Personal yoga practice is created of layers that accommodate your core beliefs and infuse joy and purpose into your life. Yoga is a practice; however, your practice may look nothing like someone else’s, and it doesn’t have to. Defining your yoga is a process that takes time. As you walk the path of mindfulness, exploring connections, and growing into your highest self, allow your practice to develop in the ways that naturally resonate for you. Altogether, many different disciplines, interests, and orientations exist in the yogic world. You don’t have to adopt all of them. I encourage you to find what speaks to you and begin developing your own personal discipline from that belief set. And don’t forget to evolve along the way! Creating a practice is fun.
Setting the Bar with Intention
How often do you silently wonder whether or not you measure up? Have you ever thought; “If I can’t do it great, it isn’t worth trying to do at all? If so, I wonder, who/what sets the bar that you measure yourself against? It’s different for all of us, but the only correct answer, is you do. It’s an unpopular truth that most of us aren’t great at everything. In yoga, we honor that with acceptance. The brilliance is in the effort. We center ourselves, unlearning all things no longer serving us. Exerting effort in the doing, we take action in the context of loving-kindness. By taking care of ourselves, we are attracting peace and potential. Trial, practice, and maybe a few flops along the way are perfectly acceptable. We begin by setting our intention. What do you most need right now? Are there lessons that keep arising in your life? How can you best serve yourself through a new process? What is your guiding intention for yoga? What do you most want to get out of it?
Start Small
Yoga is limitless, however, for something to become a part of your practice, there needs to be sincere intention built around it. Like anything, yoga takes time. Creating a practice won’t happen overnight; at least not one that you want to stick around for over the long-haul. The tenets of your yoga should be incredibly personal to you. In that vein, I recommended taking stock of your own personal history, lineage, and heritage for inspiration. As you delve in, start small with one or two foundational elements. Employ them routinely for at least a month. Observe; did they serve your intention? How did they compliment your life? Subsequently, if they didn’t work, those aren’t the practices for you. Keep trying until you find what resonates. Over time, e add additional elements in to keep it fresh.
Building Discipline
Yoga is a discipline, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t fun, exciting, and enriching as well. Creating a practice that makes sense to you is fun and fulfilling. For now, let the light of new wisdom wash over you. Then, just soak up all the love of self, spirit, and society as you explore. As always, let levity grace the difficulties you encounter because when we stop taking ourselves so seriously, we witness what’s actually happening. Best wishes to you in making new connections through reflection!
“Nothing in the world can purify As powerfully as wisdom;
Practiced in yoga, you will find this wisdom within yourself.”
-Bhagavad Gita 4.38