Read how embracing some simple daily habits can boost your yoga practice. Yoga is an exercise for the body and the mind. It combines postures, breathing techniques, and meditation to achieve relaxation while also strengthening the self.
People do yoga for many reasons, such as flexibility, stress relief, and physical fitness. Medium’s article on yoga benefits also talks about how yoga helps improve spiritual and mental health. Yoga helps us keep our thoughts positive and controls how we respond to our surroundings.
Of course, yoga isn’t an all-in-one solution. You’ll only feel the positive effects of yoga, if you are also mindful of what you do off the mat. To help boost your practice, you can also make other changes in your lifestyle. Here are some tips.
Eat clean
It’s a common misconception that you need to be a certain size and shape to practice yoga. That is so far from the truth. Anyone can benefit from the practice no matter what they look like. However, it does help to cleanse the body of harmful substances and eat healthy. Pretty Me’s review on Detoxi Slim explains that it always helps to look at the ingredients of detoxifying supplements that you use. Opt for organic and non-chemical compounds like green tea extract, which helps fight the toxins in your body.
Most yogis don’t stick to one restrictive diet and instead follow clean eating habits. Many draw inspiration from the Ayurvedic diet, which is grounded on eating a well-balanced diet. It is said that this will naturally bring balance to your mind and body, resulting in a more effective yoga practice.
Get restful sleep
Our previous article on Yoga for Better Sleep shares that there is a connection between anxiety/stress and sleep issues. So if you’re only a beginner yogi and suffer from such tension, you might not immediately manage to get a restful sleep. However, you should still try to get as much rest as you can. A complete and undisturbed sleep cycle, which is about 7-8 hours, will make you feel alert and energised.
But if you don’t get that much sleep, set aside 30 minutes in your day for a short nap as this also helps improve physical and mental performance. Avoid electronic screens at least an hour before you plan to sleep to let your eyes cool down. And avoid any emotionally-charged conversations before sleeping as well, since the adrenaline from these might keep you from falling asleep immediately.
Wake up before sunrise
The early morning, when the night is just ending and dawn is just about to break, is called the sattvic hour. Rose Hahn explains the sattvic hour as a time when there is an energy of peace, purity, and harmony. During this period, ‘the sun is preparing to rise, and all of nature is preparing to greet it’. This is a perfect time to do meditation, yoga, prayer, stretching, or any kind of contemplative activity such as journaling or simply sitting with your thoughts.
It’s better to do these activities before you start scrolling on your phone, so you feel calmer and have your mind in the right place before your day begins. However, if waking up by the sattvic hour every day is too difficult, you can do it just a few mornings a week. But it’s still advisable to do your yoga, meditation, and such the moment you wake up, no matter what time.
Nowadays, it has become the norm for people to always be connected online or be in ‘rush-mode’, especially with the many responsibilities with family and work. However, cultivating a regular yoga practice and making the necessary adjustments in your lifestyle will help you find time to unplug and recuperate from the real world.
