What is Vinyasa Yoga?
As the seasons change so do we and each season calls us to show up a little or a lot differently. While we may strive for a daily yoga practice, life can sometimes get in the way.
Maybe you took a break to prioritize your health, or motherhood, go back to school, or navigate a big life change. Whatever the reason, it’s important to practice self-empathy when recognizing them.
The beauty of yoga is its lifelong quality that will grow along with you.
Your experience of yoga will deepen and unfold over time and its gifts and secrets found not in the mastering of the poses but rather in your increased awareness and willingness to care for your mind, body, and soul.
Returning to yoga can feel overwhelming but it’s important to remember that the body has a remarkable ability to remember movement patterns (muscle memory) and regain flexibility and build strength.
If you’re returning to yoga after a break, this article offers 7 tips to help you ease back into practice.
- Prioritize your health and listen to your body
- Gift yourself grace
- Start small and embrace the restart
- Trust the ebb and flow of your yoga practice
- Affirm the benefits of returning to your yoga practice
- Cultivate mindfulness and self-care
- Attend group classes
1. Prioritize your health and listen to your body
When returning after a break, acknowledge any life and body changes and adjust to those limitations by moving with care and awareness.
Life happens while we are busy making plans for it. If you had developed consistency in your yoga practice before your break, accept that you are an extension of nature in which the only constant is change.
Embrace this season of restart and make adjustments that align with your current state of health, fitness, and physique.
2. Gift yourself grace
In other words, don’t be so hard on yourself. On the other hand, celebrate yourself for wanting to recommit to your yoga practice.
Reconnecting with yoga can feel like unwrapping a precious gift and the bright ribbon bow sitting on top of it is grace. Grace in your return to practice can look like being gentle and patient with yourself.
Remember yoga is about cultivating relationships with yourself, mind, body, and breath.
Come back to your intention behind wanting to practice again and let unconditional friendliness toward oneself be a priority.
3. Start small and embrace the restart
Coming back to your yoga practice after a break can feel like being a beginner all over again but this doesn’t have to be a bad thing. This can actually be a great thing.
Come back to basics and integrate yoga back into your life in bite-sized ways. Practice a few sun salutations a day and slowly add back postures to your routine. You might also use this as a time to explore other yoga styles. Ashtanga yoga, when taught individually (called Mysore-style) is perfect to advance gradually and comfortably.
4. Trust the ebb and flow of your yoga practice
One of the most beautiful things about this mind-body practice is that it teaches you to flow with the current of life instead of resisting it and becoming mechanical.
While your life ebbs and flows between the highs and lows- allow yourself to ebb and flow with your practice.
5. Affirm the benefits of returning to your yoga practice
- Improved strength and flexibility,
- Toning of the mind and body,
- Cardiovascular health
- Reduced stress and anxiety
- Increased connection with our inner and outer world.
6. Cultivate mindfulness and self-care
Practice intentional awareness when washing dishes or taking a walk. Take one deep breath a day or practice 5-10 minutes of mindful breathwork.
This can also involve sticking to a daily self-care ritual like washing your face every morning or practicing self-massage.
7. Attend group classes
Find support and accountability by taking group classes in your local community. Attend a group class that is more tight-knit and tailored to your needs vs a large studio.
In addition, working with an experienced teacher can help with proper alignment and form in the poses as well as safety.
Conclusion
Remember you carry your yoga mat in your heart everywhere you go and it’s always there for you when you need to roll it out ready to meet you where you need to be met.
If you’re looking for more resources to restart your yoga practice consider trying our free vinyasa flow right from home or join us in person for a group yoga class in Westchester, New York.
I understand what it's like to desire more out of life and look to yoga as a path to wellbeing. Your practice can awaken new perspectives as you tune in with your physical and emotional body.
When I started practicing, my finance career was at its height of success. I had the fancy job title but lacked fulfillment. I found the more I leaned into the yogic path, the more my whole life came into alignment.
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What is Ashtanga Yoga?
As the seasons change so do we and each season calls us to show up a little or a lot differently. While we may strive for a daily yoga practice, life can sometimes get in the way.
Maybe you took a break to prioritize your health, or motherhood, go back to school, or navigate a big life change. Whatever the reason, it’s important to practice self-empathy when recognizing them.
The beauty of yoga is its lifelong quality that will grow along with you.
Your experience of yoga will deepen and unfold over time and its gifts and secrets found not in the mastering of the poses but rather in your increased awareness and willingness to care for your mind, body, and soul.
Returning to yoga can feel overwhelming but it’s important to remember that the body has a remarkable ability to remember movement patterns (muscle memory) and regain flexibility and build strength.
If you’re returning to yoga after a break, this article offers 7 tips to help you ease back into practice.
- Prioritize your health and listen to your body
- Gift yourself grace
- Start small and embrace the restart
- Trust the ebb and flow of your yoga practice
- Affirm the benefits of returning to your yoga practice
- Cultivate mindfulness and self-care
- Attend group classes
1. Prioritize your health and listen to your body
When returning after a break, acknowledge any life and body changes and adjust to those limitations by moving with care and awareness.
Life happens while we are busy making plans for it. If you had developed consistency in your yoga practice before your break, accept that you are an extension of nature in which the only constant is change.
Embrace this season of restart and make adjustments that align with your current state of health, fitness, and physique.
2. Gift yourself grace
In other words, don’t be so hard on yourself. On the other hand, celebrate yourself for wanting to recommit to your yoga practice.
Reconnecting with yoga can feel like unwrapping a precious gift and the bright ribbon bow sitting on top of it is grace. Grace in your return to practice can look like being gentle and patient with yourself.
Remember yoga is about cultivating relationships with yourself, mind, body, and breath.
Come back to your intention behind wanting to practice again and let unconditional friendliness toward oneself be a priority.
3. Start small and embrace the restart
Coming back to your yoga practice after a break can feel like being a beginner all over again but this doesn’t have to be a bad thing. This can actually be a great thing.
Come back to basics and integrate yoga back into your life in bite-sized ways. Practice a few sun salutations a day and slowly add back postures to your routine. You might also use this as a time to explore other yoga styles. Ashtanga yoga, when taught individually (called Mysore-style) is perfect to advance gradually and comfortably.
4. Trust the ebb and flow of your yoga practice
One of the most beautiful things about this mind-body practice is that it teaches you to flow with the current of life instead of resisting it and becoming mechanical.
While your life ebbs and flows between the highs and lows- allow yourself to ebb and flow with your practice.
5. Affirm the benefits of returning to your yoga practice
- Improved strength and flexibility,
- Toning of the mind and body,
- Cardiovascular health
- Reduced stress and anxiety
- Increased connection with our inner and outer world.
6. Cultivate mindfulness and self-care
Practice intentional awareness when washing dishes or taking a walk. Take one deep breath a day or practice 5-10 minutes of mindful breathwork.
This can also involve sticking to a daily self-care ritual like washing your face every morning or practicing self-massage.
7. Attend group classes
Find support and accountability by taking group classes in your local community. Attend a group class that is more tight-knit and tailored to your needs vs a large studio.
In addition, working with an experienced teacher can help with proper alignment and form in the poses as well as safety.
Conclusion
Remember you carry your yoga mat in your heart everywhere you go and it’s always there for you when you need to roll it out ready to meet you where you need to be met.
If you’re looking for more resources to restart your yoga practice consider trying our free vinyasa flow right from home or join us in person for a group yoga class in Westchester, New York.
