When is the best time to practice? (Part 1)

Establishing a regular yoga practice can be rather challenging for anyone...and not just for people who are new to yoga, although they are overwhelmed with the postures, the language, the philosophy and the history behind the practice of yoga.  Even "seasoned" yogis can have a hard time committing to a practice.  I recognize that I am in a very busy time of the year in my regular career (why must the end of the school year always be so crazy?!?), but I am finding it unusually difficult to get myself onto my mat.  There is the time factor, and there's also the motivation factor (who has energy at the end of a dizzyingly busy day - and who has the energy to squeeze in a practice before you get to work?).

It's the ultimate irony that when you need yoga the most, it seems so elusive!  You begin to fall into a pattern:  "well, I didn't get to it this week, but next week will be less busy, so I'll get to it then".  These patterns don't help - they ultimately become patterns of avoidance, and the time between yoga sessions will get longer and longer.  The stress will be building and building, and the insecurities will set in: "It's been so long since I've practiced.  I just don't know if I'll remember how to do anything..."

The beauty of yoga is that you can do it at anytime.  All that's required is a little mindfulness.  Most people forget that yoga is not just the asana postures you see above.  Asana is just one eighth of "YOGA", and even that can be done anywhere - it doesn't require a mat or acrobatics.  Solely limiting yourself to asana is limiting your yoga practice.  Once you open yourself to the realization that yoga is not a physical exercise, not just a "workout", you can see that it's a body-mind-spirit experience, and you can do it at any time.

If you're like most people, you tend to focus on asana, so we can start there in my next post ("When is the best time to practice?  Part 2"), but keep your mind open to the possibility that just sitting quietly for thirty seconds and listening to the sounds around you while you focus on your breath is "yoga".  I can almost guarantee that you will feel more calm and focused, perhaps even energized for the next item on your agenda.  Thirty seconds, that's it.  Try it right now... slide your hand off of the mouse, hold your hands in your lap, and just breathe.  If your mind is so fidgety, bring your attention to your breath by counting how many breaths you take during those thirty seconds - that's a start, and it's a start to your yoga practice.

Did it work?  Do you feel a little more calm?  Thirty seconds is all it took...Next time you can expand your practice to 45 seconds.  You can even do that while you're waiting at the next traffic light!

Namaste.