Rise and Shine! 10 Simple Ways to Get into Yoga
We’ve all been there – we've considered starting yoga, got the mats, the blocks or the exercise wear, watched the videos, tried it and then boom! Life gets in the way and before you know it, yoga was a distant memory as you trade in ‘namaste’ for ‘nama-stay in bed!’
Well, this year, we’ve taken a whole new approach to our outlook on starting these habits – we've even developed a line of super stretchy loungewear that’s perfect for the job! So, we thought to bring you 10 top tips to get into, and maintain, your yoga routine.
Be At One with Yourself
We know it sounds far-fetched but hear us out. ‘Yoga’ means “union” in Sanskrit. It’s a union between your thoughts and your physical state. When you live in union – or yoga – it's about being fully aware and fully present in the moment. Hence, being at one with yourself.
It’s a journey, not a skill to learn, you can be at one with yourself from day one! Use this tip as your foundation. When you wake up in the morning, notice, accept and honour the thoughts inside your head and say rise and shine to the day. You’ll be out of bed before you know it, and that’s half the task.
Your Morning Brew
Grab a drink of water before your morning coffee or tea. This way, you’ll notice the health benefits of yoga faster, as you'll wake your digestive system in the healthiest way and rehydrate yourself from your night’s sleep.
As a bonus – after your morning yoga, feel free to grab your coffee – you’ll be more receptive to the caffeine and feel more productive, as you aren’t using the caffeine to wake yourself up from the groggy morning state.
Time to Appreciate
As you drink your water, reflect more on the meaning of ‘union’ - or yoga. It’s easy to be irked in the morning, especially before your morning dose of caffeine (trust us, we know) – so take this time to release any negative thoughts or wistful thinking about the day ahead. Take this moment to appreciate your circumstances, your life and – most importantly – yourself. Now get changed into your yoga gear!
Set the Scene
Whether your do your morning Yoga while watching the telly, playing music, lighting candles or incense – or even in complete silence, take time to consciously set the scene. Unroll your yoga mat, light your candles, set the music – this shouldn’t take longer than a minute, but it really allows you to feel ‘in the moment’ - which will help your morning routine.
Start Short & Safe
Getting into a habit takes baby steps at first, even if you’re as bendy as a slinky. Search for a 5 or 10-minute yoga exercise to get yourself started. If you’re a total beginner, make sure your video is for beginners. If you have any physical ailments, make sure to search for specific videos that can take this into consideration to avoid injury.
Welcome Improvement and Release Expectations
The moment you welcome the possibility of improvement, you’ll feel those expectation frustrations slip away like water from a duck's back. Expectation frustrations like “My heels should touch the floor” or “Why can’t I touch my toes already?!” will only hinder yourself. The ideal mindset for yoga doesn’t come instantly, it will evolve naturally, and it’s one heck of a beautiful thing.
If you can’t find yourself getting rid of these frustrations easily, pair it up with your breathing. Inhale all of your frustrations as you go through your routine and release those expectations as you exhale. Repeat until you find some inner calm.
Pay Attention to Your Breathing
Now we’re on the topic of breathing; did you know there’s a specific way to breathe in yoga? While different instructors can teach their students different things, it’s all the same. It’s about the connection to the awareness of your breath. (Have you ever watched an underwater scene in a movie and found out you’re holding your breath? Yeah – that!)
Starting to notice your breath as you fill your air with lungs can improve circulation, brain function, reduce stress and even aid a better night’s sleep! As well as giving a better indication to the present moment, paying attention to your breathing will allow you to develop your skill and focus your mind, which will have an amazing effect on your practices.
Check Your Alignment as You Go
In yoga classes, it’s easy for an instructor to see if your alignment is off, or if you lean too much into your shoulder during downward dog. To aid this, it may help to film yourself in action, if you don’t want to ask a friend or family member to help. Try your 5 most common poses and review the video to see if your alignment is off. If you find a particular troublesome pose, keep filming yourself doing it and being aware of how your body should feel in that pose, until you get it right.
This way, you know you’re in the right position and you’re not making postural alignment mistakes that can take a long time to break. Your body knows what is right for you, and we know you can do it!
Use Things Around the House as Accessories
You don’t need a fancy mat, blocks, or straps as you start out. There are simple household items you can easily substitute until you decide you want to invest more in your practice.
A beach towel is perfect for a yoga mat, if you don’t have one. You can use your dressing gown’s belt as a yoga strap, or an elasticated belt if you have one. You can use tupperware boxes as yoga blocks, or something with a similar shape or size – the possibilities are endless! As for yoga wear – just choose something you can move in comfortably and freely. Pyjamas are ideal!
Reward and Thank Yourself
Remember you’ve done this for yourself and no one else, so make sure you treat yourself as you would others. Plan to reward yourself by investing in some equipment as you start to get into yoga daily. Start with some inexpensive yoga wear, like bottoms and a top, followed by an inexpensive mat, and accessories after that.
Try to source ones that are ecologically sound and sustainable, if you can, to breathe a fresh lease of life into your yoga practice. There's nothing like a colourful piece of active wear to get you excited to start your daily routine.
Now you’ve got your top 10 tips to get into – and stick to – yoga, why not start tomorrow? There’s no need to wait until a new year, month or week. Tomorrow is the first day of the rest of your life, and there’s no time like the present!
We hope this blog has inspired you to get back into – or even start – yoga. There’s no age limit on this peaceful and mindful practice, and as well as improving your flexibility and physical fitness, it’ll improve your wellbeing and mindset too. Off you go – we'll leave it all up to you!
Namaste,
Joe.