If you have practiced yoga, even sporadically, you are aware that it is more than just exercise. Yoga is a fulfilling practice that offers a broad range of physical and mental benefits. There are a few things you can do to get the most out of your yoga practice.
Find the right place to get the most of your practice. This varies according to the individual. Some love to practice at home because it is convenient and fits with their schedules. Others have too many distractions in the house or small children and prefer getting away from it all at the yoga studio. Still others like to practice outdoors and enjoy the fresh air and nature, as is done in most yoga DVDs.
Where you practice is less important than when you practice. This doesn’t mean the time of day. Any time of day works, if it works for you. The time is a matter of preference, but finding the time is essential to getting the most from your practice.
The only way to do this is to make yoga a priority. Don’t think of it as “me time” or a luxury, particularly if you have children. As a mother of four, I know that “me time” just never seems to happen. But when you make the practice an essential part of your daily routine, you are more likely to take the time for your practice. Even if you can just manage a short 15 minute practice to start your day, regular practice is important.
The clothing you wear during your practice can enhance the benefits. Uncomfortable or binding clothing distracts during class and can prevent you from performing the asanas correctly by interfering with your range of motion. You don’t need to spend a lot of money on expensive clothing, just invest in one or two pairs of comfortable, well fitting yoga pants and tops.
Where you practice, what form of yoga you practice and what you wear is not as important as how you enter your practice. To get the most out of yoga, it’s important to relax, let go and focus on each asana. Learning to clear the mind and get lost in the flow of the class or the stretch and breathing of each asana allows you to reap the most benefit and experience the mind, body, spirit connection that makes the practice of yoga so unique.