‘A healthy mind lives in a healthy body’; this old saying stands true to mankind of all ages. To bridge the gap between a healthy mind and a healthy body, the age-old practice of yoga can help immensely. It is a significant exercise regimen that not only heals existing health issues but also prevents the occurrence of any diseases that can affect a person in the future. Many people are switching to practising yoga to savour its remarkable benefits in our day-to-day lives. The asanas (exercises) included in yoga work as healers for your physical and mental health.
Yoga is taking a first-hand stand in many people’s lives for the numerous roles it has to play in keeping your body and mind in perfect shape. If you’re a person who wants to adapt yoga to your lifestyle, here is a guide you can follow.
Set a low benchmark for yourself
When it comes to adapting to a new pattern, it is always advisable to take one step at a time. There’s nothing wrong with dreaming big. But you should break the big transformation into manageable and attainable parts. The same goes for (re)starting yoga practises. For the first week, give yourself 5 to 10 minutes of light yoga asanas and gradually increase your time and number of exercises in the subsequent weeks. In the first place, if you set an unrealistic objective, it’s likely you won’t be able to meet it. It’s easy to become frustrated as our brains are conditioned to have a negative bias, and we choose to quit easily. But that’s something you cannot let in your way while you want to include yoga in your lifestyle. Even if you spend 5 minutes resting on the floor focusing on your breath, that would be a great start! Those 5 minutes of mindful awareness may be the most impactful minutes to keep your day going.
Set your own goal
You can think and write about what you need in life currently and how incorporating yoga will help you with this. Writing about the importance of yoga in your personal life can be beneficial. There are various reasons to practice yoga, but they must be meaningful and fit your lifestyle well. You can simply say that you’re doing it as a gesture of self-care, and that is a strong intention. Make sure your reason is strong to stay motivated to do yoga even when life gets in the mix. And honestly, it does!
Be consistent, and perfection will follow
According to scholars, the habit formation process is not materially affected if you miss one opportunity. In other words, habit formation is not necessarily a one-time event but a gradual process. Changing behaviour is not meant to be simple when you wish to incorporate it into your daily life. If that was true, then gym memberships in the first month wouldn’t be so high. So, it’s not a sin if you make one small mistake. Perhaps you should work on your consistency first, and perfection will come into play naturally.
Stick to your intention
It’s easy to get lost in the wilderness, but never lose sight of the woods! Remind yourself constantly why you wish to adapt yoga to your lifestyle and how it can be beneficial for your overall health. You can read various articles and blogs or watch inspiring videos that will keep you motivated to continue the practice. You can also curate a mantra based on the theme of your goal, in general, to motivate yourself so that you can keep focused.
Make yoga a habit
You must have heard that it takes 21 days to form a habit of something that you’re doing constantly. This theory first appeared in a novel published by Dr. Maxwell Maltz. However, this is too good to be true. As per some other research, it ideally takes 66 days for a habit to be established. It’s advisable not to stress on the numbers so much. Every individual is unique, and their coping mechanisms are different altogether. So, instead of setting x days challenge, just focus on taking one day at a time and stick to it. After all, every day is a new opportunity.
Minimise your decision time
If you don’t have to change a lot of things to accommodate something, it is easier to include it in your lifestyle. So, if you want to adapt yoga, you don’t have to change anything significant to squeeze it into your daily routine. All you have to do is get up early. Yes, it can be challenging in cold winter to even get out of bed, but if you reduce the number of decisions and the order of events, it becomes easy to integrate a new habit.
Takeaway
You can stick to the discussed points if you’re new to yoga. However, if you need professional guidance in a scenic landscape, you can book a wellness retreat programme with Kahani Paradise. Amidst the forests and beautiful beaches at Gokarna, this wellness resort is a unique getaway destination for a wellness vacation. This resort includes different therapeutic activities, including yoga sessions to help you boost concentration, calm your mind, and heal your ailments. Book your stay in this enchanting property and get started with unique yoga regimens that add value to your life.
