How to enjoy yoga again
You’ve just got home after what seemed to be a long day at work. You then head out to a local studio to join a yoga class. After putting on your yoga gear, you roll out the mat and stare blankly into space, and find yourself thinking: what am I doing here? After practicing yoga for some time, all the motivation and enthusiasm has left you, and your mind seems to be somewhere else while your body is still in the studio. If yoga is becoming less than enjoyable, take a look at these reasons why yoga might not be working for you, and what you can do about it.
Be flexible with timing
Sometimes life can really get in the way of your classes. You’ve probably convinced yourself that nothing will be able to keep you from attending that 90-minute weekday class in the evening. But more often than not, somehow something always comes up and brings you up short. If you have a hectic work life and busy schedule, aim to keep things simple. Try shortening your yoga sessions and see how it goes. It’s better to stick with a short routine first, then take things from there.
Choose the right yoga style
Yoga has become so popular these days that there are a variety of classes offered for practitioners of all levels. While all styles of yoga are designed to help you improve your strength, flexibility, and balance, choosing the wrong one could lead to a frustrating experience. If you feel the need to move around and do something active, joining a Hatha yoga class where people perform basic poses might feel awkward and unfulfilling. The key is to find a class that you enjoy doing, so if you feel like you’re in a rut, try a number of different styles until you find the yoga practice you feel most comfortable with. That way you’ll have a better chance of sticking with it.
Listen to your body
Yoga is about cleansing, strengthening, and releasing tension – it’s not about injuring yourself so you can keep up with the class. Learn to listen to your body and respect its physical limitations. If you feel pain when you’re performing certain moves, take that as a sign to stop. There is always a modification that can be made to accommodate your body. But don’t take things too easy – strive to find the “edge” where the intensity of the posture challenges you, but doesn’t cause you extreme pain or discomfort.
Don’t give up on yoga until you’ve tried your best to keep up your practice. If you want to learn how yoga can improve your health and wellbeing, get in touch with our yoga fitness experts today and see how we can help.
