10 WAYS TO ADD FUN BACK INTO A BORING YOGA PRACTICE
Yep. It happens to the best of us (and by ‘best’ I mean pretty much all of us at some point). In the beginning everything is amazing, all is grand, and “Yoga is liiiife.” Right? Then somewhere down the line, you get too busy, it starts to feel repetitive, you start practicing less and less, and/or maybe even lose sight of why you started in the first place. You start to feel like your practice is stifled, un-interested, or that you just have a plain ol’ boring yoga practice. Read on below for some golden tips on how to make yoga fun again!
I’ve definitely experienced periods of not feeling inspired to practice. I’ve made excuses that I didn’t have time, or I just wasn’t motivated enough to actually do it. But it was important for me to remember that my yoga practice is not just a hobby, but the catalyst to my “Journey To (a better) Self”. Anything worth having is gonna require practice, patience, and persistence.
Your journey of healing and ascension requires practice, patience, and persistence. Stay loyal to the journey.
There’s so many things that can keep us from maintaining a consistent yoga practice. A stale yoga practice can stem from feeling like you’re not progressing fast enough, lack of inspiration, or simply feeling overwhelmed by your practice all together. When you start to connect negative feelings to your practice, it can begin to cause you more anxiety + stress, than it does clarity + calm. Not. good.
There’s so many things that can keep us from maintaining a consistent yoga practice, but if you’re struggling to get on your mat because it feels like something is missing, then perhaps I can help.
LET’S SPICE IT UP!
HERE ARE 10 WAYS TO BRING SOME EXCITEMENT TO YOUR YOGA PRACTICE.
1. TRY OUT A DIFFERENT CLASS STYLE, STUDIO, OR TEACHER.
More times than not, we rarely venture out to try different styles of yoga. But there are SO many different styles of yoga that cater to a variety of interests, and more new/millinial styles are being created all the time. Take a minute to evaluate your practice. What do you feel it’s missing? Is there something new you’d like to add or focus on?
Don’t hesitate to switch it up, or mix it up. If you’ve been going to the same teacher for a while, try a new one. Every teacher is different, and therefore will offer us different insights into our practice.
2. CREATE YOUR OWN YOGA SEQUENCE.
This can be both fun and challenging. The idea is to have fun, be creative, and do what feels good to your body. There are tons of yoga deck cards, instructional books of asanas, youtube and google for inspiration. A good book for sequencing is Yoga Sequencing: Designing transformational yoga classes, but there are lots more.
YOU CAN CREATE SEQUENCES THAT:
Focuses on specific areas of body (hips, back, core, etc)
Lead to a peak pose
Work on the full body
Include all your favorite poses
3. CHANGE THE SETTING WHERE YOU PRACTICE.
If you tend to have a specific place where you always practice, try changing up your scenery. When we practice in the same place every day, whether that’s at home or a studio, we create thought patterns that can be triggered by those familiar surroundings.
A CHANGE OF SCENERY IS INSTANT INSPIRATION.
Practicing with or without mirrors. If you normally practice without mirrors, try incorporating them. It will give you a chance to perfect alignment. Just be sure to leave your ego out of it. The mirror should not be used for self-criticism and to find ‘flaws’. Mirrors are just mirrors, it’s what we choose to see that can serve us or harm us. If you normally practice with mirrors, forego them and try to tap more into your natural instincts; focus more on establishing a deeper connection to breath and self.
Practicing outside. This is definitely my favorite place to practice. The sounds and feels of nature (birds, wind, sun on your skin, fresh air), naturally brings a sense of calm and connection. Believe it or not, practicing outside tends to keep the mind present and free of distractions which ultimately allows us to reconnect with ourselves in a deeper way.
#YogaAnyDamnWhere. The same way we can do yoga anywhere we go to make sure we “maintain a consistent yoga practice”, finding unusual places to practice will definitely add a sense of creativity that your practice may be lacking.
4. TAKE A PRIVATE YOGA LESSON.
Investing in a private yoga lesson can bring an entirely new dynamic to your yoga practice. It’s a very intimate experience, that gives you the chance to get one-on-one attention and focus on personal interests, concerns or goals. Whether the goal is for flexibility, strength, meditation, or a fresh perspective, a private lesson allows you to get very specific.
Whether you’re new to the yoga game, needing rehabilitation from an injury, or wanting to take your practice deeper, having a certified yoga teacher to give you one-on-one attention usually always leads you to discover something new about yourself; on and/or off the mat.
5. START WORKING TOWARDS A NEW AND/OR MORE DIFFICULT ASANA(POSE).
Sometimes when our asana practice gets a little stagnant, we can get a little bored. I created both ‘Perfect Your Practice’ Yoga Deck for Beginners and Perfect Your Practice’ Yoga Deck Intermediate/Advance that contains 60 essential yoga poses to develop and expand your yoga practice. Incorporating new poses from these yoga decks into your practice will definitely created a new level of excitement for your practice.
