If you have a consistent Yoga practice you already know that varying what you do on the mat is key to long term success.

If you are just starting out with building a good Yoga routine, you might not feel confident enough to stop, listen to our body & mind, and make adjustments.

Making a change requires creating new neuro pathways and the human brain is wired to take the path of least resistance. Following the routine you know so well or putting on a Yoga video is so much easier.

But refusing to stop and listen to what the body & mind needs is a sure way to a burnout, becoming demotivated, and increased chance of injury.

Why do we resist varying our Yoga practice?

1. Because truly listening to ourselves is harder than any Yoga pose.

   Dropping our intentions, expectations and need-to-dos when we get to the mat, the ego in other words, is no easy task.

   But don’t give up! Increasing your awareness even just by 1% each time will set you on a path of a much more meaningful practice. It’s as easy as doing a one minute body scan before you start your practice.

2. Because building the practice you have now was difficult enough!

   …so changing it might seem like a bad idea. You might fear that you’ll loose your good routine if you go about changing it.

   You don’t have to change everything. You might just work on your mind & body awareness before you start your usual practice, tune in, add a few poses your body is craving, or change the speed of your practice.

3. Because we think we don’t need to.

   Sadly, we often realize our practice was too rigid only once we’ve gotten demotivated, fallen out of our routine, exhausted or injured. 

   Watch out for this especially if you are practicing a Yoga style that requires you to do the same set of poses every time.

4. Because it’s always easier to follow the ‘mainstream’ type of practice.

   Do you know the name of the Yoga style you are practicing? If not, find out and make it your mission to try a different one every once in a while.

   There are also many Yoga techniques that you won’t find in Yoga studios. Follow your curiosity and intuition to enhance your practice.

5. Because we don’t know how to go about it.

   Most commonly, the reason for not being able to adjust and vary our practice is lack of knowledge, and missing confidence in what we do on the mat.

   The variations do not have to be that significant. Understanding basic movement principles and building body awareness should be on your Yoga to-do list.
   
   (We teach you how to do that in our course.)

Five easy ways to keep your practice flexible:

1. Explore different Yoga styles

   You might love the Yoga style you are practicing and see no need to change anything. But it is all too easy to get stuck on just one Yoga style.

   Not sure what style you are practicing or what other styles are there? Check out the post on the Styles of Yoga.

   
   

2. Play with the length

   Listen to your intuition and play around with the length of your practice. You can create an entirely different practice just by slowing your routine down on days you might not have so much energy or by speeding it up on days you do.

   
   

3. Intensity 

   Finding the right intensity can be one of the hardest things when searching for the right Yoga practice. It is usually quite easy to know when you need a more intensive Yoga practice: you feel your body and mind is ready for a bigger challenge. But knowing when you need a less intensive Yoga practice is challenging.

   Read here how to recognize when you need to de-intensify. 

4. Talk to a teacher

   Don’t be afraid to approach your Yoga teacher after a class or even book a private session to discuss what practice might be right for you.

1. Never stop listening

   If you are searching for the right Yoga practice, you are practicing Yoga in its essence- you are listening to your body & mind. 

   With learning to listen, your practice will evolve and progress ach time you come to your mat.

Before you go…

Take a mental note of which of one strategy you can use.

Do they all seem to complicated to implement right now?

Next time you come to your mat, do this:

1. Before you start your practice or press play on the video, lie down for 30 seconds

2. Close your eyes and tune in to your body. Notice what feels tight, contracted, sore…

3. As you do your practice, stay longer in / add poses which are in alignment with how your body feels.

Get your Yoga questions answered!

Demystify Yoga, identify blocks in your practice and find a way to your right, regular Yoga practice.

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