How to Rekindle Your Yoga Practice

I’ve been doing yoga for over twenty years (oh my! time flies) and
I’ve taken a few breaks, some planned like around the birth of each of my children, but some just happened. Life would get a little crazy and interrupt my routine. Before you know it, missing class one week turned into months. Once my routine was broken, it was hard to get back to my practice.

Committing to that first class back was always the hardest part. Yes, I’d feel more stiff and less fit. My mind would be so chatty during practice, distracted, running a million miles a minute. But I always
felt like I’d come back home. Those little spaces between the
thoughts, when I’d sink into the present moment inside of a pose, were
priceless.

Once I tasted the gifts of practice, I couldn’t let it go
again. I’d make a new routine and build the rest of my life around it
because life is so much better with yoga.

If you have drifted away from your practice, let the memory of the way you feel after class draw you back. Below is a roadmap to rekindle your practice. Use compassion and persistence as you re-develop the habit of showing up to your mat.

We hope to see you in practice soon because we believe in the power of yoga to create a life of presence, meaning, and awareness that benefits all.

~ Luna

Start SMALL
It could be just unrolling your mat, doing a few simple stretches at home, or registering for a gentle or restorative class. The point is to take action. Choose a first step that will be easy to accomplish. Then, the goal is to show up; if you’ve stepped onto your mat, you have succeeded.

Build ROUTINE
Once you’ve escaped inertia, it’s time to build momentum and consistency. Shift your perspective to recognize Yoga as a practice that creates more space in your mind and your life. Study possible places yoga could fit into your weekly schedule. Experiment with new classes. Find a routine that fits your needs and feeds your soul.

Create COMMITMENT
Now’s the time to develop commitment. Schedule yoga in the calendar, register for classes, or recruit a friend to be an accountability partner. Set an intention of when to do yoga and create a system that helps you follow-through

Be REALISTIC
Life happens. Sometimes things go differently than planned. Don’t judge yourself if you miss your scheduled yoga practice. Review what happened. Perhaps you’ve learned new information from this experience that will help you fine-tune your practice routine. Give yourself some grace, adjust the plan if needed, and look forward to your next practice.

The REWARD
At the end of every yoga class, a juicy reward awaits …Savasana! These few minutes to relish the sense of deep relaxation helps integrate your yoga practice into your being. The skills you practice in yoga become skills you enact in your everyday life: presence, non-reactivity, emotional flexibility, and inner strength.

Join COMMUNITY
Experience the joy and connection of doing something you love in the company of others. Moving and breathing in unison calms and regulates the nervous system and enhances your feeling of connection. The collective presence anchors our attention, assisting in cultivating focus and serenity. Together, we bolster our community through shared intention and practice.

About The Author

Luna Langer, DYT 200

Luna believes in the power of yoga to transform the chaos of a hectic, modern life into an experience filled with deep meaning, connection, and learning. She uses the physical posture practice to cultivate awareness and focus, developmental and emotional strength, and flexibility, with the ultimate goal of deepening our connection with our inner wisdom.