Start occasionally throwing new asanas that you haven’t yet mastered into your routine. When your focus is on something new and challenging, you have something to work towards, and look forward to. For me, learning different handstands, and new arm balances always make me feel like a new yogi again. Mainly because I’m mostly falling at first, Ha! But I personally enjoy the challenge and journey of learning something new.
6. UPGRADE YOUR YOGA TOY BOX AND/OR YOGA WEAR.
Although it’s true that feeling good on the inside is most important, I personally feel it’s totally ok to want to look nice on the outside as well. I think in the midst of trying to live this so-called “yogic lifestyle”, some people feel conflicted/ashamed about wanting to visibly adorn themselves. TUH!
Me when someone tries to tell me what’s not very “yogi-like”.
Guys. That’s the beauty of yoga. There are NO rules! Don’t allow others to dictate what makes YOU happy. It’s your practice, and if you want to spruce up your yoga wardrobe, DO IT! Put on your Sunday’s best, and strut over to that mat boo. LOL!
When it comes to including yoga toys/tools, keep in mind that you certainly don’t (and shouldn’t) need to own every new yoga gadget that comes out. To be honest most of what’s on the market was created by the yoga industry to capitalize off of the new yoga craze. Don’t get caught up.
BUT, if you feel like incorporating a new yoga toy/tool will help bring life back into your practice, spend some time researching what will benefit your personal practice most, and go for it.
There are soo many options! From a yoga swing, yoga wheel, a new mat, singing bowls, mala beads, crystals, essential oils, incenses, etc, the possibilities are almost endless.
GO OUT AND TREAT YOURSELF TO SOMETHING NEW TO JAZZ UP YOUR PRACTICE.
7. ATTEND A WORKSHOP, CONFERENCE OR RETREAT.
Literally EVERY single time I attend a new workshop, conference, or retreat, I leave incredibly inspired! From connecting with like-minds, sharing tips and tricks, to learning a plethora of new things, you’re bound to ignite your love for your yoga journey again. Be sure to take a journal, so you have something to refer to when you get back home.
Research the ideal event for you, plan, save if you have to, and make it happen! Trust me, you’ll be so happy you did. I invite you to consider joining Sisters of Yoga on an upcoming Women’ s Yoga Healing Retreat. Make sure you subscribe to know when and where the next one will be!
8. EXPERIMENT WITH DIFFERENT MUSIC.
Do you normally practice with, or without music? What kind of music do you normally listen to? Music can be a great way to revive your enthusiasm and add some much needed spice to the mix.
On the days when I’m looking for a more serious or meditative practice, I usually decide on traditional yoga music (Tibetan bowls, flutes, and/or nature sounds), soft acoustic, or neo/soul-snatching tunes. This is usually my go to. But I like to balance out the more internal and serious practices with some fun, light-hearted ones too. When I’m feeling more playful, or wanting to focus more on the physical aspect, I like to put on more upbeat (Hiphop, Trap, R&B, Pop), and work it out. I might not find spiritual enlightenment that day but I still leave the mat elevated and fulfilled. That’s my yoga.
9. INCORPORATE YOGA PLAYDATES WITH FRIENDS.
If you’re wondering how to make yoga fun OFF the mat, go outside and find inspiring yogi friends to chat with. Sometimes it’s easier to stay engaged and committed to something if you have other like-minded people doing it with you.
THE ULTIMATE JOY, IS BEING SURROUNDED AND SUPPORTED BY OTHERS WHO ARE ALSO ON JOURNEY.
With yoga buddies, you can share practice goals and yoga tips, find fun events to go to, and do online challenges together to name a few. (Trying online/IG challenges can also be done solo, and are usually super fun, informative and engaging.) Not only will you guys be having fun, but you’ll hold each other accountable. Having regular yoga playdates means endless support, inspiration, and accountability. Then afterwards, go grab a smoothie, or lunch and chat more about all things yoga….or not, lol.
10. START DOCUMENTING YOUR JOURNEY- ON AND OFF THE MAT.
Take pictures and videos of your personal practice; even if you never plan to share them with anyone. I’ve found keeping a record of my progress to be a great motivator, when I can look back and see how far I’ve come. I’ve done this using my Instagram as a personal journey since the very first day I started practicing. Check it out here! It constantly pushes me to keep reaching, and it’s super fun to do. You can also try keeping a journal of the subtle changes you notice in your behavior, relationships/interaction with others, and your relationship with yourself.
WHEN WE CAN LITERALLY SEE THE FRUITS OF OUR LABOR, WE TEND TO KEEP GOING.
So there you have it! Sometimes, we just need a little outside inspiration and encouragement to put the fire back in our personal practice. And that’s OK! Try a few out and let me know how you feel.
With these new and fun ways to bring excitement to your practice, it’s important to keep in mind your intentions and constantly check your ego. Attempting to spice up your yoga practice should be to promote connection, establish a positive relationship with your practice, and reintroduce the many benefits of yoga. Be careful not to fall in the trap of being too distracted by your new yoga clothes, toys, and fancy poses, that you forget what’s truly important to you on this journey. I hope this helps!
Can you think of any other ways to stimulate and spice up your yoga practice? Comment and share how to make yoga fun with me and the rest of the Sisters of Yoga Community below!