Ask a Yogi: Tips to Reconnect to Your Practice

You’ve practiced with them on YogaGlo. You’ve followed them on Facebook. You might even take their classes in person once in awhile if they travel to or live in your city. But how well do you know our YogaGlo teachers? Ask a Yogi is back so you can learn more about our teachers by asking questions you’ve always wanted to ask.

From favorite poses and tips for beginners to deeper questions about how their practice has changed their worldview, our teachers will collectively answer a new question each week. If you have a question you’d like to “Ask a Yogi” let us know in the comments and we’ll add your questions to the list.

What are some tips on how to reconnect to your practice after some time away?

• Alex van Frank: In my experience the best way to reconnect with practice is to treat it like a good friend. It feels good and feeds the soul to take the time to connect with all the pieces of myself —just like with a good friend who I haven’t seen in awhile. This friendly approach is about accepting you as you are, how you are and with all of your glorious bit and difficulties. To be able to witness the beauty of embodiment and also the internalized difficulties and self judgment is powerful.  I’ve evolved this practice to make it a deeply safe and sacred place that I go to get aligned from the push and pull of a busy and full life.
• Amy Ippoliti: If I have been disconnecting from my practice, the only thing that gets me back is to simply get back on the mat with no time commitment other than a minimum of 10 minutes so there is not a lot of pressure. It’s the pressure I put on myself to practice that makes me resist, not the practice itself. So if I can give myself just 10 minutes it feels do-able and I’ll often stay longer.
• Carole Westerman: I’ve gone though all kinds of cycles with my practice over the past 20 years.  I’ve even taken some time off from the physical practice due to injury, etc. But I always come back. I find the key for me is to give myself permission to practice as little as 5 minutes if that’s what feels right. And to explore the many depths and layers of yoga such as Yin, Vinyasa, Meditation, Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine, studying ancient texts, Pranayama, psychology, and so much more. Some ingredients of yoga are daily go-tos, others are like exquisite spices I only use occasionally. But the whole of yoga stays consistent for me, I just add the ingredients in varying amounts depending on the recipe I feel like making at the time
• David Wagner: The suggestion to the last question also a place here as far as beautification goes. It also helps to get inspired. I’ll read a book that turns me on, or listen to another teacher’s talk. The Internet is so great for finding inspiration these days. You can search almost any great teacher and find something, some snippet of their teaching – and in many cases even audio or video. For instants, right now I’m really into Sufi teachings. I’m listening to traditional Sufi music, reading poems by Sufi Masters, and reaching out to my Sophie friends to have uplifting conversations about spiritual life. I could do the same thing with Tibetan Buddhist teachings, or Christian mystic teachings. It definitely helps to get some fresh inspiration and input.
• Giselle Mari: Remind yourself there is no end game here. Do your best to let go of expectations around how it should be now in relation to how it was. Its a new chapter in your practice with new things to share with you. Its cliche’, but enjoy the process of rediscovery.
• Jo Tastula: Start slowly. Create a nice place to practice. Focus on the positives such as how good it feels to care for yourself rather that comparing to how your practice used to be.
• Noah Maze: Don’t be attached to your practice looking and feeling a certain way. Deconstruct your own expectations attachments. Be spontaneous and creative, seize the opportunities when they present themselves:
  • Practice while you are waiting for something or someone; in a waiting room, in an airport, in an airplane, in a car, on a sidewalk
  • Practice outside, be inspired by your surroundings
  • Practice on the grass, in the park, with your dogs, with your kids
  • Take five minute practice breaks during your work day
  • Use a timer to help you with discipline; practice for five minutes total. Do a 5 minute meditation. Do three timed handstands. Do five timed standing poses.
  • Put a yogaglo class on
  • Put music on and let the music move you into your practice
  • Do core work throughout your day
  • Do supported backbends over your furniture
• Steven Espinosa: This is a great question. Because sometimes life dictates that you have to take time away from your practice. Whether it’s because of an illness, or a new job, or moving to a different city or raising a family. It’s not always going to be possible to do yoga every day forever and ever. So it’s important not to be too hard on yourself. To remember that yoga is meant to be a joyful addition to our life. It’s meant to ENHANCE our life. So when the time comes and you are ready to reconnect with your practice it’s because YOU LOVE DOING YOGA!
• Taylor Harkness: Try practicing with a new/different teacher/studio or try a different style of yoga. Also– don’t worry about getting a full 60 minute practice in. Just sneak 10-15 minutes into your day whenever you can. You’re going to have peaks and valleys with your practice over the years. Ride the waves.
• Tiffany Cruikshank: Consistency is key. Find a length of time & frequency you can commit to and be realistic.  Making a habit of it will bring more tangible results to help keep you inspired to continue. Let it be simple.  Approach your practice as an investigation into your experience in your body, mind, spirit, whatever you feels needs some attention that day.

source https://blog.yogaglo.com/2017/04/ask-a-yogi-tips-to-reconnect-to-your-practice/