5 Ideas about Your Practice to Let Go of Now

I'm going to be real with you: there are so many benefits of having a yoga practice, but the biggest benefits only come when you finally commit to doing it.

One of my favorite yoga sutras is Sutra 1.14: Practice becomes firmly grounded when well attended to for a long time, without break and in all earnestness.

(side note: most yogis agree that Patanjali’s "long time" is speaking to the consistency of practice, not session duration)

Basically: do it, keep at it (it's a practice, after all), and do it because you love it. The end goal of this? Peace. Equanimity. Liberation.

We need yoga more than ever these days--depression has skyrocketed during COVID, among other things. So I started asking yogis on Instagram: what are you struggling with in creating/sustaining a home practice?

The #1 answer was making time. #2: getting distracted. #3: knowing what to do (movement-wise) in a self-led practice (which I can totally help with, btw).

I can relate! It's not easy--especially these days.

But, I think what's happening is that we have a perception of what our yoga (mat) practice should look like, and those ideas are keeping us stuck.

Below are 5 ideas to let go of about yoga practice right now + new ideas to try on instead.

1. It must last 60+ min every time.
If you're working on poses that physically require more from you, more time is ideal. Otherwise, just 15-20 minutes a day is enough to support body + mind. It’s not about quantity, it’s about quality and consistency.

2. It must be in the perfect yoga space.
Sure, that would be nice, but few have it. Ancient yogis didn't even have a sticky mat, let alone a "perfect" space. 5-6ft of mat space is ideal, that's it. I’ve practiced in kitchens, dining rooms, hallways, balconies. Wherever my mat fit. Get creative--even if you need to move some furniture!

3. It needs to be sweaty, intense, + Instagram-worthy.
Nope. It can be seated stretches, sun salutes, a restorative pose (or two). Child's pose to cow/cat. A long-held downward dog. You’ll find that once you get on your mat and just start, it unfolds into what you need from there. Let it be any mindful movement based on current needs, not goals--you listen, you choose.

Prefer to be guided? My on-demand virtual class membership features classes with multiple levels, styles, and are anywhere from 10-60 minutes so you can fit them into even the busiest days, plus a weekly livestream to connect with me and others in the community. Try it free for 5 days, cancel anytime.

4. It's gotta happen daily.
If you can do 15-20 min most days and a longer practices other days, great! My advice? Aim for daily, and you'll make time at least a few times a week, which is a win. Even one practice a week is better than zero.

5. It must be interruption and distraction-free.
Yes, ideally, aim for a practice without interruptions. Turn off your phone, tell everyone nearby you need quiet time, etc. Set an intention to be focused and tuned into your body and breath. And also, know that life happens. If you get distracted, regroup and get back to your practice—there’s no need to go off the rails with a detour.

When we're really committed, I believe we're capable of finding slices of uninterrupted time, and getting distracted is often a choice (like scrolling). Maybe it requires early mornings or late nights. Maybe you escape to do yoga at the park or in the backyard. Maybe you make peace with pets or children joining you and choose a practice that somehow makes space for them! Get support from loved ones, and get creative.

When you let go of what you think your practice should look like or feel like, you let go of excuses holding you back. These excuses are prevalent and I struggle with them, too!

It boils down to making a decision to prioritize your self-care, and that doesn’t happen until you realize that when you take care of yourself, everyone and everything else in your life also benefits from your practice.

Have something to add? Insights to share? Comment below!