Quick Tips for a Short Yoga Practice
As a yoga teacher, I encourage my students to practice regularly, so they can truly maximize the benefits. One of the reactions I hear more often is “I love yoga but have no time”.
A hectic life can quickly spiral out of control unless your mind is given moments of pause. If quantity of time on your mat is an issue, then honor the time you have by increasing the quality: “less is more” when “less” is great quality. When it becomes necessary to “squeeze in” your practice time, condense the amount of time you spend on postures but sharpen the focus of your awareness. Make every moment of your practice count, and you will feel that you have done enough.
Here are my top 4 tips for time-challenged yoga lovers:
If you absolutely have no time, you can still do breathing practice. Commit to conscious, deep abdominal breathing during your day. Whether at your computer, with a client or sitting through a meeting, this will toggle your nervous system into parasympathetic (the “rest and digest” mode), promoting an overall feeling of calm and tranquility throughout the day.
If you have 10 minutes, choose 5 poses such as Downward Dog, Cobra, Warrior 2, Twisted-Warrior, Single Pigeon and a 1 minute seated meditation. Use a timer and vow to remain completely present for them all!
If you have 20 minutes, add in some core work and savasana. The core work will leave you energized and integrated, and the savasana will help your body and mind reset for the rest of your day.
Need inspiration? Browse through the amazing video classes at The Yoga Collective. Use the time filter to ensure you adjust the practice duration to your available time. Let the video do the thinking so you can truly disconnect and dive into your practice.
Time if on your side if you choose to remain present. Park your “to do list” for a bit and let go of your personal need to “get it all done right now”. A short and sweet practice will do wonders for you, don’t skip it!