What to Do When You Want to Reach New Heights in Your Yoga Practice
It’s common knowledge that yoga can produce a plethora of physical and mental health benefits. And many of these benefits are true for yogis of all levels — even those who have just started practicing can see them play out in their everyday lives.
However, the higher you go in yoga, the deeper the benefits. The good news is that it doesn’t take a drastic change in your routine to improve your practice. Taking baby steps each day goes a long way, and before you know it, your practice can be more advanced than you ever thought possible. If you want to boost your yoga experience, these tips can get on the right path.
Up Your Frequency
In a sense, yoga is like anything else — the more you practice, the more you will get from it. However often you currently practice, try doing one more day each week. For instance, if you’ve been doing twice a week for some time, set a goal to do three times a week for the next month. After a month, assess how your body feels, and then bump it up to four times a week if you’re ready. As opposed to jumping from two to six sessions each week, gradually building your frequency will prove much more effective in the long run.
Set Up Space at Home
There may be some days you can’t make it to the studio. Rather than allow these instances to set you back, carve out space in your home where you can practice comfortably. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to create an adequate yoga space. Just make sure you have plenty of room to stretch and do your poses, and make sure the space is in an area where there isn’t much traffic. Here are a few things to consider for your space.
Work Tech Into Your Practice
Another way to improve your yoga practice from home is to incorporate technology. By investing in a streaming device that features a deep selection of different apps and channels, you can follow along with your favorite yoga teachers on YouTube. Explore your options, and pick a model that is compatible with both your TV and your budget.
You can even use your smartphone to your advantage. There are many apps on the market that provide lots of guided classes, guided meditation practices, workout plans, and much more. Find an app that offers tutorials on new poses, and push yourself out of your comfort zone!
Wait to Eat
When you practice on a full stomach, it impedes the digestion process by diverting the energy used for digestion to your muscles. This means that you will feel bloated (and maybe gassy) during your session, which will make it difficult to focus on your practice.
Also, if you practice on a full stomach habitually, it can even cause damage to digestive tissue, since a lot of postures put pressure on the stomach. If possible, develop your routine around a time when you can practice on an empty stomach. You’ll feel unencumbered and better able to reap the benefits yoga has to offer.
Improvement in your yoga practice doesn’t require transformation. Start adding a day to your weekly routine little by little. Make a yoga space at home, and use tech tools like streaming devices and smartphone apps to your advantage. Lastly, try to practice on an empty stomach to minimize the problems and maximize the benefits. Each day you accomplish a new pose or hold a stretch for longer, use that momentum to keep taking baby steps to the next level!
