The secret of success in the practice of yoga
On May 18, 2023 by marghevivianiIn the classical sense, only regular practice can be called yoga. Patanjali writes about this in the first chapter of the Yoga Sutras, speaking of abhyasa.
If you spread the rug from time to time according to your mood, you are doing anything, but not yoga. Therefore, it is important to immediately establish a regimen for your practice and follow it. Exercise 3, 4, 5 or 6 times a week. Better at the same time.
It is better to practice a little, but regularly, than a long time, but rarely. Even a short daily exercise will bring many benefits. Your breathing will improve, your muscle tone will increase, you will gain flexibility and endurance,” writes Devere Godfrey in the book Yoga.
Your first Trikonasana will be very different from the Trikonasana you do after a year of regular practice and again after two years. And it’s not just the physical side, how it looks. After some time, you will begin to feel completely different in the pose, to feel not only the external, but also the internal form of the asana.
Not only modern masters, but also ancient texts speak of the need for tireless practice.
“Anyone who really practices yoga will achieve success, whether he is young, old or even decrepit, weak or sick. Success comes with practice. How can you be successful without practice? From just reading books on yoga, success will not come. Success is not achieved by wearing yogi clothes or talking about yoga. Only in relentless practice is the secret of success. It is certain, and there is no other.”Hatha Yoga Pradipika
READ ALSO How to become a Yoga Teacher from the comfort of your home
20 REASONS TO DO YOGA REGULARLY
✔Yoga increases our energy levels. Morning yoga practice increases the body’s oxygen consumption and stimulates blood circulation.
✔Yoga increases metabolism – which means you can eat more tasty, healthy food!
✔Regular practice helps you fall asleep quickly and sleep well. By bringing attention to the present moment and reducing stress through practice, we lower cortisol levels and stop the flow of distracting, anxious thoughts that keep us awake at night.
✔Yoga strengthens joints, protecting them from the damaging effects of osteoporosis and aging.
✔Yoga strengthens and lengthens the spine, which leads to better posture, relief from back pain and prevents serious spinal injuries.
✔Yoga has a detox effect – it helps to cleanse the body with the help of yoga twists.
✔Inverted asanas stimulate, add energy and help you look at life from a different angle.
✔ Mindful breathing on the mat develops a habit of breathing this way throughout your day, helping you not only stay more energized, but also make better decisions and be more happy with what you have right now.
✔Yoga saves feet: legs that spend the whole day in shoes get tired quickly. Incorrect shoes and lack of foot exercises lead to flat feet and other problems, but yoga helps prevent or get rid of them.
✔Yoga improves the functioning of the immune system, reducing the level of stress hormones that adversely affect it; stimulates the lungs, heart, digestive and lymphatic systems.
✔ By practicing good posture on the mat, you get used to maintaining it throughout the day. You protect your back and neck from prolonged stress. By holding your head up high, you will go through your day with confidence and ease.
✔Yoga reduces anxiety – through the practice of lengthening the breath, as well as focusing on the present,
✔We often complain that we don’t have enough time for ourselves. Yoga gives us the opportunity to find the same time and spend it with benefit. Everyone needs time for solitude and contemplation, especially people who, by the nature of their work, constantly care for others. By taking care of ourselves, we accumulate strength in order to take better care of others.
✔Yoga opens the heart – literally. As you open your chest in backbends and rest in Shavasana (when the whole body is open and vulnerable), you will begin to notice that yoga gently helps to peel off the layers of that shell that we have built up as a defense against past (and future) injuries. Letting go of pain and fear, we learn to let in love and joy.
✔Yoga reduces inflammation in the body – which means it is useful for absolutely everyone.
✔Yoga makes us more productive. Of course, at first it will seem that there is no time for practice. And yes, you really need to find this time to practice. But then it will become apparent that the practice of yoga creates more time, making us more relaxed and focused – and therefore more productive.
✔It’s free! (Of course, a subscription to a yoga studio costs money. But your own, home practice is not)
✔ No special equipment needed; it can be done anywhere – on the floor, on the grass, on the carpet. You can take your practice with you when you travel.
✔No special clothing needed (contrary to what the ad says). You can practice in any comfortable clothing. No need to worry about keeping up with everyone or comparing yourself to anyone (although we all tend to do this, but this is not at all necessary).
✔ And the most important reason is that yoga gives us a sense of purpose. If at the beginning of the morning practice you set an intention for the whole day, then it will be filled with great meaning and a sense of purpose. For example, it may be the intention to consciously breathe several times a day, being present in the moment, feeling your every movement, every thought.
Takeaway
I hope now you know how to reach success at your yoga practice 😉
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Yours,
Marghe
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