How to create a self practice you actually want to do

Last month Rachel Walsh and I taught our Delve Deeper Retreat at Shambala Gatherings in Sweden. 

The retreat was a real success.  The theme for the week was cantered around how to create a self-practice both on and off the mat. 

 A lot of my students attend regular yoga classes, however when it comes to doing yoga outside the studio many have commented that they often struggle taking the practice into their own hands. 

Here are my top tips on creating a practice that you actually want to do!  

#1 Debunk the myth that every practice you do needs to be a full out power yoga sweat session. 

Whilst I LOVE a strong flow, I usually save this for a luxurious 2 hour self-practice session or a 90 minute studio class where I can properly warm up, be challenged by the teacher and get encouraged by the energy of practicing in a community setting. 
When it comes to my day to day practice I usually tune into how I am feeling in both body and mind and then move accordingly. Sometimes this means rolling around on the mat, a yin practice, or it might mean working up a sweat and drilling myself for handstand press. 

I find myself alternating between practicing to mantra, listening to some hip-hop/ hardcore house, or practicing in silence. Self-practice can also extend as far as journaling, dancing and meditation, you can incorporate anything that brings you into a space of deeper connection with yourself. 

Switching up the practice to suit what you need will make you enjoy and look forward to your time on the mat. 

#2  Be realistic, understand that your practice will change depending on what is happening in your life.

This doesn’t mean that you don’t make time for it because you are going through a stressful period (that is actually the time you need it the most), but that you will define what it is you can do with the time you have. Or perhaps you reprioritise accordingly so that you have 10, 30, 60 minutes x 3 days, 5 days or 6 days per week that you know you are getting on that yoga mat! 

Write your self-practice goal down and make sure it is within a set and measurable time frame, e.g “I will practice for 40 minutes 4 days a week and do 20 minutes of meditation 6 days a week for the month of October”. 

Being realistic with your time makes being consistent easier. 

This point has been particularly relevant for me as I have spent the past few years moving between many different areas of the world. For some months I will be in the heat of India, to the hustle and bustle of New York and then to the Autumn of Europe. Each country and setting also comes with different emotions and life circumstances. 

To give you an example, while I was in New York I was only teaching 4-5 classes a week and training in dance so I had more time to get on the yoga mat and the meditation cushion. I would spend 2 hours a day in self- practice. However, when I was in Cambodia I had Typhiod and had very little energy, my practice was 40 mins a day and usually an exploration of what I was going to teach. Then there have also been times when I have been travelling every few days and making it to the mat for 20 minutes of seated mediation is all I can manage. 

 
#3 View your self-practice as a time you have set aside to consciously set the intention and energy that you are bringing into the rest of your day.

Recognize that yoga is a way of life. It is not just an isolated 1 hour class of postures. Most people are drawn to the physical aspects of yoga as that is how it is often advertised in Western culture. 

However, once you have been to a few classes you will start to notice the calming effect the practice can have, the openness that is created in both body and mind and the increase you may have gained in your own sense of self awareness. 
Recognizing these miles stones is the nugget that inspires many people to look further into the philosophy of yoga. I highly recommend doing some further reading, workshops or retreats that will help you put the asana practice into context. 

When you can view yoga as an approach and framework to become a better version of yourself not only will the practice be sustainable and grow with you, you will be onto something that will be SO much more rewarding that doing the splits! 

#4  Set up a scared space to practice. 

Roll out your yoga mat in the same spot each day. Make the space one that you want to go to. Perhaps you put plants in the room, light candles, inscense or hang inspiring images or quotes up. 

#5 Educate yourself and get inspiration. 

Get to classes or take a course in a style of yoga or movement that you enjoy. When you are in class note the parts you like and then bring them into your own practice. Many people pull out the yoga mat and get board because they are unsure how to move or what to do.