No matter what your level of experience is, every yoga practitioner will face challenges in their practice. It might be a difficult pose that you can't seem to master, or perhaps you're dealing with an injury that makes it hard to do certain poses. Whatever the challenge is, it's important to remember that yoga is a journey, and challenges are part of the process.
If you're facing a challenge in your yoga practice, try not to get discouraged. Instead, take it as a sign that you're pushing yourself and growing as a practitioner. Remember to be patient, breathe through the difficult moments, and trust that you will eventually overcome the challenge.
Why We Face Challenges in Our Yoga Practice
In our yoga practice, we face challenges in order to help us grow and improve. Here are five tips to help you overcome these challenges:
Understand why you are facing the challenge: Is it because you are pushing yourself too hard? Or is it because you are not challenging yourself enough
Accept the challenge: This doesn’t mean that you have to like it, but understand that it is there for a reason.
Be patient: Don’t try to force your way through the challenge, but take it one step at a time.
Persevere: Keep practicing, even when it’s difficult, and you will eventually overcome the challenge. Rest assured that if you keep practicing, you will keep growing.
Try new techniques: Sometimes we can get stuck in a rut doing the same poses or the same routine day after day. If you try new practices or experiment with different settings on your mat, you may find that you start to overcome your challenge.
Understanding That Challenges are Inevitable
No one's yoga journey is without challenges. Whether it's a difficult pose, a bad day, or an injury, challenges are an inevitable part of the practice. But that doesn't mean they have to be roadblocks. Here are five tips to help you overcome any challenges you may encounter on your yoga journey:
Understand that challenges are inevitable: This is the first and most important step. Accepting that challenges are a part of the journey will help you deal with them when they arise.
Don't compare yourself to others: Everyone's yoga journey is unique. Comparing yourself to others will only create frustration and discouragement.
Be patient: Progress takes time. Don't expect to master a pose or have perfect practice the day after a setback. Consider setting smaller goals to help re-energize your practice.
Consider talking to a medical professional if you're dealing with an injury: While injuries are inevitable, they aren't always necessary. Some doctors know much more about injuries and their prevention than others. Engaging in preventative measures can help you avoid injuries and deal with them quickly when they do occur.
Take a step back & re-evaluate: Sometimes the best thing you can do for your practice is take a step back from your practice. Was your goal to heal an injury? Or deepen your meditation practice? Maybe you reached too far, too fast and you need to reset and refocus. Taking a step back can be a positive step if you use it as an opportunity to focus on the things that are going well and why you started practicing in the first place.
Reversing a Challenge Into a Milestone of Your Own Making!
Challenges are part of the human experience. Nobody achieves mastery overnight. Challenges are simply part of the journey. Applying these five tips to help you recover and re-energize your practice is a lesson in patience and perspective that can be applied to other areas of your life as well. Regardless of where you are in your yoga journey, challenges are always temporary. Celebrate your accomplishments, regardless of size. Look at each challenge as a milestone on the path to becoming a better you — for life!
Identifying The Source of Your Challenge
For many of us, yoga provides a much-needed reprieve from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. But sometimes, even yoga can present its own set of challenges. If you're struggling to get back on your mat, here are 5 tips to help you overcome your yoga challenges:
Identify The Source of Your Challenge: Is it a lack of time, energy, or motivation? Once you know what's causing your struggle, you can begin to find a solution.
Make a Plan: If you're struggling to find time for yoga, schedule it into your week like you would any other appointment. If you're lacking motivation, set a goal for your practice. Having a plan will help you get through challenges and stick with it.
Make Your Practice Manageable: Sometimes, having too many goals can create stress and distraction in your practice. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, simplify your goals for a few sessions to help get you back on track.
Stick With It: Even if you don't feel like doing yoga, just show up — showing up is half the battle. Once you're in the room and your instructor has started the class, you’ll often find that your motivation to be there overcomes any previous challenges.
Remember That Small Progress is Progress: Even if you don't feel like you've achieved much in your practice, the body's healing processes occur below the threshold of perception. Just by showing up, you’re making small but meaningful strides toward health and well-being.
Could It Be Physical?
Yoga can be a great way to improve your physical fitness and flexibility, but it can also be challenging. If you're feeling like you're not up to the challenge, here are 5 tips to help you get back on your mat:
Talk to Your Doctor: If you're feeling pain or discomfort during yoga, it's important to talk to your doctor to rule out any possible physical causes.
Modify Your Practice: If you're struggling with a particular pose, try modifying it to make it more manageable.
Take a Break: If you're feeling overwhelmed or like you're not progressing, it's okay to take a break from yoga. Come back when you're feeling refreshed and inspired.
Focus on Your Breath: One of the benefits of yoga is that it helps you become more centred and focused, even when you’re challenging yourself physically. Focus on each breath, and the rest of your practice will fall into place.
Try a New Class: If you’ve tried a particular type of class before and didn’t like it, don’t give up on yoga altogether; try another type of class. Intro to flow, for example, is a slow-paced class that’s great for beginners. If you’re looking for more of a challenge, vinyasa flow might be more your speed.
Could It Be Mental/Emotional?
If you're struggling to keep up with your yoga practice, it could be for a variety of reasons. Maybe you're physically tired or not feeling well. Or, it could be that your mind and emotions are getting in the way. If that's the case, here are five tips to help you get back on your mat:
Talk to Your Teacher: They can offer modifications or different poses that might be more suitable for you.
Find a Practice That Resonates With You: If you're not enjoying the style of yoga you're doing, it'll be harder to stick with it.
Set Realistic Goals: Trying to do too much too soon can be discouraging.
Be Kind To Yourself: Don’t use yoga as a punishment or a way to beat up on yourself. Avoiding yoga challenges: avoid comparisons comparing yourself to others, especially Instagram stars, can lead to feelings of inadequacy and frustration. Remember, everyone is on their own journey and where one person may be today doesn't mean you need to be there tomorrow.
Make It Fun: Try listening to music or podcasts while you do your practice. It can be fun (and motivating) to challenge yourself to see how long you can stick with your yoga challenges while listening to your fav podcast or song.
Join our Yoga Program
If you’re looking for inspiration for your home yoga practice, join our yoga program. Take a little time out each day to connect with yourself. Sign up to know more.
Comments