She is a runner and knows that running is the only way to improve her race times. Her attitude towards running is an excellent reminder of daily yoga’s importance and spirit.
Why do you practice yoga every day
A daily practice represents a commitment towards yourself and your growth. Daily exercise is essential to stay fit physically, mentally balanced, emotionally intense, and spiritually connected. This is an affordable, simple, and accessible practice you can do almost anywhere. You can still benefit from this practice, even if it’s only 15 minutes daily.
The Yoga Sutras (1.14) teach us that to be firmly established, we need to practice for an extended period without interruptions, with a devotional attitude and a heart full of service. Daily practice creates a strong foundation and enables us to focus on progress toward enlightenment.
Daily practice is a challenge
Many students come to yoga with a lot of enthusiasm. Students often come to yoga with a lot of confidence. They buy mats and athletic clothing and sign up for yoga classes. As muscles conditioned into numbness are called to work on joints, they will feel pain. Egos are hurt as yogis compare themselves with advanced students.
Many people stop attending class and quit. The real challenge begins when we face our obstacles and our excuses.
Yoga benefits for daily practice
If we practice regularly, our practice will stay the same and, in turn, will transform our life. We can explore our true selves and full potential the more we practice.
What happens when you practice yoga daily? Daily practice gives us the confidence to progress through asanas and overcome mental, physical, and emotional obstacles. The daily practice cultivates an attitude of patience and compassion over brute strength. A yoga practice daily has many benefits. It keeps us centered, flexible, strong, and calm. It keeps us sane, in other words!
How much yoga can you do
In her book Yoga Beyond Belief, Ganga White answers the age-old student question: “How long will it be before I master the yoga postures?” How long before I can master the yoga poses? White’s answer: It will take you the rest of your lifetime.
Yoga is not an endpoint. It is a journey. The goal of practice is not to master the asanas but rather the results of that practice. Pattabhi Jois once said, “Yoga is 1% theory, and the rest is practice.” Patanjali didn’t prescribe a period to mastery. He taught us that combining abhyasa – a constant and determined effort – with vairagya – non-attachment, freedom from desire – we could establish a solid foundation for our practice. This contradicts how many of us live: we always seek instant gratification. How long would it take to learn? This is a lifetime, of course, for most people.
We must let go of the attachment to our goal and practice vairagya. Tapas, the zeal and determination to sustain a lifelong practice is required. We see how yoga reflects on our lives as we travel. What we do on the yoga mat is also what we do daily. The way we react to a difficult pose reflects the way we live.
How to begin a daily practice of yoga
Many people need help with how to start a daily routine. You may feel overwhelmed when you try to incorporate a new daily activity into your routine. Here are eight tips that will help you start:
Schedule a time. Each day, I recommend doing a brief Yoga routine. Find the best time to practice self-care. You can set reminders to remind yourself to exercise.
Begin small. Committing to a daily practice will make you more likely to succeed. You can start with five minutes of Sun Salutations and a few Beginner Yoga Poses. Then, you can move on to breathing exercises before finishing with a few Meditation. Start small and work your way up.
Select the appropriate level. Make sure the yoga classes are the right length and intensity based on your dedication and ability. You may feel frustrated and discouraged if you try to take on too much. Consider whether you require more guidance than the teacher can provide in class. Many teachers offer private lessons to work closely with students and ensure they get the best instruction.
Find a teacher that inspires you. Look for someone whose teaching style is similar to yours and whose classes will push you to greater heights. You can ask friends and family about their favorite yoga instructors. There are many online yoga classes that you can use if you need a teacher.
Just do what feels good. You don’t have to worry about how an asana looks. Do what feels right for you. On some days, I start my day with a few Sun Salutations. Sometimes I’ll sit and breathe deeply. You can do whatever you like.
Start your daily practice off the mat. You can begin a daily yoga practice anywhere and anytime by taking a few moments to slow down and listen to what is happening within and around you. Yoga is only sometimes physical. Many forms of yoga focus on mental discipline and self-awareness. Take a few minutes to focus on breathing when in traffic. When you walk to the supermarket, take a moment to feel the sensations of your feet, your skin, and the air. Find a moment to pause and breathe deeply, bringing awareness to your body. While waiting for your coffee to brew, find opportunities to adopt a posture. For example, take three deep breaths while in tree pose.