5 Tips to Recharge Your Yoga Practice


Is your yoga practice feeling a little stale? Here are five easy ways to spark new interest.

1. Try a different style or teacher.
There are many different styles of yoga, and even within a specific style, each teacher has his or her own approach. Attending a class that is different from the one you usually attend will offer you unique insights. For example, if your usual class is high-energy, try a traditional, slower-paced class. A word of caution: if you are recovering from an illness or injury, or have a condition that could be affected by exercise, be sure to consult your health care professional before attempting a more rigorous program or attending a “hot yoga” class. And talk to your new instructor ahead of time about any health concerns you may have.

2. Read classic yogic texts.
Looking for some great summer reading? Go back to basics! The primary text of Raja Yoga is the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Patanjali is considered to be the “Father of Yoga.” More than 2000 years ago, he codified existing yoga practices into the Sutras—which has since provided the foundation for the many branches of Yoga. There are almost 200 sutras, and each “thread” offers insight into the Yogic science of the mind. Another beautiful text is the Bhagavad Gita, “The Song of the Blessed One.” This long poem tells the story of the conversation between Arjuna who is about to lead his army into battle, and Krishna, who is God incarnate. Krishna’s guidance about spiritual practice, non-attachment, life, death, and love is sure to add greater depth to your own practice. Links to my favorite versions of each of these books is on my website.

3. Throw a yoga party.
Want to throw a party that will leave your guests feeling stress-free and energized? Throw a yoga party—your guest will thank you for it. Many yoga teachers are willing to teach a class in your home. All you have to do is transform your room into a yoga studio (a fountain, flowers, and candles will do the trick) and lay out the yoga mats. After class, serve a light, healthy dinner. Get your guests involved by asking each to bring his or her favorite yoga-related gift for a grab-bag. Inexpensive suggestions are yoga music CDs, incense, or soothing eye pillows.

4. Keep a journal.
If you feel as though you are not making any progress, try keeping a journal of your yoga practice. Note how you feel before your practice, how you feel after, and insights that come to mind during. Also note your moods, your health, the quality of your relationships and how you cope with stress. After a few months, re-read what you have written and notice the progress you have made.

5. Take on a challenge.
Pick a part of your body (such as upper arm strength) or a type of posture (such as balance poses) that you would like to focus on. Select a sequence of postures that address your challenge and practice them regularly. Choose some way of measuring your progress. For example, at first you may be able to hold a balance pose for a few seconds. After a month, you may be able to hold that same pose for a minute. If you are not sure what sequence of postures to select, talk to your yoga teacher or consult a good yoga reference.

Posted: Wed - May 17, 2006 at 09:02 PM          

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