Since completing my 100 days of Gita daily yoga practice challenge at the start of the year, I have done a lot of contemplating about what I learnt from the experience.
In my last post I shared that the biggest lesson was to simply SHOW UP and keep getting on the mat.
But when you've fallen from the path for an extended period of time, or trying to establish a new habit, this wasn't always easy. So I also learnt a few tricks along the way to keep me on track on those days when I could very easily fall off the wagon onto old paths and into old patterns I am seeking to break.
In case you find yourself in a similar position, I thought I'd share them here with you...
In my last post I shared that the biggest lesson was to simply SHOW UP and keep getting on the mat.
But when you've fallen from the path for an extended period of time, or trying to establish a new habit, this wasn't always easy. So I also learnt a few tricks along the way to keep me on track on those days when I could very easily fall off the wagon onto old paths and into old patterns I am seeking to break.
In case you find yourself in a similar position, I thought I'd share them here with you...
1. WHAT'S YOUR WHY
Having a strong reason why you want to create a daily practice (or change) for yourself will help keep you motivated on those days when you feel most likely to stumble.
Dig deep and find the bigger picture for yourself. What is it that you wish to gain? How do you wish to feel and why? What is it that will have you coming back to the mat time and time again?
For me, my why is to feel balanced, grounded and empowered so I can be of bigger and better service to others.
When I had a consistent practice during my teacher training, I knew it was responsible for keeping me grounded and centred during my everyday life and stresses of studying two diplomas at once, working etc. After I had moved interstate and returned to the family home to regroup after a tumultuous couple of years, routines were disrupted and I hit a low point. I knew deep down reinstating my daily practice to it's former glory would help me create the inner physical and mental balance I needed to regain the power back in my life. Cue: 100 Days of Gita. It did just the trick!
2. ACCOUNTABILITY
Falling short of a strong why, I found having a way to keep yourself accountable as the next best thing.
Find yourself a coach, make a public declaration, start a 100 day goal, or a blog.
What works best for you?
One thing I find when I hit my lows and stumbling points,
the excuses to fall off the wagon seem stronger when the ego is at it's loudest.
For me, having the 100 days of Gita challenge and publicly announcing it was a great starting point, but the clincher was deciding to video my practice everyday. I couldn't have a missing day in this video, now could I?! :)
3. DO WHAT YOU LOVE
There are many styles to choose from and as I tell my first time students, "Never give up after your first class of yoga, there are 100s of styles and 1000s of teachers so the combinations are endless. Find one that resonates for you!"
Picking a practice you love and one that makes you feel good makes it easier to keep you on track.
I also found having a practice that can be long or short enabled me to fit it into even the busiest of days. It was also handy to be able to alter its pace and intensity to match the energy I presented with on any given day. Hence, why I love the Gita style of yoga, on top of the fact that it leaves me feeling balanced, grounded and empowered every time.
4. SELF-FORGIVENESS
This point was not originally in my top keys, but the more I considered what had helped me to stay on track, the more I realised the vital role it played!
Stumbling and struggle can be enlightening when we look a little deeper into why it occurs.
Not sure about you, but when I stumble I am pretty good at putting myself down. The "negative committee" in my head starts going on (and on) about the "failure" story that has kept me down in the past. Stumble for longer than a day or two and it gets pretty hard to hear anything but this story.
However, being able to bring forgiveness into that moment of realisation creates a space of self acceptance and the time gap needed to choose a different story and start over from wherever I am at.
Being able to practice a healthy dose of self-forgiveness when you stumble allows you to get back on the path without getting stuck in the story.
Forgiveness, would probably be top of my list, and is something that is coming up time and time again in recent times for me to work on this year. As Michelle Marie McGrath once posted and I've never forgotten, forgiveness is "for giving love again".
Having a strong reason why you want to create a daily practice (or change) for yourself will help keep you motivated on those days when you feel most likely to stumble.
Dig deep and find the bigger picture for yourself. What is it that you wish to gain? How do you wish to feel and why? What is it that will have you coming back to the mat time and time again?
