What To Do When You’re Too Lazy To Practice Yoga
I toss and turn in bed, thinking if I should get up, unroll my mat and practice my sequence. I’m too lazy. I feel sleepy. My tummy’s heavy from today’s lunch. These thoughts run through my head just before I change into my sports bra and leggings.
After 2 years of practicing yoga, I found out that the battle between practicing and being lazy is always going to be there. It never leaves you.
As yoga practitioners, one of our greatest struggles come right before we begin in samasthiti. Getting into a state of mind where the breath is steady and we’re ready to face our weaknesses is damn hard.
Sometimes, the only response we come up with is this: I’ll do it tomorrow. And if you’re pretty serious with your practice, you know this is not the best effort.
Below are some practical, actionable things that you can use — and have always worked for me — to sustain your interest in the yoga practice.
Action item #1: Check your intention.
So 3 months passed and I was still stoked about walking towards the yoga studio across my office. I even used my lunch break to attend a yoga class. After doing this for a while, the enthusiasm waned.
It came to a point when I was attending class to wear the cute, yoga leggings I got the night before, or to see my favorite teacher because of her soothing voice and the cool music she plays during the final savasana.
And you know what? This is okay!
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with practicing for these intentions. It may seem too shallow for serious practitioners but who cares?
However, if you plan on staying committed to this practice for many years, there has to be something deeper, a more meaningful reason why you’d rather spend time on your mat than somewhere else.
Ask yourself why, and repeat. Why are you here? Why do you bother commuting to your home studio or shala? Why do you practice yoga? Get to the root of your motive.
Dr. Brene Brown, the author of Braving the Wilderness, said this about intentions:
It’s the deepest-level reason why the topic is so important to the person. We have to understand what truly matters. Speaking our intention helps us understand our motives and interests.
When we know our intentions, we begin to understand what our being really wants to achieve or have, and why it does.
Action Item #2: Go back to the yoga teachings.
Call yourself lucky if found a teacher whose practice is backed by the yoga sutras or one that has a solid background on the subject, especially if he or she is willing to receive questions and teach not only the asanas but the essence of yoga.
Knowing about its history, significance and benefits are just some of the things that can broaden your perspective and tell you that this is more than just poses. Reading resources such as Yoga Mala by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois and Bhagavad Gita is a great way to learn more information about what you practice.
Action Item #3: Socialize.
Keep it fun. Have a small (or big) group of friends. If there are events at your studio such as yoga festivals, holiday parties and such, mingle with your teachers and classmates.
To the ladies reading this, did you know that the female brain’s main function is to connect? Social connection is at the core of our being. This is according to the book The Female Brain by Louann Brizendine. Wherever we go, we look for people that we can connect with. The happy hormone oxytocin is released when we are experiencing positive social interactions.
Takeaway
Anyone can practice. Young man can practice. Old man can practice. Very old man can practice. Man who is sick, he can practice. Man who doesn’t have strength can practice. Except lazy people; lazy people can’t practice yoga. -Sri K. Pattabhi Jois
The truth hurts, and it will also set us free.
If this is one of the days when you have to drag yourself down to the studio, then drag. It all boils down your commitment and dedication.
I said it before, yoga is not really fun while we suffer on the mat, but knowing why we practice, knowing what we practice, and having people to encourage or even push us into practicing make it all worthwhile.
Odyssa writes, practices Ashtanga yoga, and works remotely.
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