Wednesday, April 30, 2008

After a yoga hiatus....

Get Your Groove Back
Setbacks are common in asana practice. A difficult pregnancy, an injury or illness, or an emotional upset can take the steam out of a once-joyful practice. There are times, too, when life just gets in the way. With children to raise, aging parents to care for, and jobs and chores to do, committing to yoga isn't easy. But even those of us with lapses of months or even years can make a successful return to the mat. By taking time to examine the reasons you stopped and your motivations for returning, you can ensure that this time around, your practice will prove fluid and flexible enough to remain a permanent part of your life.

If it's been a while since you've seen your mat, try the following:

Identify and address your reasons for having left yoga, so those same issues won't thwart your attempts to return.
Make adjustments. If a major life change precipitated the end of your yoga routine, you may have to make significant alterations to succeed at a new start.
Set goals. Once you've explored your history, you can begin to specify your present intentions, whether this means greeting each morning with a Sun Salutation or attending a weekly studio class.
Find your community. Discovering a place to call home can bring joy and longevity to your practice.
Accept support. Make good use of your personal network by accepting any encouragement that friends and family offer.



IN THIS ISSUE
You Can Go Om Again
http://www.yogajournal.com/lifestyle/1637

1 comment:

Unknown said...

I can remember times when I went through this and believe me, it wasn't only once! Whatever was going in my life, it always remained on my mind---downdog, sun salutations. I would beat myself up about it. But you just can't do that! Accept what's going on. The fact that you think about it says a lot. It's always going to be there for you. Do 1 pose if you remember at the moment wherever you are--mountain, forward bend, savasana. Yoga is for everyone.