Moving
to a new city and being short on cash, I realized it was time to establish my home
practice. I was spoiled for the last 3 years with CNY Yoga Center (Dharma Yoga)
in Syracuse, New York, literally down the street from me. However, last May
after finishing my Dharma Yoga Life of a Yogi Teacher Training, I knew it was
now or never.
After
almost a year, I find myself at a happy medium. I enjoy my solitary practice
and it’s become a habit in my life. I’m still far from the ideal practice I have
envisioned in my mind, but I’m satisfied with the direction it’s going in.
Here
is what I learned:
1.
Have clear goals
Why
do you want to establish your own self practice? What sets it apart from your
classes? What do you want to learn? Having defined reasons and goals before
setting out helps you keep yourself focused and motivated.
2.
Practice even if you
don’t have the ideal space
I
like to practice in quiet, but sometimes my partner comes home earlier than
expected. Sometimes the kids in the downstairs apartment are screaming.
Sometimes it’s extremely hot in my apartment in the summer. These are not
excuses. They are challenges. Don’t make
your practice so sacred there is no room for regular life to come in. Strive
for a quiet, peaceful, and comfortable space to practice in, but take what
comes in stride.
3.
Hold poses for three
counts longer
Because
you’re not in class, waiting for the teacher to make adjustments before the
next pose, it is easy to speed through your practice. Slow down, breathe, and
take at least three extra counts.
4.
Change up your
routine
Although
repetition can be an important part of yoga, boredom is a quick way to make
quitting a new goal all the easier. There are literally hundreds of yoga poses
and their variations, dozens of breathing techniques, and several mantras &
meditations Dharma Yoga offers. All of these offer different benefits.
Depending on your abilities you may be limited to certain poses, but there are
still ways to change things up to offset tedium.
5.
Don’t forget
pranayama and meditation
When
time is short and you’re trying to fit in your practice, don’t skip breathing
exercises and meditation! With yoga, we sometimes get so caught up in all the
poses that we forget the incredible benefits of the other limbs. I like to
remind myself what the ultimate goal of yoga is—stillness and union. Pranayama
and meditation are essential to that final goal.
6.
Keep your mat by
your side
I
try to always bring my yoga mat with me when I travel. Sometimes it’s hard to
find time and a space. Sometimes you’re surrounded by people. However, I look
at this as an opportunity to share yoga with others by including family and
friends in my practice, even just for sun salutations. They are likely curious
what you’re up to—this is a great chance and a way to fit in your practice.
7.
Add yoga practice to
your exercise routine
I
took up running recently and find that yoga and running complement each other
very well. They particularly fit together in my exercise routine. Consider how you can include your asana into
your other exercise. I find that a post run yoga practice is perfect for me.
8.
Do something, not
nothing
If
you have an hour—practice. Thirty minutes—practice. Fifteen—practice.
Five—practice. Even a few sun salutations, a breathing exercise, and sitting
quiet for a moment can be beneficial.
9.
It’s okay if you
miss one day—just don’t let it become habit
Sometimes
my day passes so swiftly, I realize I forgot to practice yoga. Sometimes things
will be really crazy and I’ll miss two or three days. The important thing is I
try not to let that become a habit. The more days pass between your last and
your next self practice—the harder it will be to pick it up again.
10.
Remember ahimsa, have compassion for yourself
Don’t
be too hard on yourself if you run out of time or are simply too exhausted.
Start the next day afresh and enjoy the time you do have to practice yoga.
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