3 Ways to Make Yoga a Lifestyle
Once you’ve had a taste of the many benefits that yoga can offer for your body and mind, you might find yourself craving that yoga fix daily! Even if you don’t have the time to practice yoga at sunup and sundown, you can still create a lifestyle that allows you to enjoy the benefits of yoga consistently. Here are 3 easy ways to make yoga a lifestyle.
Create A Yoga Space
Having a sacred space to do yoga is crucial to deepening your practice and weaving it into your daily life. There are a few simple things that you can do to create a relaxing yoga space in your home, no matter how much space you have to work with!
First, decide on an area in your home where you won’t have too many distractions, especially electronics like the television, your laptop, etc. This ideal space might be your bedroom, living room, or even a balcony or patio. Next, make your yoga gear easily accessible and visible to you during the day, giving you a gentle reminder to return to your mat whenever you need to. You can do this with a cute basket to store your mat, towel, blocks, or any other accessories that you like to use. Finally, take the time to really make this space your own by adding items that feel relaxing for you - maybe you like to burn candles while you practice or have a little speaker for your favorite yoga playlist. Remember that this space is for you and there are no rules as to what you can or can’t incorporate into it.
Set a Dedicated Time to Practice
Whether you’re a sunrise yogi or you prefer to practice before bed, having a dedicated time for your yoga practice will help you stay consistent and can even give you something to look forward to every single day. If you’re new to practicing yoga, it can be tempting to brush off your daily routine or get sidetracked with other things. Setting a designated time for your practice is crucial to making yoga part of your overall lifestyle, but that doesn’t mean that every day requires a full hour of Vinyasa! Even 5 minutes of yoga per day can make a difference in your overall well-being. You can even set a reminder to practice on your phone until it becomes second nature for you to do so.
Using Yoga Philosophy In Daily Life
It’s easy to think of yoga as something that you practice on your mat, but the philosophy of yoga can be applied to situations as they arise in your daily life. One of the best ways to utilize this is to be mindful of your breath throughout the day, especially in times of stress. Begin reminding yourself to practice your yogic breathing anytime you feel yourself becoming tense or overwhelmed. Something as simple as bringing your attention away from the outside world and back to your body and breath can help you navigate your daily life from the same level of awareness that you achieve on your mat.
You can use 1, 2, or all 3 of these options to start making your yoga practice part of your lifestyle.