5 Ways To Make Yoga A Daily Habit (That Actually Work)
A regular yoga practice will help you enjoy its benefits. Practicing yoga only occasionally might make you feel good in the moment, but you won’t enjoy many long-lasting effects. If you want to see real progress, making time for a daily yoga practice will make a big difference.
Just 10 to 15 minutes a day will help you tap into all the amazing health benefits of yoga. A few daily yoga poses and regular yoga practice can help with everything from mental health problems to weight loss, improved immune system, better balance, and mobility.
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How To Start A Daily Yoga Practice
It may seem impossible to practice yoga every single day, but adding yoga sessions to your daily routine doesn’t need to be arduous. Consistent practice is one of the best ways to improve at yoga. Read on for some tips that actually work to make yoga a daily habit…
1. Practice As Soon As You Fall Out Of Bed
Not all of us are morning people. Some of us head straight for the coffee machine and reach for our iPhones as soon as the alarm goes off. Some of us don’t ever want to be morning people!
I know how you feel, and that’s okay. But I do think you need to give something a try before you stick it in the “definitely not for me” category. Practicing yoga first thing in the morning may well set you up for the rest of the day. It will boost your energy levels. You’ll have a self-righteous glow by the time you stroll into the office.
If you’re slow to get going in the morning, start off in child’s pose. It will help you ease into your yoga session. You could soon be flowing through a sun salutation as part of your morning routine.
Do as much yoga as you want for your regular practice. From gentle yin yoga to a more vigorous vinyasa yoga session – you get to call the shots.
The advantage of morning practice is that it’s done and out of the way. No matter how busy the rest of your day gets, you’ve already carved out a little bit of me-time.
2. Leave Your Mat Out
This works really well when you’re practicing in the morning. Leaving your mat out next to your bed is a helpful reminder.
This way, it’s easy to roll out of bed and try a few poses. After a few gentle downward dogs, I find myself easing into a full yoga flow.
The “leave your mat out” trick also works if you intend to practice when you get home from work. Seeing your mat in the middle of the living room floor can guilt-trip you into working through some poses rather than collapsing on the couch!
3. Sleep In Yoga-Friendly Pyjamas
Of course, not everyone sleeps in pajamas, but if you do, it’s a good idea for hitting the mat first thing in the morning.
I have a collection of slightly baggy leggings and loose-fitting t-shirts that double up as PJs.
It’s not the sort of attire I’m going to wear to yoga class, but this lived-in collection is snug to sleep in and yoga-ready when I crawl out of bed.
It saves me from having to change into yoga wear and change again to get ready for work. That’s more time on the mat.
A variation on this idea is to make yoga-friendly clothing part of your everyday attire. This way you’ll always be ready to hit the mat!
4. Leave A Glass Of Water To Hand
First thing in the morning, you wake up dehydrated. This triggers your yearning for coffee or tea. By the time you’ve headed downstairs and made yourself a drink, the yoga practice has been forgotten. You’ll practice later, right? Or will you…
Instead, keep a glass of water handy in your room. You can hydrate straight away and have no excuse not to hit the mat. Plus, drinking water first thing in the morning tastes so good – you’ll wonder why you don’t do it all the time!
5. Take An Online Class
Some of us find it difficult to practice on our own. If you’re like me, it can be hard to remember the poses or put together an enjoyable routine. The Yoga Bible not only lists 170 yoga poses but also encourages beginners and experts alike to put together a yoga sequence tailored to their needs. Alternatively, YouTube is the answer! These are my picks for the 11 Best Free Yoga Videos for Beginners.
Is it okay to practice yoga every day?
It’s hugely beneficial to practice yoga every day, but you do need to exercise some caution. Just because yoga is so beneficial to the body, it doesn’t mean you can’t get injured.
Try to complete a power yoga session every day, and you’ll end up very sore. Follow up a hard session the next day with some gentle restorative yoga, making sure your body has all the time it needs to recover. Find out more about how often should you do yoga.
