Am I ever tired of having these conversations with myself: “You cannot do yoga every day”, “You can never get into that twisted pretzel pose, you might hurt yourself”, “You should not try to push your luck. You had some breakthroughs but really, that’s enough for now.” I am determined to vanish these thoughts for good and replace them with “I can I can I can” attitude along with heaps of patience and perseverance.
Theme of the Yoga Flow Series #5: Cultivating a regular yoga home practice so grounded and so strong that it dispels all notions of excuse, doubt and evasion and leaves you with all the benefits of a steady practice.
If you are on a mobile device, watch this video on my YouTube Channel here.
At the beginning of May, I started to practice yoga every day. Luck in all its generosity sent me two most delightful companions who joined me on the daily yoga challenge. From east coast to west coast, we practiced on our own and then shared our joys and struggles with each other. A treasure of an experience! The challenge is still on-going; I plan to finish out the month of May as the first month with minimum an hour a day commitment to yoga and I will share the experience of the 31 day challenge upon completion, of that you can rest assured. In this post, half-way through the challenge, I want to send out a message of motivation to all of you (something I could have used when I had bouts of doubt and excuses against daily practice) and share my 3 lessons along the way.
*I love Brilliant Yoga!*
The 3 Lessons from Yoga Flow Series #5:
1. When unmotivated, start yourself on auto-pilot:
Motivation is the hardest thing when you do not go to a yoga studio for your practice. I only go to studio twice a week so I had to fill the gap on other days for my daily practice. It is easy to talk yourself out of practice! Next time you feel tempted, try this method which I learned to be true about Eleanor Roosevelt. She believed that motivation comes to us late in the process. However, we can invite it by first starting on the things that we love in complete auto-pilot and then watch motivation slowly slip in. So next time it’s time for yoga, trust me and just go through your sun salutations and see what happens.
2. With home practice, you really get to know yourself:
I love going to the studio and practicing with my peers but there is a different element altogether to practicing in your own home and by your own self. Yoga is beyond a physical exercise. It is a path to self-exploration and the process goes deeper when you are in your home environment and in your own company. Listen to the thoughts in your mind and be fully aware of the ways you go through your practice. No matter what sequence of poses you do, when no one is watching, you are doing the version of yoga with which you are most comfortable. You are becoming the true version of yourself through yoga in solitude.
3. Freedom to Explore
A natural consequence to not having a structured class is both a dilemma (what poses should I do?) and a sense of freedom (I can do any pose I want!). Taking care of your body and making sure you are warmed up enough for each pose is extremely important but with that in mind, you can go ahead and play and practice your favorite poses. You can make it fun and exciting to have your own yoga hour for whatever you wish to do to take your practice deeper and deeper.
Penny for your Thoughts:
Love to know what home practice you do for yoga? If you never have practiced at home, what has kept you? And if you have never practiced yoga, I must speak to you immediately! Share your thoughts, whatever they may be, and especially give me feedback on the video please!
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{ 34 brilliant comments, Care to add another? }
Hi Farnoosh, hope you’re doing well! I enjoyed your video, as with most people, i’ve been wanting to start Yoga for awhile. My cousin just started doing it, but started it at home. My question to you is: should I start off with enrolling in a class? Or should I start off trying to figure it all out on my own
–Parker
Hi Parker, thanks and very exciting that you want to look into yoga. If you are new to yoga, you must start with a good teacher (go by reputation of studio and teachers) and learn the poses, learn how to take care of your body and not injure yourself, and become familiar with the flow and breathing before you do it on your own. So easy question: go to a studio and find a good teacher (based on reputation) and take it very easy, it’s a long and rewarding journey. Good luck and keep me posted.
I’ve never tried yoga before. It’s really interesting to try. Thanks for this info, Farnoosh!
Roman, we must change that. We must, we must!
Ummm….so you think we need to talk?????
Loved the video, Farnoosh! Especially in seeing YOU doing this. And then – to read your words, and what this means to you – wonderful. In a way it reminds me very much of some of the strength training I do (at home). Sometimes motivation to start is the hardest thing – yet that feeling of accomplishment at the end is so good!
Anyway – you make a very compelling case for yoga!
Lance, we should discuss your case immediately but there is hope!
Listen, I have done strength training too (at home also with a trainer) and I am sure you run or ski or something really strenuous too. Just know that yoga will make all that better. Andy Garcia was amazed at how his golf game improved when one of my teachers in LA gave him some yoga privates. And the list of benefits is endless. Glad you feel motivated to try it! And thanks for the smiles!!!
WOW! Speechless….. I have practiced Yoga at home on and off and have been thinking to seriously start it all over again at home. I go to a Yoga studio once every week and practice for almost two hours with a trainer but would like to go further and deeper…. your video inspired me a lot and will start tomorrow …. thank you dear Farnoosh! take care….
Dear Leila, I thought you might enjoy this. Yes, once a week is good but to make real progress, dear, you need to practice at least 3 times a week for about an hour so your muscles keep the memory and continue to stretch further and your body will then continue to open more. Enjoy the journey and you are very welcome.
