Today I managed to sleep a little later which was much needed, and I did my meditation with pranayama. I’m up to holding/breathing for 8 counts (breathe in 8, hold 8, breathe out 8, hold 8). I tried one at ten but was struggling.
I also posted in my 40 day group asking for help in getting a personal yoga practice going. I have some weird mental/emotional block about it. I got some good suggestions, quoted anonymously here:
What has helped me, especially with this program is 1) setting a dedicated time for my daily practice, 2) having a dedicated space… I also have enjoyed writing down the practice from the book before hand and just flowing through it at my own pace with music on.
I was able to really immerse myself in it doing live classes on zoom. It made all the difference for me signing up for classes and knowing others were there as well in real time vs videos.
Here’s a few thoughts…
1. Big one—There’s nothing wrong with you! we all have areas where we don’t do the things we know we should do. A wise person once told me “don’t should on yourself” ?
2. Maybe going outside and not having to label it is “I’m now going to do yoga “ would help too- like take a walk and get to a park and just a few yin poses to relax
3. Lastly, start small – maybe that’s one minute not ten – I find breaking things down to smaller parts can help- success builds on success so a minute today is two minutes tomorrow or next week…
i had to find a space in my house that i could really made my own.
I had created a kind of schedule, for me to be accountable with myself to really practice.
I also came to peace with feeling no guilt for my time
Make yourself a fun music playlist or follow warrior one on spotify. If I turn up the music loud, chill in child’s pose…. it gets me going. I explore variations of journey into power and lose myself in the breath and movement. But it took me a long time to cultivate this home practice so don’t beat yourself about it. Don’t think about it too much just do it. ?
Put it on your calendar. If it’s on the calendar you have to do it!!
There is nothing wrong with you. Nothing. No more shoulds, and lower your expectations (no more the amount of time you should practice).
I suggest starting small. Perhaps commit to 3-5 Sun A’s after connecting to your breath in child’s pose for 1-2 mins. Or stand in mountain and focus on your breath. I truly feel powerful in this pose. Engage/activate your entire body and just breathe with the feeling.
Schedule a zoom class and put it on your calendar. Don’t cancel on yourself. And give yourself permission to just lay there or leave the meeting if you truly aren’t feeling it in 15 mins.
I relate to you. I have every tool imaginable to do the things at home, and it’s has taken this quarantine to get me to finally use them. And some days, I still don’t/just can’t. And each day is day to begin again.
Nothing is wrong! but this is something NEW. Maybe you don’t do a physical practice every day -so what- AND you are realizing where you are spending those 30 minutes… and THAT is awareness. These 6 weeks are about creating awareness! Around your life and where you put your attention (most of the time we put our attention what we’re NOT doing and creating drama around that) What I read is that you have an abundance of resources and having activities/things to do mean you are alive