“Practice is the hardest part of learning, and training is the essence of transformation.”
~Ann Voskamp
I have spent the first three months of 2014 studying in-depth the practice of Ashtanga Yoga. For six days every week, I practiced the Primary Series (aka Yoga Chikitsa), with 20 other Ashtangis. After my 500-hour training ended, I realized how difficult it is to keep up a home practice. I found distractions and a sense of loneliness. My pranayama was without its compatriots. I felt the lack of communal-energy sobering.
Then, I reminded myself that our purpose as yogis is to achieve the “cessation of the fluctuations of the mind”. To do this, I needed a complete home practice. The following is a list of 5 Tips that helped transform my home practice into something I desired to do every day.
1) Designate your OM space. In this space, make sure it is clean and free of clutter. Have ample space to move. Light is also helpful. I found that I love having my practice facing big windows that let light through. It is energizing and peaceful all at once.
2) Hold yourself accountable and/or have an accountability partner. If you haven’t done your practice first thing in the morning, then make the time to do it before bed. Your practice does not have to be 2 hours long. Your spirit and your body will benefit from any practice of the asanas. Check in daily with an accountability partner/friend who gives you the extra incentive to make the time.
3) Find your contentment. Never once can you say that you regretted doing yoga practice. In fact, chances are you felt happy and successful that you completed your daily exercises.
4) Consider your practice a blessing and gift. You have so much to be thankful for, and whilst in your practice, you can meditate on all those blessings. Your practice becomes meaningful. It is your time to be thankful for your family, friends, home, job, etc. We never take enough time to do this.
5) Embrace the music. Ashtangis typically do not use any music in order to limit distractions. I embrace music in my practice. I find music to push me to new limits or to relax me- depending on what music I choose. I recommend Sigur Ros, Bon Iver, and Beyonce.
With that said, I remind you that you are exactly where you need to be at this moment. Embrace the dreams for your practice, and hopefully, these tips will help you in your daily practice. Namaste.
~Ann Voskamp
I have spent the first three months of 2014 studying in-depth the practice of Ashtanga Yoga. For six days every week, I practiced the Primary Series (aka Yoga Chikitsa), with 20 other Ashtangis. After my 500-hour training ended, I realized how difficult it is to keep up a home practice. I found distractions and a sense of loneliness. My pranayama was without its compatriots. I felt the lack of communal-energy sobering.
Then, I reminded myself that our purpose as yogis is to achieve the “cessation of the fluctuations of the mind”. To do this, I needed a complete home practice. The following is a list of 5 Tips that helped transform my home practice into something I desired to do every day.
1) Designate your OM space. In this space, make sure it is clean and free of clutter. Have ample space to move. Light is also helpful. I found that I love having my practice facing big windows that let light through. It is energizing and peaceful all at once.
2) Hold yourself accountable and/or have an accountability partner. If you haven’t done your practice first thing in the morning, then make the time to do it before bed. Your practice does not have to be 2 hours long. Your spirit and your body will benefit from any practice of the asanas. Check in daily with an accountability partner/friend who gives you the extra incentive to make the time.
3) Find your contentment. Never once can you say that you regretted doing yoga practice. In fact, chances are you felt happy and successful that you completed your daily exercises.
4) Consider your practice a blessing and gift. You have so much to be thankful for, and whilst in your practice, you can meditate on all those blessings. Your practice becomes meaningful. It is your time to be thankful for your family, friends, home, job, etc. We never take enough time to do this.
5) Embrace the music. Ashtangis typically do not use any music in order to limit distractions. I embrace music in my practice. I find music to push me to new limits or to relax me- depending on what music I choose. I recommend Sigur Ros, Bon Iver, and Beyonce.
With that said, I remind you that you are exactly where you need to be at this moment. Embrace the dreams for your practice, and hopefully, these tips will help you in your daily practice. Namaste.