For me, my why is to feel balanced, grounded and empowered so I can be of bigger and better service to others.
When I had a consistent practice during my teacher training, I knew it was responsible for keeping me grounded and centred during my everyday life and stresses of studying two diplomas at once, working etc. After I had moved interstate and returned to the family home to regroup after a tumultuous couple of years, routines were disrupted and I hit a low point. I knew deep down reinstating my daily practice to it's former glory would help me create the inner physical and mental balance I needed to regain the power back in my life. Cue: 100 Days of Gita. It did just the trick!
2. ACCOUNTABILITY
Falling short of a strong why, I found having a way to keep yourself accountable as the next best thing.
Find yourself a coach, make a public declaration, start a 100 day goal, or a blog.
What works best for you?
One thing I find when I hit my lows and stumbling points,
the excuses to fall off the wagon seem stronger when the ego is at it's loudest.
For me, having the 100 days of Gita challenge and publicly announcing it was a great starting point, but the clincher was deciding to video my practice everyday. I couldn't have a missing day in this video, now could I?! :)
3. DO WHAT YOU LOVE
There are many styles to choose from and as I tell my first time students, "Never give up after your first class of yoga, there are 100s of styles and 1000s of teachers so the combinations are endless. Find one that resonates for you!"
Picking a practice you love and one that makes you feel good makes it easier to keep you on track.
I also found having a practice that can be long or short enabled me to fit it into even the busiest of days. It was also handy to be able to alter its pace and intensity to match the energy I presented with on any given day. Hence, why I love the Gita style of yoga, on top of the fact that it leaves me feeling balanced, grounded and empowered every time.
4. SELF-FORGIVENESS
This point was not originally in my top keys, but the more I considered what had helped me to stay on track, the more I realised the vital role it played!
Stumbling and struggle can be enlightening when we look a little deeper into why it occurs.
Not sure about you, but when I stumble I am pretty good at putting myself down. The "negative committee" in my head starts going on (and on) about the "failure" story that has kept me down in the past. Stumble for longer than a day or two and it gets pretty hard to hear anything but this story.
However, being able to bring forgiveness into that moment of realisation creates a space of self acceptance and the time gap needed to choose a different story and start over from wherever I am at.
Being able to practice a healthy dose of self-forgiveness when you stumble allows you to get back on the path without getting stuck in the story.
Forgiveness, would probably be top of my list, and is something that is coming up time and time again in recent times for me to work on this year. As Michelle Marie McGrath once posted and I've never forgotten, forgiveness is "for giving love again".
So that is how I did it. And I how I continue to approach my practice and any new goals I have. Once you find the winning formula that works for you, it's all about rinse and repeat.
For example, I'm currently working on my 100 things to do in 2015 list, number 97, Handstand training. When I saw the Handstand February challenge, pictured above, I knew it was perfect for me. I love a goal with a time frame and doing it with friends and having to post a daily picture helps to keep me accountable.
Now I just have to use these keys more successfully with number 30, Blog weekly ;)
{Though, self-forgiveness says, fortnightly is more frequently than previously, so you're getting there!}
I hope sharing these with you gives you some extra tools for those moments when you're struggling with your practice, or that resolution, goal or habit you are attempting to establish in your life.
Would love to hear from you… do you have a goal you're working on, what do you do when you hit stumbling points and which of these keys or others would you use in those moments.
Best of wishes and love always,
Tx
For example, I'm currently working on my 100 things to do in 2015 list, number 97, Handstand training. When I saw the Handstand February challenge, pictured above, I knew it was perfect for me. I love a goal with a time frame and doing it with friends and having to post a daily picture helps to keep me accountable.
Now I just have to use these keys more successfully with number 30, Blog weekly ;)
{Though, self-forgiveness says, fortnightly is more frequently than previously, so you're getting there!}
I hope sharing these with you gives you some extra tools for those moments when you're struggling with your practice, or that resolution, goal or habit you are attempting to establish in your life.
Would love to hear from you… do you have a goal you're working on, what do you do when you hit stumbling points and which of these keys or others would you use in those moments.
Best of wishes and love always,
Tx
