Better your yoga practice with these tips
The quality of life in yoga is measured through the transformation of a well-maintained body with absence of illness and pain, tranquility of mind, cultivation of energy and ultimately reaching higher levels of autonomy in your practice.
Yoga has a very precise, direct and practical approach towards every instance of life and towards its practice. Yoga is not just what you do on the mat; rather its guiding principles permeate within the very essence of being.
If you're keen on starting, here are some easy, do-able tips that can get you started on a journey you will not regret taking.
1. Set a specific time, separate space and focus on the yoga practice preferable at a time when your body has good energy after a restful period. It may be in the morning or evening; this time differs according to everyone's schedule.
2. Practice on an empty stomach. Set the time for practice after two hours of any meal consumption. Small amounts of liquid can be consumed in these two hours.
3. Always practice yoga on a mat or blanket to avoid contact with the floor while practicing yoga for your own comfort. It aids in ease of practice, it is easier on the joints and avoids energy transference on an otherwise cool floor.
4. Distractions are unavoidable, but setting up the practice in such a way that it's easier to focus on yoga for the whole duration is definitely possible. For example, maybe you can't put your phone on silent, but you can leave it in the adjoining room. Or maybe complete privacy may not be possible, but you can definitely invest in a good pair of noise cancelling headphones which will transport you into a space of focus.
5. Start the session with a good warm up to create a good blood circulation all over the body before practicing asana for better results. Sun salutations are an excellent warm up before asana practice.
6. Pay attention to your breathing pattern for specific asana for an effective practice. Inhalation and exhalation patterns matter in each and every aspect of your practice. The wrong breathing patterns will cause cramps or pain or simply the inability to reach your true potential in the asana.
7. Try to be mindful of your injuries. If you've had a serious injury, severe pain or are recovering from a surgery, you may want to consult a doctor and of course inform your trainer of these injuries as well.
8. Practice yoga under the guidance of a teacher. Whether you are practicing in person or online with a group of friends, finding the right teacher is the best motivation you can get to continue your journey.
9. End the session with a proper cool down, relaxation and meditation for a refreshed finishing. Yoga is a psycho-physiological art for the training of the mind which is just as essential as the body.