I am a self-taught yogi. I have never been to India, have never been certified to teach yoga, nor have I attended more than a handful of yoga classes (literally one hand...). Some readers of this blog know more about yoga than I.
However, just as my business mentor, Tom Antion, once laughed and said that he did not know everything about the Internet or Internet marketing, but that he knew just enough to make a ton of money, I know just enough about practicing yoga at home to enjoy energy, flexibility, and serenity without injury. And, I still feel 25 even though I am past 35, 45, and 55! I think that counts for a lot...
One principal aim for writing this blog is to share what inspires me to maintain my practice day in and day out, week after week, month after month, and decade after decade. A few months ago I began my 43rd year of yoga practice. Consistency is key and many people have told me that they find it a challenge to practice regularly.
No doubt numerous people would get bored with the fairly standard set of yoga poses I do daily. However, one secret to my success in keeping a consistent practice is that I constantly seek different ways to stay inspired in my practice. The other day, the words from a passage from the Law of Divine Compensation by one of my favorite spiritual writers, Marianne Williamson, leaped off the page and virtually shouted that I needed to share with you that this is how I maintain dedication and commitment to my yoga practice.
Marianne (who I had the pleasure of meeting in person at her December 2012 book talk in Washington, DC) was not talking about yoga in her passage. Instead, she was discussing how to stay inspired and motivated in your work (i.e., your day job) even if it's not your ultimate calling.
In the chapter, "Positivity," Marianne suggested that if a person gets bored or fears certain facets of their work that they take a different perspective and implement the following four rules for miraculous work creation. She says, "Be positive. Send love. Have fun. Kick ass."
I love her wise words! And, here's how to apply them to your yoga practice when you roll out your mat or even more so when you find yourself resisting rolling out your mat.
Be positive: Remember yoga's myriad benefits to your mind, body, and spirit. If your motivation lags, keep yoga magazines, books, and DVDS all around you to remind you of how much you can gain from your practice - as long as you do it!
Send love: I have said this numerous times. Put your heart into your practice. Send love to your body as you breathe, bend, and stretch. LOVE is a super charger for motivation.
Have fun: Change up your practice often. Add fun rituals like lighting candles and turning on your favorite relaxing tune or fast paced, invigorating music to jazz up your practice. Use fun imagery - imagine you are on a Hawaiian beach as you bend and stretch.
Kick ass: Advising you to "kick ass" might seem antithetical to the spirit of gentle yoga. But for me, it means putting all of your focus, all of yourself into the pose you are doing in the moment. The more you put in, the more you will get out- seemingly trite but so true.
Marianne's advice is simple but powerful. You can only find out though, by implementing it for yourself.
Yours for kicking ass during your home yoga practice,
Laura Venecia Rodriguez, the Beginners' Yoga at Home Coach
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