Strategies for Making Yoga Part of Your Routine

This article was written by Yoga to Cope’s guest contributing editor Jordan Smith. Her background includes writing and editing health and fitness content for major publications such as Health and Runner’s World. She is working toward a personal training certification and hopes to inspire others to find the health journey that works best for them.

@rishikeshyogpeeth

Making time for yourself is important. With days packed with Zoom meetings, commuting, chores, and anything else you have to take care of, though, it can be easy to put your mental and physical health on the backburner.

Whether it’s taking time to stretch or completing a skincare routine, you know it’s necessary to help you feel your best, but carving out a moment to care for yourself is easier said than done. That’s where incorporating a yoga practice can have major benefits. Now that we’ve broken down the scientific benefits of a yoga practice, it’s time to figure out how to make yoga work for you in real life.

Now back to those Zoom meetings—you schedule them, so why not give your personal goals the same treatment as those commitments? Try blocking off time in your day that may have been spent scrolling Instagram and instead fill it with something that will fill your cup in return.

Taking back time for a yoga practice will look different for everyone. Whether it’s squeezing in a 5-minute meditation session or you find that you’re logging hours of screen time that can be replaced with a longer practice, any time spent refocusing your intentions on your mantra will be beneficial. And, you’ll be setting yourself up for success.

“Whenever you choose a new goal like adding yoga into your routine, remind yourself of why you picked it. Write it down, create a mantra or visualize yourself 3 to 6 months from now,” says Rachel Dash-Dougherty, LCSW, Owner of Grounded Therapy and Coaching LLC. Try these three expert-approved strategies from Dash-Dougherty to help make yoga a part of your routine, no matter where you are in your journey.

Assess Your Schedule

It can often feel like you have no time to add things into your routine. “When I do time assessments with my clients, we often find there are pockets of 5 to 15 minutes throughout the day,” Dash-Dougherty says. This is where new things can be added or replaced.

Avoid the Comparison Trap

Whether yoga is a new practice for you or you are returning to it, don’t compare yourself to others.  Remember this is your goal and your body.

Be compassionate

Humans can’t stand being uncomfortable. We crave staying the same because it feels safe and comfy. Be kind to yourself when trying something new. If you wouldn’t say it to a child, don’t say it to yourself. Set up a reward system to inspire you to keep going.