Top Tips for Developing a Sustainable Yoga Practice
Yoga is more than just a physical practice. It’s a journey of self-discovery, personal growth, and a developing connection to both your mind & your body.
While many of us gravitate to the practice with the intention of exercising, the key to a long-lasting and fulfilling personal practice is sustainability. What keeps us rolling out our mats is not always our physical practice, it’s deeper than that. It becomes a space to check in with yourself, develop compassion, and meet yourself exactly where you’re at.
Developing a sustainable yoga practice is all about consistency, listening to your body, and finding a balance between challenge & rest.
If you’re looking to build a practice that actually lasts, keep reading for our top tips to guide you along the way!
Set Realistic Goals
One of the biggest indicators that your practice will last is your commitment to developing a personal goal. Whether it’s a physical goal, a mental goal, or simply a goal to show up regularly - identifying what you’re working towards will elevate your practice and keep you coming back to your mat with excitement and eagerness.
You might set a goal to work on a specific asana (or pose). You might set a goal to develop boundaries in your life, more self-compassion, general kindness towards others, and work towards practicing that on your mat. Make sure your goals are sustainable and realistic, and keep in mind the natural fluctuations in the body.
Listen to Your Body
The number one way to lose your practice is by holding too tightly to those goals you set (see number 1 above). While having goals is a great guardrail, nothing is more important than learning to listen to your body. The great thing about this practice is that we can show up in any condition, and still find support.
Listening to your body means that you’re tuned in to your own energy levels, mood, and physical body. Once we’ve developed awareness in the body, it’s our duty to use it. The subtle cues, sensations, and information in our physical body can help guide us to developing a practice that works regardless of how we show up.
Create a Consistent Routine
Make a commitment to yourself. How often do you want to show up? Where? When?
The more specific you get, the easier it’ll be to show up. Personally, I’ve found that developing a morning routine around my practice is the absolute best way to ensure I get my practice in, and it sets the tone for my day.
Just remember to be fluid with your expectations. If you miss a day, just show up the next day. Instead of attaching stories around failure, notice that you’ve missed a day, and show up tomorrow.
We’re human. It really is that simple.
Explore Different Styles
Have you ever tried a practice outside of Vinyasa? The practice of yoga is VAST and expansive. There are so many different styles to try on and experiment with.
I think of knowledge as power. Every style isn’t meant to resonate with you, but you can guarantee that you’ll deepen your practice by stepping outside of your usual practice.
There are practices designed specifically to develop discipline, practices designed to focus on alignment, practices designed to move with the breath, and practices designed to simply restore & learn to surrender. Having these different tools in your back pocket will elevate your understanding of the bigger picture, and allow you to tap into what you need in any given moment.
Stay Inspired
While this is lower down in this list, it’s most definitely one of the most important aspects of creating a sustainable practice. Find teachers that ignite you. Make a commitment to sticking with a teacher over a longer period of time. Express your goals around the practice, and let them hold you accountable.
If you’re feeling stagnant, find a new teacher, try a new class, break outside of your daily routine and notice the inspiration that follows.
Make a point of identifying the things that keep you creatively on fire. Whether it’s time in nature, books, podcasts, in-person talks, or something else entirely. Making an effort to prioritize your own inspiration will keep you coming back to your mat again and again.
Join a Community
You are the sum of the five people you spend the most time with. If you’re not surrounded by folks who are passionate about the practice, check out local events on eventbrite, Facebook, or Reddit. Make an effort to get to know local yoga business owners in your area and ask them if they have any events. Show up and set an intention to get to know someone.
If you can’t find a local community, check us out our FREE courses & challenges that we host monthly, or join us for an online practice. We have a steady flow of regular students who commit to their practice together. You’ll get to know each person through guided prompts and discussions that we host.
Developing a sustainable yoga practice is all about consistency, listening to your body, and making your practice a priority in a way that supports YOU as the unique individual that you are. By setting realistic goals, creating a routine, and making a commitment to community, you’ll cultivate a practice that nourishes you for years to come. Most importantly, remember that yoga is a journey, and rules are for breaking. Enjoy the ride and let your practice evolve with you.
