Finding Time for Yoga: A Guide to Building a Consistent Practice
Whether you’re new to yoga or reinvigorating an occasional practice, designating even a small part of your day to being on your mat can be a major barrier to entry. Between work, social commitments, family and daily chores, it’s easy to let yoga take a backseat to reality. But for yoga to truly become a practice, spending time on your mat is essential. But how does anyone find the time?
It doesn’t have to be complicated. Experts agree that the best time to meditate, stretch, and practice wellness is whatever time works best for you. If you’re consistently struggling to fit yoga into your schedule, the following suggestions can help make it sense more like self-care and less like a chore. Since yoga as a philosophy extends beyond the physical, devoting time to the asana element can help you initiate to embody your yoga in all aspects of your life.
10 Ways to Build Yoga Into Your Life
1. Rise with the Sun
Starting simple, the earlier you gain out of bed, the more hours you have in the day. If yoga doesn’t currently fit into your schedule, creating more time might be the solution. An early morning practice can also invite more presence into your day, setting a calmer tone for what lies ahead.
2. Try a Short Practice
You don’t need to spend an entire hour on the mat to reap the benefits of yoga. A 5-, 10-, or 15-minute practice is better than nothing—and might be exactly what you need.
3. Take a Midday Yoga Break
Anytime is a good time for yoga, including your lunch break! A midday practice is an excellent way to counter any afternoon slump and is ideal for those with overscheduled mornings, and evenings.
4. Strike a Pose Whenever You Can
Similar to a short practice, taking time for even one much-needed yoga pose can be enough to redirect your day. Balancing in Tree Pose while brushing your teeth, hitting Warrior 2 between meetings, or dropping into Standing Forward Bend when you get out of bed can bridge the gap between a non-practice life and a yoga-filled one.
5. Get Yourself an Accountability Partner
Whether it’s pride or the power of teamwork, it can be easier to get to your mat if someone else cares that you show up. Enlist a friend to sign up for classes with you, practice virtually at the same time, or send each other reminder texts.
6. Do Yoga in Bed
Yes, bed yoga is a thing! Start or conclude each day with some reclined stretches and other effortless shapes.
7. Reconsider Your Priorities
Time for a little tough love! You make time for the things you prioritize. Take stock of how you spend your hours each day and see where you’re dedicating more time than necessary. You’ll likely find room for some adjustments.
8. Practice Whenever Works for You
If you’ve been trying and failing to establish a regular practice, perhaps it’s time to reevaluate what makes sense for you. Try practicing at different times and in alternate styles. Maybe 6 pm is more your vibe than 6 am, or you need slow flow instead of restorative. Experimenting might provide the answers you need.
9. Sign Up for Class in Advance
Committing to a studio class ahead of time is one of the surest ways to ensure you find time for yoga. It doesn’t matter if the reason you make it to your mat is to save yourself a cancellation fee. All that matters is that you show up.
10. Release the Pressure to Plan
Some people simply aren’t great at adhering to a schedule and thrive on spontaneity instead. If that’s you, provide yourself a break! Yoga shouldn’t feel like a chore. Practice when you’re able, and you may discover that you’ll want to build more yoga into your life.