Getting back into yoga after a long break can seem very daunting.
Our bodies adapt so quickly to changes in routine and exercise patterns.
If you’re not doing a regular yoga practice it can take only a relatively short amount of time to lose some of the flexibility you’ve so carefully built up.
The thought of yoga being difficult or even painful can be very off putting.
This reluctance to find out if you’ve lost any of your previous yoga ability might actually stop you getting back into yoga at all.
However, there are so many reasons that getting into yoga again is such a good idea.
For example, there are numerous benefits to yoga.
Finding your way back to your mat can be made easier with the following advice.
Top tips for getting back into yoga
Here’s how to start to practice yoga again after a break.
Remind yourself how yoga once made you feel
A great way to start getting back into yoga is to become really motivated by all the good things that yoga brought you in the past.
These can be both the physical benefits of yoga and its impact on your mental health.
Your past yoga practice may have given you:
- valuable time to yourself
- more flexibility in your daily life
- a sense of achievement
- an easy way to unwind
- relief during a stressful time in your life
- a stronger body
- a community of friends and other yoga enthusiasts
- better sleep
If you reflect on these benefits you may find getting back to yoga less of a challenge.
Stay present in your abilities today
One major reason why you might be struggling to start up your yoga practice again is the distressing thought of the ability you may have lost during your break from yoga.
It’s true that you can lose some strength and flexibility if you take some time off from regular practice.
However, it’s important to give yourself some grace here.
Try to forget how good you were at yoga in the past.
Getting back into yoga is easier if you just start with the here and now.
This is your body as it is today.
Be proud of it, and never feel guilt or shame for taking a break from yoga.
Your body will remember its former abilities and you will advance again in not much time at all.
Start practicing yoga slowly
The most important thing you can do when getting back into yoga is to take it slow.
By rushing into advanced poses you can place extra stress on your body.
This can result in injury, pain and over exertion of parts of your body like your lower back.
All of these factors can put you off starting yoga again so it’s wise to ease into yoga, like any physical activity, slowly and surely.
Start getting back in to yoga with simple movements.
These could be child’s pose, the forward fold, tree pose, mountain pose and a standard downward facing dog.
With consistent practice you will find yourself more easily moving into a few rounds of sun salutations and other more advanced postures like the plank pose.
Set yourself a challenge
Committing to any fitness challenge can be extremely motivating when you’re trying to get back into any fitness regime.
Yoga is no different.
There are lots of amazing yoga challenges out there, and for many different types of yoga.
The best way to find a yoga challenge is to look for a YouTube channel featuring them.
For example, the 30 days of yoga challenge with Adriene, or a series of classes from Yoga with Kassandra.
Each video series gives you a different yoga experience every day.
They are relatively short so are easy to fit in to your everyday life.
The first videos in the challenges always start you off slowly so you won’t overdo it at first.
The nice part about these challenges is that you can do them in the privacy of your own home.
Treat yourself to some new yoga tools
To get back into yoga you may like to get some new tools for your own home practice or a yoga class.
Like a new gym kit, brand new yoga equipment can be a good motivator.
Consider treating yourself to a new mat, yoga block or yoga pants.
Look for a yoga class
Some people prefer the practice of yoga at home, and others love to do it in a group setting or with a yoga instructor.
If you are someone who loves yoga classes then reach out to local yoga studios and sign up to a class.
There are always people of different abilities in any group class.
A trip to your favorite yoga class can be wonderful motivation when getting back into yoga.
It can also put you in contact with others who love yoga too, and you can even gain some new friends because of this connection.
Set a realistic schedule for your personal practice
If one of the reasons you fell out of regular yoga practice in the first place was lack of time, take care to schedule your yoga carefully.
It may be that you can’t yet commit to daily practice which is fine.
You can do a yoga session at any time and it doesn’t have to be every single day.
The best way to ensure you are consistent with it is to set realistic expectations about when you really have time to fit it in.
By being realistic about the time you have available, you won’t find yourself missing your yoga practice because you are too busy to do it.
This can be very stressful which is the exact opposite of what the spiritual practice of yoga is meant to achieve.
Getting into yoga again is easier if you don’t place too much pressure on yourself to show up when you really can’t.
Have a specific place to do your yoga in
Getting back into yoga is easier if you have a designated place to practice your yoga poses.
This could be in your living room, bedroom or even outside.
Ensure that your yoga space has enough room for your yoga mat.
You also need to consider giving yourself plenty of room for the physical practice of yoga.
You won’t want to feel confined to a small space where you can’t fully extend your arms or legs.
Get a friend to do it with you
Sometimes all we need to get back into doing yoga is a willing friend to join us.
It’s really important to set time to do your own practice when it comes to yoga.
However, a good friend who also wants to try yoga can be all the motivation you need to finally hit the mat again.
It can be fun to go to a class together or try out online yoga programs at home.
Sharing your yoga experience can be very valuable.
Try different yoga styles
Getting back into yoga after a long break is nerve-racking.
One of the different ways you can start connecting to your yoga practice again is by trying out different styles of yoga.
Ashtanga yoga, hatha yoga, vinyasa yoga, bikram yoga (a variety of hot yoga) and yin yoga all have different paces and benefits.
Speak to a yoga studio owner or personal trainer on the benefits of each so you can decide which style you’d like to try out.
If it’s the right time for you to rediscover the joy of yoga, these tips will go a long way towards helping you start up again with greater ease.
Getting back into yoga on a regular basis is so worthwhile but it can be difficult, especially if the last time you did any yoga was a long time ago.
But don’t let that stop you.
Yoga is a wonderful contributor to overall good health and if you follow these tips you will find your first day practicing again will be a lot easier.
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