"Anyone who practices can obtain success in yoga but not one who is lazy. Constant practice alone is the secret of success." ~Svatmarama, Hatha Yoga Pradipika
I agree with the above quotation. Not that I want to accuse people who don't practice yoga or engage in other physical activity regularly as being "lazy." However, as I have frequently stated in this blog and in my book, for you to gain the maximum benefits from yoga or any other physical exercise or practice, consistency is key - there's just NO way around it! Granted, a little bit of yoga off and on may be better than none - but not necessarily better by much!
When you get into the groove of daily practice, everything seems to become easier and yoga becomes a part of you. Certainly, you can miss a day or two every so often without penalty when the trials and tribulations of life disrupt your schedule.
But, especially when you begin a yoga practice, I would recommend that you practice 6 times a week for at least a month or more (probably much better if it's more) without fail. You want to get to the point that when you miss a day either by choice (as a once a week break) or chance (a cold, an unexpected abrupt change in your schedule, etc.), your body will tell you that it is MISSING something! It wants you to move and stretch! And it will be easy to resume your practice the next day.
If you have a dog you will likely agree (and I have never had or taken care of a dog that has failed to do this!) that it ALWAYS, ALWAYS stretches when getting up in the morning after a long sleep. Dogs (and other animals) instinctively know that their bodies need to stretch and move and get the kinks out after a period of inactivity. And so they stretch out their legs and back without fail after sleeping.
Well, if dogs innately know that they need to stretch, then so should you! Unfortunately, our hectic way of life often causes us to dismiss or not even recognize our body's self-care signals! And that is the purpose of sharing the quotation above by yogi Svatmarama. You may not be the most flexible person and may never be able to do advanced yoga poses such as the crane or the headstand but, if you practice consistently, constantly, you WILL enjoy success!
Yours for achieving yoga success with constant practice,
Laura Venecia Rodriguez, the beginners' home yoga coach
Tao Porchon Lynch is one of my favorite instructors, a living legend. Waiting for your new post about the time you spent with this legend.
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