Hey babes! It’s warm and toasty (read: absolutely boiling) here at The Retreat Ranch. I hope wherever you are in the world you’ve been faring better with the weather! Let me be real with you, I loooooooveeeee yoga, it’s why I’ve dedicated my life to teaching it. However, there are days, just like everyone else, where I’d like to skip the mat. Now while rest days are important, breaking a healthy habit due to pure laziness is not. Here’s how I avoid the lazy bone syndrome; I create a daily yoga routine and I commit to it. I want the same for you, so today we’re going to discuss four easy steps to maintain a daily yoga routine.
Find a style that fits you/your personality when building your yoga routine
Some of you may know that there are various yoga styles that you can practice. Each one with their own approach to the mat and benefits. I mention this to say, yoga is not a one size fit all endeavor. If your plan is to build a daily routine, it’ll only stick if you find a style that fits your health goals and personality (ie, that you LIKE and ENJOY). Let’s be real, who wants to voluntarily dedicate an hour or so doing something they hate every day? Nobody.
I recommend you do some exploring and find your personal favorite(s). I promise it will be easier to maintain a daily routine when you do. Here are a few of my personal favs:
- Hatha
- Vinyasa
- Bikram
- Hot Yoga
- Aireal
- SUP yoga
- Yin
Explore different instructors can help make daily yoga a habit
Whether you’re taking classes in studio or online, it’s important to practice with an instructor that you like and trust. They should connect with you personally. In the past, I chose my instructors because I am drawn to their particular energy. According to the feedback from my own amazing students, I was fortunately chosen because they too felt a special bond with me.
A strong bond with your yoga teacher is important. This is where you come to honor your mind and body, meditate, or carve out just a little bit of ‘me time’, in a very busy schedule. Great instructors create the right space – mentally or physically, that will keep you on track and motivate you to remain active.
There are also many apps and online resources that can make finding the right instructor easier. Here are a few of my personal favorite YouTube yogis:
When it comes to apps, I recommend you check out:
Your options are limitless! If you want to find a great local studio, check out Yoga Alliance’s online directory or Yoga Finder. For more general searches you can also try, Yelp (don’t forget to check those reviews first!), Groupon or just try a good ole’ Google search. Just be sure to type, ‘yoga studios near me’, so they focus solely on your local area.
Finding an accountability partner will help you uphold your yoga routine
There’s a reason why many persons prefer attending yoga classes or retreats with a close friend or two. Being accountable to someone helps you control your actions and thus help you maintain that daily routine. What I personally love about accountability partners is the ability to feed off their positive energy if I’m low, or vice versa.
Plus, my friend, while you’re lovingly supporting your partner, you’re also strengthening your own internal accountability system. To quote my wise husband, Nathan Jamail:
Accountability means making no excuses. You acknowledge responsibility for your actions and decisions.
Showing up for someone else plus yourself will keep you motivated and firmly on-track when maintaining a daily yoga routine.
I’ll leave you with this thought for the week:
PS want to learn about all the different styles of yoga while also reconnecting with the core of who YOU are? Check out our online yoga teacher training program. A go at your own pace to connect to yourself at a deeper level, while also exploring what yoga is.
