Posted by Devin McGlynn on 9/27/2012 to
In honor of National Yoga Month I am going to give you some tips so you can get the most out of your yoga practice. Your mind may be clear and your legs might be burning so much they feel like they are on fire when practicing any of the warrior poses, but are you getting everything you want out of your yoga practice on all levels? Are you getting everything you need emotionally, spiritually and mentally? Here are some tips to get the most out of your practice.
1. Breathe. Breathing properly can help increase your mental focus, get rid of that pesky negative energy and as an added bonus it can reduce stress. If you are having trouble breathing effortlessly in class, ask your instructor what type of breathing she suggests for the type of yoga you are practicing. Many styles such as kundalini, vinyasa and bikram all have different ways of breathing associated with them.
2. Know the basic poses. If you want to get the most out of a pose, you have to do it correctly. Pay attention to your form and the way you are positioning your body. If you are unsure, ask your instructor or a friend who practices yoga often.
3. Don’t compare yourself to other people. Yoga is about being your best in the present moment. It’s not about doing the best triangle pose in the room. It’s about doing the best triangle pose you can do. Yoga isn’t about instant results. Yoga is beneficial every time you practice it and is a lifelong journey.
In honor of National Yoga Month I am going to give you some tips so you can get the most out of your yoga practice. Your mind may be clear and your legs might be burning so much they feel like they are on fire when practicing any of the warrior poses, but are you getting everything you want out of your yoga practice on all levels? Are you getting everything you need emotionally, spiritually and mentally? Here are some tips to get the most out of your practice.
4. Never skip the easy poses. If you practice yoga all the time you might want to skip the basic poses and dive head first into the more advanced ones. The easier poses are there for a reason and many times they are there to create heat and warm you up while opening up your body and preparing it for the harder poses.
5. Practice in a comfortable space. If you feel good in your space you will be able to go deeper because you will have a sense of safety and well-being. You don’t have to go crazy. All you need is a yoga mat, enough room to practice your poses and some props (yoga block, yoga strap, yoga blankets) if you choose. Yoga music, candles, and incense can add to creating a sacred space for your practice.
Love and Light.