I don’t think I have any music like this. I will try doing this with jazz music because that’s like the closest kind of relaxing music I have on my laptop. The encouraging part of your post was when you said that this was beyond physical exercise but more with self-exploration. I’m going to start with regular stretches, focus on my body, how it’s feeling (probably pain), and what I’m thinking of. Hopefully, this will help me explore myself a little more. Thanks for this Farnoosh. It was really peaceful to watch!
Hulbert, you can find many radio stations streaming free music on iTunes. Music is so accessible these days (and plus jazz and yoga, that might be a first
)! I love RadionoMix or radioioAmbient channels in the Ambient music category of Radio from iTunes…Free!!
Now, with yoga, please be very careful if you are trying it out first time on your own. May I recommend that at least for first class, you go to a studio and learn the poses and be familiar with the breathing?
I am so happy you enjoyed the video and keep me posted on what you end up doing!
Love it Fanoosh. Your videos are gorgeous and inspiring – and your setting (studio) is lovely. I committed to 30 mins yoga 5 days a week in February 2009 and am proud of how well I’ve kept to that. There’s been the odd break – holiday, visitors – but it’s going well. I’m not sure I quite get into a true meditative mind zone but I do feel the benefits. One friend – not knowing I was doing the yoga – commented recently on how much straighter I was standing. Wow! It’s working I thought (because I have been a sloucher throughout my life and have found it hard overcome that, BUT the yoga is really making me more body-conscious). Anyhow, thanks for this lovely post.
Thank you so much, my Aussie blogging friend. 30 minutes a day is fantastic at that frequency and oh yes, good posture is one of the known benefits of yoga, one that I can and still benefit from greatly. It’s just that awareness, that constant reminder in every pose that then becomes a part of daily life routine. Keep it up and you are most welcome. Great to see you here.
Oh dear, my fingers went silly and I somehow hit return/submit by mistake. Please delete that comment if you can! What I was saying is Thanks for the lovely response, and I apologise for misspelling your name in my original response. I see it as a matter of respect to get someone’s name right and am sorry that I disrespected you! Cheers.
Gosh, you are so kind, worry not one bit. I hardly noticed it but I really appreciate you saying what you did – I always sent a small “apology” note back when I fat-finger names. Our mutual respect to one another was not once at risk, thank you whisperinggums!
Hi Farnoosh,
I love your video and reading about your thoughts on yoga. For several months during the past two years, I was traveling to places where there was no decent yoga studio – thus a very active home practice several times a week. It’s hard to even describe what’s it like to get on the mat – the practice just unfolds – it was such a joy. Now I’m back taking classes – and it’s all good. I’m learning so much from teachers and enjoying my solo time as well. I’ve practiced for 11 years, but there seems to be no end to the deepening.
Look forward to more videos!
Take care,
Gail
Hi Gail, taking classes from teachers that you really like is wonderful. I have done it for years and sometimes with more frequency than 2x a week. If I find a primary series Ashtanga class around here, I will add that to my weekly routine but I have become so selective and Ashtanga so rare around here. The journey is ever continuing. I have more videos of yoga (Series 1-4) here also. And more videos forthcoming, thanks again for stopping by to share those thoughts!!
Hi Farnoosh.
I went ahead and tried these poses and maneuvers, and now my left leg is coming out of my neck. I might have gone too far.
Actually though, I am not normally able to even come close to touching my toes when stretching down. I can touch other people’s toes, so that rules out a magnetic repulsion to toes.
I would probably benefit more than most folks from yoga, and so what ends up happening is that I label it as wacky yoga and end up not doing it. I am very inflexible. I wonder when I will start.
It appears as though you may have some yoga skills, although it is debatable.
Armen, where in this video did you get the idea to Do rather than just Watch?
Well, you kid about yoga but really, the benefits of yoga for even a young man such as yourself can be staggering! Of course, your sense of humor makes everything fine and you can even make fun of my yoga skills. I need to improve on them for sure. The twisted pretzel video will show you alright 
!
Farnoosh, I am so inspired by the idea of your 31 day challenge! As you know, I don’t do much yoga, but I do some Chi Gong and would love to be more regular. The idea of a challenge is a brilliant one! Thanks so much. It was lovely to see how beautifully you engage in the poses and how limber you are. Has yoga helped with the pain in your arms?
Sandra, so good to hear this on Day 18 when I am sore beyond sore! It’s been very hard to commit but once you do, then you know you just have to work all your schedule around it. You are kind to see me as limber….it’s all just practice. The arms have been a constant source of worry as they shift and go through ups and downs in pain. I think that since I worked hard on alignment with my yoga teacher, yes yoga has helped although I still need to be careful. It’s a healing process that may take a long time and I have just accepted that
! (Thank you for asking)!
Hi Farnoosh,
What a beautiful video, well done. I just may sign up and try a Yoga class…
I am reminded of my days as an avid weight lifter. I had much of the same inward Self Talk you mention above. I found that lifting weights everyday soon became a habit. I passed over the idea of ‘discipline’ and it was replaced with simply what needs to be done. Eventually working out everyday became as automatic as taking a shower everyday.
