How often can we be in a brilliant routine of exercise and we look out of our rose-tinted glasses and wonder how it were ever possible to not be in this space. We ask ourselves, how can there be people out there who hate exercise and just don’t do it?
This place of commitment is so sweet that you feel completely safe and encased in it. Then you get hit by sickness, work commitments, family pressures or a holiday that knocks you off your routine and before you know it you haven’t practiced for a few days and are wondering whether you will get to that space of being that happy, committed ‘yolate’ you were a week a go! So, what is it that we can do to keep us committed and connected to our Yoga and Pilates practice?
I mean life always has its ups and downs, its distractions, its obstacles how can we stay on this path of commitment, no matter what?
Take your practice home, yoga and Pilates does not just have to be done in a studio!! Create a space and place items in it that inspire you. Set a timer and commit to a set amount of time, and it doesn’t matter whether it’s 15 minutes or 90 minutes. That timer sets a boundary and will help you to commit to staying on the mat. Keep a notebook next to your mat. If you think of tasks during your practice jot them down to deal with later. This will help you stay focused on your exercise and give you the peace of mind that you will return to your to do list later.
Short meditation, will provide focus when those distracting thoughts creep in. The meditation may include a little visualization and end with giving thanks. Sally Kempton: Meditation teacher and author in Carmel Valley, California says “Daily meditation is an opportunity to check in regularly with the peace behind the mind, and, as you practice it, the mind becomes more focused, manageable, calm, and creative.”
Let your body guide you, put on some music that gets you feeling energised. Let your body do the sequencing and teaching or watch a YouTube clip before to inspire you. Start simple!
Listen to and honour where you are at emotionally and physically. Some days make your practice restorative and healing, and other days flow through it with high-energy.
Select a practice time that fits your lifestyle. If you are not a morning person, don’t plan to practice at 6 a.m. But for some this may be the best way to start a day and be a time when your pulse is soft, your heart rate is slow, and your mind a little empty. Write the time you practice each day in your calendar, so you are firmly committed to it.
Start to create new, positive habits and associations, such as rolling out your mat as soon as you get home from work to help you relax, rather than opening that bottle of red. Or perhaps getting up before the kids to give yourself a precious half-hour before the chaos begins. You wouldn’t leave the house without cleaning your teeth and getting dressed, would you? In the same mindset, we can start to adapt yoga and Pilates into our daily routines.
Commit to attending a regular class by buying a block of classes or term membership and ensure that the studio is on your way home, so you can’t make excuses!
Find an Accountability Partner someone to report to if you flake out on your exercise routine. Having to call your sister every time you skip your Pilates or Yoga workout can provide that little extra bit of encouragement you need to stick with it on days when your enthusiasm is limited.
Use a photo as motivation go through your photo gallery and find a great picture of yourself at your happiest and healthiest. Any time you need a little inspiration, look at this picture as a motivator of where you want to be!
Go online there may be a lot of negativity online, but it’s also possible to use social media in a positive light, for example by following your favourite yogis or Pilates teachers to gain inspiration. How about joining one of the many yoga or Pilates challenges on Instagram or Twitter that you come across?
While yoga and consumer culture don’t necessarily go hand in hand, sometimes a new mat, piece of clothing or something beautiful to add to your exercise space can be just what you need to give you a little incentive.
In conclusion, the practice of yoga continues to provide comfort, balance, and steadiness during challenging moments and the benefits of Pilates in the form of teaching you alignment, strength, stability and endurance are fantastic. I invite you to reflect on whether you want to build on these qualities in your life or instead to skip the workout resulting in further lack of motivation and poor body image.
Yes folks, all it comes down to is getting out of your head by getting onto your mat. Some people say to be effective, your exercise routine should be no more negotiable than going to work in the morning, perhaps this approach may be the one you need to take to get that commitment to your practice back!
Amy instructs at iAspire Yoga Main Beach, Gold Coast and is passionate about teaching Yoga plus Pilates and connecting with her clients.
Come and meet her on the mat! Book a class at Main Beach Yoga Classes