Finding time to practice yoga can certainly be a challenge. I am passionate about yoga, have a deep desire to grow my practice as well as share the gift of yoga through teaching, and yet there are times when I just don’t feel motivated to practice.
When I find myself struggling to make time to be on the mat, I consider two things. First, do I need a break or to change things up? Being in tune with our bodies and listening when it tells us it needs a rest is an important and difficult skill to develop. When I’ve been doing vinyasa (flow) practices everyday, sometimes my body is simply craving a rest. Maybe it’s a day or two, maybe it’s a week. During that time, I may skip some practices or do more gentle sequences, such as in a restorative or yin class.
As a former college athlete, I certainly struggle at times to be ok pausing or slowing down instead of pushing through. The yama of ahimsa, nonviolence, teaches us to treat ourselves with love and acceptance. There is no story we need to tell ourselves about why we need a break, what it means about our character, or anything else. We can simply recognize the need for a break, and take it.
The second thing I consider is, do I need to recommit to practice or carve out time during a specific time of day to get back on track? Sometimes finding time to practice feels so easy. Depending on my schedule, I might practice in the morning, mid-day, or evening. Other times, however, I find myself at the end of the day, too tired to practice, and promising to find time tomorrow. Tomorrow comes and the pattern repeats. During these times, I find it helpful to recommit in some way to my practice, and pick a specific time of day to practice. This might look like finding a 30-day yoga series on Youtube and committing to do the 10-minute practices every morning for a month. Even better if I can find a friend to commit to the same practice and have an accountability buddy. It could also look like planning out my calendar on Sunday night and signing up for two in-person evening classes throughout the week well ahead of time.
It’s also important to keep in mind that asana, the poses of yoga, is only one of the eight limbs of yoga. Though yoga is often synonymous with asanas in US culture, there is much to explore beyond the asanas to continue growing in our yoga journeys. We’ll explore these together in upcoming blog posts.
Caitlin Marie Yoga, LLC 