If You Have No Time to Practice, Read THIS!

As a yoga instructor at SLCC, I have the challenge of finding ways to encourage the students to practice.  Practicing is part of their homework, and a big part of their grade.  I often get the refrain "I don't have time to practice!"  I'm challenging this assumption, yogis!

The only way to practice yoga doesn't have to be to setting aside a big block of time, rolling out your mat and locating your props, then practicing poses.  Sometimes this is just too much!  This is why practice seems overwhelming.  We are SO busy, trying to accomplish SO much in SO little time.  Nobody said you have to have your mat to do yoga.  You can do yoga virtually anywhere, almost any time.  You simply need to shift the way you think about practice. Practice doesn't have to be just doing poses, either.  It can be practicing a breathing technique, chanting mantra, sitting quietly meditating for a few minutes.

Meditate a few minutes in between other activities

The first thing to do is write down the ways you will benefit from yoga practice.   Then set an intention!  If you really, truly recognize that you are missing out on wonderful benefits, you are more likely to practice.  Writing down what you want to accomplish by practicing helps solidify your ideas and takes them from thought into actual form. Once you realize that you REALLY WILL BENEFIT in many ways from regular practice, let's look at the complaint that you don't have time.   

Consider your average day.  Think of how many minutes or hours you waste and how much "dead time" you have on your average day.  You'll be shocked how much time you really have!  Dead time is when you are doing something that is non-essential, not physically engaging, not truly benefiting you in some way.  It is time spent waiting for your ride, an appointment, for class to start.  It is time spent playing games on your electronic device, driving your car, riding in a bus.  It could be work break time, your lunch hour. etc. etc.   

 

Wasting time is a bit more obvious.  Examples are: watching TV.  Non-essential texting.  Playing on Facebook, surfing the Web.  You know what your personal time wasters are.  The time you are doing non-essential activities or wasting time is very valuable time you can practice yoga!  Everyone has more than enough opportunities in a day to fit in a little yoga practice. 

Cobra Pose (while watching TV?)

Here are some ideas:

• Put your leg or foot up on the sink when you're brushing your teeth.
• Rotate the arm you are not driving with around your arm bone, then switch.
• Do Cobra Pose, Sphinx Pose, Seated Poses or Boat Pose while watching TV.
• Do a back-bend off the arm of the couch, the bed, or over the hood of your car.
• Balance on one foot when you're drying the other foot off after a shower or bath.
• Do downward dog with your hands on a chair seat.
• Do standing back bends and twists in the shower.
• Do wall dog on the kitchen counter.
• Meditate when you're waiting for class or any other seated time.  Simply sit and be still.
• Do pranayama (breathing techniques) when you are stressed.  Slow down.  Breathe!
• Do mantra on the freeway, it keeps you calm in crazy traffic.
• Sit in half or full lotus while you are eating, at a party, at work, at your computer.
• Meditate at intermission when you're at a play or the symphony.  Just sit quietly!
• Chant mantra in the tub, car, bus, class, at work, anywhere.  Mental Mantra is even more powerful than audible mantra.

Now you think up your own way to fit in a little practice.  Look forward to the healthy improvement in your well-being, and the reduction of your stress levels.  Practice really helps those aches and pains, eliminating them!  When you do get a block of time, grab your mat or attend a class.  Happy Practicing!