5 tips to stay motivated with your yoga practice over the festive season
It’s that time of the year when we all want to slow down, put up our feet, reflect on the past and plan for the New Year ahead. It is often during this time that we feel low in energy as we get stuck in reflecting and think about how we should have done things differently. We also think about all the positives that have happened and we want to rejoice in our achievements. We often feel guilty and stuck, and then we plan to make the next year so much better….and let’s face it, this past year has been incredibly challenging.
This December will feel different for all of us whether we are celebrating or not this season, according to our faith. This can also be a very hectic time, finishing of projects at work, shopping, cooking, cleaning and trying to fit everything in before we put our feet up and hope to relax, take a deep breath and sigh out.
We can overlook putting ourselves first, create more stress and anxiety, feel run down and somehow get sucked into the whirlpool of this season when we try so hard not to! At this time of the year, even our yoga practice can feel like yet another item to check off our seemingly never-ending to-do list. But of course, this yoga practice is what keeps us balanced when life gets extra busy, and gives us a boost when we feel drained. I know for myself it is especially important to stick with my practice, even when I’m not particularly inspired!
Here are my top tips to keep you inspired and motivated to continue with your practice over the festive season:
1. Learn to respect the time you have to practice
"Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever." ~ Mahatma Gandhi
Who said you need to do a one or two hour practice? I must confess I used to do this many years ago and now and then I will treat myself to a beautiful long session but most often my shorter sessions are so much more powerful and give me a boost for the day. Just do 20-30 minutes. My suggestion: either start standing or lying down depending on how you feel when you wake up. Take a couple of deeper breaths in and out, feel into your body and notice what is tight, what needs attention now, let your awareness linger there and as you breathe in send loving energy to that party of your body and as you breathe out soften and release, do this for about 2-3 minutes and then flow into your yoga posture (asana) practice, it really does not matter what you do as long as your intention is to be aware of each breath, focus on loving kindness for your body and mind, there is no right or wrong way, go with the flow, let go of analysing/performing/judging/am I doing it right/etc. Listen to your body and don’t push, practice “ahimsa“, non-harming or non- violence. Ahimsa is one of the five yamas, from Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras which are the ethical, moral and societal guidelines for yogis. Instead of letting the limits of your body create stress, make the decision to intentionally respect and even love the limitations your own body has. Perform yoga poses gracefully, but do it without force. Then for the last 5-8 minutes do a short meditation and or breathing exercise. You will be amazed how transforming this can be – keep it simple.
2. Be content in what you have right now
“Realise that true happiness lies within you. Waste no time and effort searching for peace and contentment and joy in the world outside.” Anonymous
In Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, the 8 limbs of yoga, the second of the niyamas (self- disciplines), santosa means contentment. In yoga, contentment refers to detaching from our desires and cultivating an inner calm and joy that is not dependent on what is happening in our lives. Santosa encourages you to be plainly honest with yourself. Without that first step of honesty, healing cannot take place.
In the Yoga Sutras, attachment is often referred to as the foundation of our unhappiness and discontent in life. We all seem to be on a search for happiness but the study of yoga reminds us that happiness is not a ‘something’ to attain. We can’t buy happiness or find it through the next job or a better relationship. Happiness is about finding contentment in the now, that is santosa. It is letting go of striving for what we don’t have and receiving with joy what we do have. Santosa is a peace inside of you that doesn’t change regardless of what is happening externally!
Mindfulness – the practice of conscious attention on the present without judgment is the key to santosa. Take a few moments now to sit and breathe, be aware and allow yourself to be content just in this moment. Notice when a situation becomes tense and take yourself away from the tension, reset, and pause, take a few deep breaths in and out – then return to the situation at hand with a clearer mindset and your emotions in balance or if you never admit to yourself that you’re exhausted or burned out then you will not take the steps needed to rest and heal.
Meditate - Take 10 minutes out of your day to meditate, write this intention down, the time of day, set your alarm, don’t think about it- just do it!
3. Daily readings and inspirational messages
“What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.” — Henry David Thoreau
Most times when I start my day I will read a short passage from a book, poem or inspirational quote to set the tone for my day and prepare for my yoga asana or meditation practice, especially if I feel I am tempted to skip my practice! I also have quite a few inspirational books on my bedtime table that I read in the evening or bed time to help me wind down and release any tension from my day, or set an intention for the next day.
4. Journaling
"Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony." ~ Mahatma Gandhi
Having a journal and writing daily to just clear out my thoughts or work with an intention is one of my survival techniques I cannot do without. This daily practice of therapeutic writing sets the tone for my day/ help me to reflect/set intentions/ what I am grateful for and check of my self-care activities every day, see step 5. Now having said all this it actually took quite a bit of self talking to get started as I didn’t know what to write, I would procrastinate, stop and start until I decided to buy a beautiful notebook and pen, wrote down my intention to practice meditation every day just for 10 minutes and write in my journal before my meditation for 2-3 minutes just purging my thoughts with automatic writing. I can’t tell you how therapeutic and liberating this was. Yes, most of it was gibberish but eventually one word would stand out and this would then become my intention for the day (big secret– next year I will have a whole module on journaling to get you started)
5. Inspire yourself – you deserve a treat
“A comfort zone is a beautiful place, but nothing ever grows there.” — Author Unknown
In our practice off the mat, yoga teaches us to not overindulge, especially buying things we things we think we need but we really don’t. Purchasing mindfully and with intent giving yourself a treat that serves you, body, mind and soul. Brahmacharya, which means moderation, the 4th Yama of the 8 limbs in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. Brahmacharya is about paying attention to how you use your energy in everyday life. It’s about providing your mind and body with what it needs and enjoys without going to a place of excess. If you need inspiration then treat yourself to a new eco mat, eco yoga outfit, perhaps a real gift for someone else (the gift of giving mindfully can really make a big difference), gift to a charity, or buy something beautiful to add to your meditation area like flowers, statue, picture, photo, card, incense, soy candle, or essential oil can be just what you need to give you a little incentive. What about a buying a lovely journal and pen, or treat yourself to a massage, pedicure or facial treatment? Why not go to a yoga class or workshop at a studio or online to support them or try a new teacher, studio, sometimes it takes just a change of the norm to be alert and energised again. Bring positivity into your life with inspiring apps, books, magazines and follow only those yoga and meditation teachers that inspire you from within. Other ideas are joining a yoga challenge (big secret – I have one coming very soon!)
Wishing you all a wonderful festive season.
Miriam xx