Sometimes it’s not that easy getting to your yoga class regularly. What do you do when you run into “yoga-block?” (Is that a thing?) You know you should go, but you just can’t get your body to cooperate.
How can you kick it into gear?
Here are a few tips that might help you get/stay motivated.
1) Your Intention to Practice
First of all, it’s important to remember why you decided to take up a yoga practice in the first place.
Was it to get a stronger core, to relieve that nagging back pain, to develop greater flexibility in your tight limbs, to increase your athletic stamina for better sex (hehe), to calm down your racing mind?
Whatever the reason, use that as your motivation to stick with your yoga practice. Returning to these origins, especially if you have noticed improvements in these areas, can be the driving force that will push you along when you’re feeling a little disillusioned.
These thoughts can reinforce and encourage you to move forward.
2) Keep It Short & Easy
It only takes a few minutes to practice yoga. (Really?)
You don’t necessarily have to feel obligated to get to a 60 or 90 minute yoga class. If you’ve been practicing yoga for awhile, you know that you can create a very simple practice for yourself that includes some breathing and a few poses.
Choose your favorite poses and intermingle them with some breathing exercises. In reality, this may only take about 3-5 minutes. Almost everyone has an extra 5 minutes in his or her day.
And although this may be such a short span of time, the time spent to take care of yourself is well worth it.
Another tip is to keep a spare yoga mat nearby; keep one in your office, in the bedroom closet, in the trunk of your car. You’ll feel more motivated to practice when you know you’re well prepared.
3) Buy A Yoga Pass
For some, getting to a yoga class has a greater effect on them than when they try to practice at home by themselves. Sometimes there’s just too many distractions at home.
In a yoga class, there are no outside disturbances to get in the way of your devotional work. You can simply settle into the practice for that full session without worrying about phones calls, children needing your attention, or having your mind wander off on random thoughts.
Your yoga class can ultimately be your retreat away from your regular routine.
To help you get to the yoga studio more often, purchase a punch pass: a collection of classes that will encourage you to attend regularly. Studios may offer a 10-pass, a 20-pass, or even an Monthly Unlimited Pass. When you make the financial investment in a yoga punch pass, you put a value on your personal practice: it becomes something very important to you. Invest the time in a yoga pass and you invest the time in yourself.
4) Practice Gone Stale? Add Some Spice!
Whether you do yoga at home or in a yoga studio, one reason you may not be hitting the yoga mat like you want to is that it’s lacking variety, freshness, and stimulation.
Sometimes you need a little something to perk things up so you are recharged. If you’re practicing on your own at home, you may lack the innovation and creativity to design a practice that seems suitable to your needs. As result, you end up doing the same old thing over and over and it begins to get a little boring.
Or if you’ve been going to the same yoga class at your local studio week after week, maybe you’ve grown too accustomed to the instruction, the class format, or even the teacher.
Try attending a brand new class; take another style of yoga. There are so many to choose from.
If you’ve been going to Bikram Yoga, try a Yin Yoga class. If you do yoga at home, change your routine by purchasing a yoga book that offers a new set of poses that you’ve never tried before.
Add them to the mix and see what happens. Doing these things may refreshen your desire for yoga and it may help you to dig deeper into inner awareness that is needed right now.
Perhaps you’ve only scratched the surface with your yoga practice. Trying something new may take you to that next level.
5) Go With A Friend
Stay dedicated to your practice by attending classes with your best buddy. You’re more likely to show up to your power yoga class if you know you’re friend is waiting for you.
Heck, they even saved a spot for you in the studio! Team up with a yoga buddy and you’ll keep your commitment to your practice. Make an agreement with a friend to encourage each other to go to class. Carpool, share an Uber ride, or meet each other in the lobby to strengthen that agreement. Then reward yourselves after class.
Go grab a smoothie together! You’ll both be more motivated to practice yoga.
6) Set An Obtainable (and Reasonable) Goal
Of course, there are many benefits to practicing yoga everyday: you’ll become more flexible, strong, and mobile in a shorter period of time, your mind will experience calm and ease more swiftly, and your overall well being will be more noticeable.
But you don’t have to worry too much about the timing of these benefits; you WILL achieve these goals. It’s all going to take time regardless. If going to a 90-minute class everyday doesn’t fit your time budget, do something that is more suitable to your lifestyle.
Why not hit the studio 3 days a week? And there’s certainly nothing wrong with one day per week. Just be consistent.
But most importantly, set a reasonable goal that you KNOW you can achieve when it comes to yoga class attendance. We can sometimes set our standards too high: “I’m going to practice yoga every single day!” If that’s a lofty goal, make a shift. Perhaps 2 times a week is an objective you can achieve and maintain. (Yeah! That’s the ticket!)
7) The Challenge
Sometimes a yoga studio may offer a “Yoga Challenge” to get you on your yoga mat more often.
Try it!
Watch for month-long challenges that encourage you to take a yoga class every day of the month. That’s certainly a big commitment, but it will certainly up your yoga game.
Even if you don’t make it everyday, keep track of the days that you do attend. (The challenge is more about YOU staying motivated and reaping in the benefits of the practice).
Often the studio will post a tracking board so your attendance is on display for you and others to see. In addition to this, notice how you FEEL when you attend classes everyday. And more than likely, there may be prizes handed to those who complete the challenge. Nothing wrong with some yoga swag to go along with your enlightened state of mind!
8) Remember The Relaxation Feeling
You already know that yoga makes you feel good. Probably 99.9% of the time, you feel great after your yoga practice. Remember what that feels like; log it into you brain. (Even journal about it).
This memory can be the thing that brings you back to your practice more often. Even when you’re feeling down in the dumps, try to recall the sensation you have after some Downward Facing Dogs and Warrior Poses: you usually feel more alive and happy.
Take advantage of that optimistic view of your practice. You KNOW that your practice is practically a guarantee to healthy well being, so hop to it. It’s a win-win situation.
9) Favorite Teacher
You’re more likely to do engage in activities that you enjoy, right?
This may take a little shopping around, but find the yoga class or instructor that you really like.
Add those classes to your regular routine and attend them as often as you can. Maybe there’s a teacher out there that says just the right things or you like the way they construct vinyasa flow sequences. ( I did not say : find a hot and sexy teacher haha).
Whatever it is that floats your boat, do more of it. Just knowing that you’re going to your favorite class improves your mood. You get an added bonus when you actually attend and complete the session.
10) Treat Yourself
Reward yourself for staying on track.
You put in the time and effort to practice, so why not give yourself a little treat to mark your accomplishment. (We know it’s yoga, but there’s nothing wrong with stroking the ego once in awhile.)
If you practiced for a week straight, having achieved your intended goal, then give yourself that gold star! Better yet…..buy those Yoganum Tote bags or apparel you’ve been eyeing. Now THAT’S motivating!
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