It’s the start of a new year and here at YogaClub we are determined to help YOU feel ready to take on 2018. It’s always an exciting time when January 1 rolls around; time to start fresh, make a new plan, put into action those goals and dreams you have been putting off. It’s also a time to reflect on the past year and what you can do to make the coming year even better.
Setting and keeping resolutions can be challenging, so here are seven tips to help you start and maintain a regular yoga practice in the New Year. This will benefit you and your loved ones, as well as potentially inspiring others to join you, once they see the positive changes a regular yoga practice will make!
Make Time
Start by setting aside time to practice. Thirty minutes a day is a good place to start, especially if you are working toward a home practice. Add this to your calendar and make it recurring. Even if you can only manage 10 minutes a day at first, you got it in! That’s a start you can grow from. Try not to schedule anything over this time; make it as sacred, or more, than everything else you add to your calendar.
Choose a Sequence
If starting a home practice, choose the sequence that works best for you. Starting with something you can memorize and come back to everyday is a great way to build the habit of regular practice. Basics are a perfect place to start. For example a simple flow could be Child’s Pose, Cat/Cow flows, Down Dog, Forward Fold, Warrior Postures, Triangle, Down Dog, Cobbler’s Pose, Seated or Reclined Twist, Savasana. After a few weeks or as you start to be more comfortable with your sequence you can add or change it up!
Create Space
Set aside space in your house where you can practice everyday. Maybe even leave your mat rolled out, ready for you to step on it. This will act as a visual cue, reminding you not to miss your daily practice. The more you use this space, the more you’ll look forward to it!
Pick a Studio Class
Find a studio class or two that fit your schedule, and commit to regular attendance. These should go on your calendar too as they are part of your weekly commitments, and should eventually become routine. Try out different teachers and find one that keeps you motivated and whose teaching style speaks to you! This is also a great way to keep your practice fresh and get new ideas for sequences.
Find Your Community
Make a yoga friend and join the community. Even if you are mostly practicing at home, it’s nice to have someone you can talk to about how it’s going. If you mostly attend classes at a studio it’s nice to have a friend or two who you meet up with to go to class and check in with. This keeps you accountable to your practice time, but you’re also likely to meet some wonderful people in the process. Join our community “My Yoga Journey” on Facebook to meet friends and share your journey. Plus you can chat about what you got in your latest YogaClub box!
Share Your Experience
Talk about it, tell family, friends, and coworkers about your practice. Who knows, maybe one of them will want to join you. More importantly, it cements the commitment to your regular yoga practice, and makes it clear that it’s part of the reason you have made such a miraculous shift in your life! The positive vibes this will give off will reinforce your desire to maintain the practice.
Find a Yoga 101 Course
If you are new to yoga and all of this sounds scary, try finding a beginner course at a local studio to get you started! Remember, it may feel uncomfortable, embarrassing, or intimidating, but we all started knowing the same amount, and you deserve a healthy yoga practice in your life!
Finally, the most important thing to remember is the reason behind the practice. The practice gives us the tools needed to maintaining a happy, healthy, and full life and at the end of the day, making time to give yourself that gift is a huge achievement! Now bring on the new year, a happier you and a phenomenal life!
About the Author
Clarissa is a 500 hour RYT teaching weekly classes in the Quad Cities IL/IA since 2014. She also travels extensively presenting workshops, presentations around the country and leading international retreats. She teaches what might be considered Vinyasa style classes mostly but loves instructing beginners and teaching new innovative flows. After a decade as a student Clarissa enjoys sharing what she has learned, helping her students shape their future through yoga and movement. She has had a dedicated Ashtanga practice for 4+ years that has fueled her desire to learn and share the power of yoga with as many people as she can! She loves being a YogaClub Tribe leader and her favorite YogaClub brands include Teeki, NUX, and Free People!
