Get that yoga high feeling!
The yoga high…
The state of bliss you carry with you into the world when you step off your yoga mat.
The Importance of Daily Practice
You know that magical sensation – it feels like every muscle in your body is buzzing and your mind is like the ocean on a calm day, gently undulating without any tumultuous thoughts crashing through your consciousness. This is what many people call the “yoga high”, the state of bliss you carry with you into the world when you step off your yoga mat. You think to yourself – I wish I could feel like this all the time! And then you skip your next yoga class because you’ve got a hangover/ brunch date/ meeting to prepare for.
We know – life often gets in the way - which is why it is so important to create a daily practice as part of a rock solid routine that you know you can commit to, no matter what else is going on in your life.
So what is it about doing something every day that is so beneficial?
Yoga is a Skill
Just like playing the piano or learning a new language, yoga is a skill. There are new shapes for your muscles to learn, new sequences for your brain to understand, and poses that require strength. Studies show that “distributed practice” – or shorter, more frequent sessions – are more effective than longer, less frequent sessions when it comes to improving a skill. So instead of dreading the crow pose in your weekly yoga class, incorporate whichever pose you find challenging into a daily practice to see more progress in a shorter period of time.
Daily practice builds motivation.
When you practice yoga every day, you will find that you stop questioning whether you can skip a day or put off a class. You will form a habit that becomes second nature. And, if circumstances beyond your control prevent you from a day’s practice, you will find it easier to get back into your routine as you have spent time establishing it for yourself.
Creating a Habit Takes Time
I’m sure you’ve seen catchy click-bait articles proclaiming to know the exact timeframe in which you should be able to build a habit. Some say 21 days, some say 30, 66, 120 – pick a number, any number! The reality is, we are all different, so there is no one magic number of days that you can commit to and instantly have a habit for life. What you are aiming for is “automacity” – a behavior change that over time becomes something you can perform efficiently, without control.
Consider your daily routine and think of the best time to start implementing your yoga habit. After your morning coffee? At 12pm exactly every day? Thirty minutes earlier than your current alarm goes off? What space is best for your daily practice? What other things can you implement into your routine – a particular incense, favorite pair of yoga pants (buy in bulk!) or relaxing tea? Trial and error will help you to find the elements that help you create automacity in your daily practice.
Yoga Is Its Own Reward
Creating a new behaviour becomes infinitely easier when you are rewarded for that behaviour, and the best thing about your daily yoga practice is that the reward is built in. You don’t need a chart with fancy stickers on it (but if it helps, go right on ahead) and you don’t need to bribe yourself with sugary treats (no, seriously, you don’t). The yoga high you will feel after every practice should be enough to motivate you to keep coming back to your mat.
