most of your practice, there are a few important considerations you should keep in mind so you do not get frustrated and give up.
Yoga means union, not frustration.
The goal of yoga is to bring together body and mind, not make you feel like you have no idea what you are doing and that you will never be any good at it, so why bother. Accept that you are a beginner with a lot to learn, but that it is the journey rather than reaching the destination that counts.
Set goals for your practice.
“I want to get more fit,” is a typical statement most people will say at least once in their lives, especially if they are trying to set a New Year’s resolution. The trouble is that the goal is not specific enough. What does more mean, or fit? Define what they mean to you and note down your thoughts in your workout journal. Once you have set personal goals, you can start to measure them.
For example, your goal for the month might be to become more flexible in a certain area, lose X number of pounds, or be able to do Y number of a particular pose. Once you put a number to it, you can track your progress easily. The more success you have in achieving your goals, the greater your confidence.
Switch off your inner critic.
Go from, “No I can’t,” to “I’ve got this,” or “Wow, I did it!”
Remember that yoga is more than just a lot of poses.
Yoga may seem like an endless number of asanas, but a good practice should be balanced in terms of breath work and meditation as well. If you’ve been popping out the poses in your flow yoga, try a different style such as Kundalini, take more time with your breath, or do Yoga Nidra meditation to check in on your body and mind.
Choose the right studio.
Chances are there will be several near you. Take an introductory class, meet the students and teachers, and decide if they are the kind of people you would like to spend time with and who can help you achieve your goals.
Use these tips to make sure you get the most from your yoga practice and see what a difference it can make to your health and fitness.
