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Ready to Restart Your Yoga Practice After a Break?

3 Tips For Returning To Your Mat

The COVID-19 pandemic required us to press pause on many areas of our lives including travel, concerts, group gatherings, and school in the traditional sense. It may have even resulted in a break in your yoga practice since in-studio classes were canceled, and maybe life felt too stressful to practice on your own. Whether you took a break from yoga due to the pandemic, or for another reason, it is perfectly acceptable. In fact, we can learn a lot about ourselves by stepping away from our yoga practice for a while, but when you’re ready to return to your mat, there are a few tips you can adapt as you restart your yoga practice. 

 

Be Gentle with Yourself

Welcome your body back to the mat with kindness and warmth. Incorporate some of your favorite poses from your previous practice, they’ll bring back all the good vibes! Keep in mind that you may have to make some adjustments depending on how long your break has been. Poses that came easily to your body a few months ago, may not be in your practice the first few weeks back. Grab props like a block or strap when you need them. Listen to your body and do what feels good, but it is important not to push too hard.

You may recognize changes your body has been through since the last time you practiced. Maybe your arms shake a little more in plank pose, or your legs stay bent in downward dog. That’s perfectly okay! Thank your body for continuing to sustain you and getting back on the mat. Keep those thoughts positive and full of self-love.

 

Take A Class

A healthy self-practice is great, but it can be very beneficial to add in a regular group class. A certified yoga instructor can help guide you in correct posture, breath, and transitions that you may have forgotten during your hiatus. Attending a group class on a regular basis also cultivates community and accountability, even online!

At Health Yoga Life, live online yoga classes are available morning and evening, seven days a week. By attending a live online yoga class you’ll benefit from a virtual, judgement-free community of encouraging yogis and certified teachers. Whether you’re an expert or still pretty green, Health Yoga Life virtual classes meet you where you’re at. Just what you need to get back into the swing of your yoga practice!

 

Don’t Forget to Engage Your Mind

Restarting your yoga practice isn’t just for your body, but your mind as well. You may feel like it only takes a few weeks to get back to a regular practice, or it may take a few months. During this time, consider jotting down your thoughts. Routine journaling has been shown to relieve mental stress, inspire creativity and encourage self-reflection. Here are some ideas on what you could journal about:

  • How your body is feeling after a session on your mat
  • What you enjoyed about the class you took that day
  • Changes you’ve seen in your body since restarting your practice
  • Words or quotes your yoga teacher shared in class

In addition to journaling, meditation can be a powerful tool as well. It calms an anxious mind and promotes mental clarity before and after your practice. When you sign-up for Health Yoga Life’s online classes, you’ll receive free meditations and ancient wisdom techniques to begin engaging your mind.

 

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re ready to restart your yoga practice today, or still mulling it over, you can use these three tips to help you ease back into a regular practice when you’re ready. We’d love for you to join us virtually at Health Yoga Life. You’ll feel at hOMe practicing yoga with us in your hOMe. Our virtual classes offer professional instruction, a reduction in stress and lots of fun! 

There is no better way to learn about the practice you love than through a yoga teacher training.

Join us and give yourself the opportunity to rest, heal, shed, and grow.