Rob, that’s wonderful (you trying a yoga class) – You must tell me how it goes and remember, one time may not be enough to really see how it all works!
Habits and disciplines are my favorite topic and I love reading success stories such as the one you shared, thank you!
Yet again someone new to yoga can pick up little hints here and there (pigeon pose) by watching someone who is very inspiring. Your point about getting to know yourself while practicing alone really supports the motivation issue. I’m up to a few minutes a day but serious work only once a week between classes. Thanks for yet another boost!
Rebekah, pigeon is one of the most beneficial poses for opening hips and putting us in reflection mode. I am so happy you have made friends with it! And so proud of your inch-by-inch growing home practice. You are VERY welcome!
Farnoosh- I love the video (and the music) , you have a beautiful practice…
Mary, thank you – smiles all around.. I am sure you have an equally love practice!
Wow.
, and I like yoga, so I’ll give the home practice challenge yet another chance.
My hat’s off to you. You are the role model I need, as I am terribly horrible with discipline, sticking to schedules, and motivation.
But I don’t fallout all the time
Thanks for inspiration, Farnoosh.
.
Please keep your ideas flowing (I don’t know how you manage all that, but please keep it up
Thank you dear Dmitry! Practice is all (and all!) it takes. I am so glad you enjoyed this and it’s hard to be disciplined I hear you but I do hope that you feel more motivated to try again. Yoga tries us in so many ways but we can always return to it! Many, many thanks for all of your kind words here and namaste!
HI! I have to say the one thing that has SAVED my yoga practice is yogaglo.com
where I live there aren’t many opportunities for yoga outside the home, I had tried dvd’s… nope…wouldn’t finish them…always felt there was something else to do.. then, thanks to my yogacrush kathryn budig, I stumbled on to yoga glow. It took my maybe 2 times a month home practice and of late has upped it to 5-6 times a week!! For 18$ a month I have access to AMAZING teachers, classes, levels, timeframes.. it is all there,,,whether I have 15 or 90 min. I will never give it up!
Hi Tiffany, welcome to prolific living!! Oh wow, which as you say is associated with Kathryn Budig!! I have written about her here too…if you search under yoga. I am sad to hear you are far from yoga places but there is SO much to be said about a home practice! Kathryn is phenomenal. That is amazing to do it 5-6 times a week. Are you seeing progress? I can’t believe you can keep going for 90 minutes at home, very impressive…..great story, thanks for sharing Tiffany!
mmm.. I didnt say I was doing 90 min at home!:).. that is what is great about this website.. THey have a wide array of timed practices available. I shoot for the hour long ones. Unless I am pressed for time then it’s less. 90…havent tried it yet.. I will let you know!
I have been doing this (5-6 x week) since October.. and I am obsessed. I have started a serious training in Mass. that runs for 8 weekends.. thinking of becoming a teacher. Its funny because I won’t think there has been any progress and then all of a sudden voila , I can do something else I never thought possible!
Kathryn.. I was blessed to do a weekend workshop with her in June at Kripalu.. amazing.. Did my first forearm balance there.. always hated that pose until that day.. now I love it!
Hey Tiffany, I bet you will be doing 90 minutes soon…Oh I am so envious that you saw more of Kathryn at Kripalu. I took just a weekend workshop with her here in NC. Yoga can be addictive. I need to up my practice this year too because I really want to go to a Baron Baptiste training somewhere….Yoga certification for teaching? I have no interest to become a teacher nor any time to focus on it but I have heard that a lot of people go into these workshops and certifications not wanting to teach and they get out completely inspired to teach….8 weekends is a lot of time to immerse. Have a fantastic time. I was going to do a video for forearm balances and also pincha mayurasana without wall support. Would you be interested to see it (and tell me if it looks good or right!
) – THANKS for the conversation, Tiffany and hope to see you again!
YES!!!!forearm and pincha without wall support would be a great video… I would be greatly inspired by that!
Funny you said that about baron baptise.. the people I am training under are certified master baptise teachers! THis is only an 80hr. program, so I wouldnt be certified with YA, but still not even sure if teaching is my route.. we will see.. I just love the learning and finding super cool people (like yourself!) to connect with. Plus there is literally NO power yoga anywhere near where I live.
These two also do workshops at kripalu..as is kathryn doing another in june I believe.. If only I was independently wealthy!!!
I have not had a chance to look at your videos yet.. but will do so next week when I have some free time!
Hey dear Tiffany, I figured you would like those posts. I know they rank among favorites with our dear Kathryn and also with Baron Baptiste….80 hour program would be 2 work weeks but I bet they do it in a week or 10 days? I take exactly the same type of yoga, from a person who is heavily trained and influenced by the one and only Baron although I love to get into classical Ashtanga at some point in my life too….So keep up your program because practice is the most fundamental key – and let me know your thoughts on the existing videos here. I am very curious….and be honest I like all feedback….thanks so much for this fun dialogue! (Will look up Kathryn’s schedule too!)
{ 7 brilliant comments, Care to add another? }