To be successful, at yoga, or anything else in life, you need two main ingredients: understand the fundamentals of the activity and know yourself.
These top ten tips will give you a solid foundation on which to develop your yoga practice on a daily basis.
1.
Be clear about your needs and goals.
Take the time to consider what you want to get from your yoga practice and identify these as specific goals.
Remember to take into consideration where you are at and how much time and energy commitment you want to give to your yoga practice.
If you have, or are currently experiencing any health issues, please consult your doctor before embarking on regular yoga practice and consult with your yoga teacher who can give you appropriate modifications.
2.
Be committed.
Even if the philosophical aspects of yoga or even a yoga lifestyle are not appealing to you, try to stay open to the holistic philosophy of yoga.
Yoga has a great deal more to offer than just a strength and fitness benefit.
Commit to fully experiencing yoga practice and you might be surprised what else you learn about yourself.
3.
Take the time to learn.
Yoga is an age-old discipline.
To engage successfully in its practice it is worth taking the time to learn about all aspects of it, not just the poses to practice.
The Yoga tradition is varied and vast.
Taking the time to explore many of the different variations of Yoga.
4.
It takes time.
Especially if you are very new to Yoga it will take time for you to see and experience the full benefits and results from yoga practice.
Give yourself and your practice dedicated time and discipline and you will see and feel the immense benefits that yoga has to offer.
5.
Breathe.
One of the reasons that yoga is so potent and beneficial for our bodies and our minds is that it combines both the physical poses of strength and flexibility with an awareness and concentration on, the breath.
Focus on your breathing and on the different types of breathing patterns used in yoga practice to ensure you experience the full benefits.
6.
Mix it up.
Like any activity, if you practice it the same way all the time, you are likely to get bored with it, even if you start with oodles of enthusiasm.
Vary your program periodically.
Investigate other styles of yoga, or take a class with a different instructor.
7.
Start out right.
It is much harder to unlearn poor technique, than it is to get started in the right way.
Wherever possible, try to get to a few classes with a qualified instructor and read a book or two on Yoga to give you a good all round grounding in the fundamentals.
8.
Be kind to yourself.
As adults we often demand of ourselves immediate success in any venture, especially a new sport or activity.
Don't worry about what others 'can do' or how 'inflexible' you are.
Perfectionism has no place in Yoga and it will be worth your while to let it go! 9.
Listen to your body.
Yoga poses may feel awkward or unusual when you start, but they should never cause pain or discomfort.
If find yourself holding your breath, shaking in a pose or straining, then come out of the pose and try a modification, rest and try again.
Your body will let you know what is working and what's not.
Don't override what your body is saying in a rush to 'see results'.
10.
Its fun with a friend.
Yoga practice with a friend, or a regular yoga class is a wonderful way to get encouragement as you learn and develop together.
Yoga practice brings many lifelong benefits, regardless of when you start.
To be successful in yoga and enjoy your yoga practice, take the time to implement these top ten tips and you too will soon be experiencing the quiet and unique physical, mental and spiritual benefits of yoga.
These top ten tips will give you a solid foundation on which to develop your yoga practice on a daily basis.
1.
Be clear about your needs and goals.
Take the time to consider what you want to get from your yoga practice and identify these as specific goals.
Remember to take into consideration where you are at and how much time and energy commitment you want to give to your yoga practice.
If you have, or are currently experiencing any health issues, please consult your doctor before embarking on regular yoga practice and consult with your yoga teacher who can give you appropriate modifications.
2.
Be committed.
Even if the philosophical aspects of yoga or even a yoga lifestyle are not appealing to you, try to stay open to the holistic philosophy of yoga.
Yoga has a great deal more to offer than just a strength and fitness benefit.
Commit to fully experiencing yoga practice and you might be surprised what else you learn about yourself.
3.
Take the time to learn.
Yoga is an age-old discipline.
To engage successfully in its practice it is worth taking the time to learn about all aspects of it, not just the poses to practice.
The Yoga tradition is varied and vast.
Taking the time to explore many of the different variations of Yoga.
4.
It takes time.
Especially if you are very new to Yoga it will take time for you to see and experience the full benefits and results from yoga practice.
Give yourself and your practice dedicated time and discipline and you will see and feel the immense benefits that yoga has to offer.
5.
Breathe.
One of the reasons that yoga is so potent and beneficial for our bodies and our minds is that it combines both the physical poses of strength and flexibility with an awareness and concentration on, the breath.
Focus on your breathing and on the different types of breathing patterns used in yoga practice to ensure you experience the full benefits.
6.
Mix it up.
Like any activity, if you practice it the same way all the time, you are likely to get bored with it, even if you start with oodles of enthusiasm.
Vary your program periodically.
Investigate other styles of yoga, or take a class with a different instructor.
7.
Start out right.
It is much harder to unlearn poor technique, than it is to get started in the right way.
Wherever possible, try to get to a few classes with a qualified instructor and read a book or two on Yoga to give you a good all round grounding in the fundamentals.
8.
Be kind to yourself.
As adults we often demand of ourselves immediate success in any venture, especially a new sport or activity.
Don't worry about what others 'can do' or how 'inflexible' you are.
Perfectionism has no place in Yoga and it will be worth your while to let it go! 9.
Listen to your body.
Yoga poses may feel awkward or unusual when you start, but they should never cause pain or discomfort.
If find yourself holding your breath, shaking in a pose or straining, then come out of the pose and try a modification, rest and try again.
Your body will let you know what is working and what's not.
Don't override what your body is saying in a rush to 'see results'.
10.
Its fun with a friend.
Yoga practice with a friend, or a regular yoga class is a wonderful way to get encouragement as you learn and develop together.
Yoga practice brings many lifelong benefits, regardless of when you start.
To be successful in yoga and enjoy your yoga practice, take the time to implement these top ten tips and you too will soon be experiencing the quiet and unique physical, mental and spiritual benefits of yoga.