Tips for creating a self practice
You’ve been attending group yoga classes for quite some time now, maybe you’ve considered doing a yoga retreat or even investing in a YTT… but some part of you knows deep down, you’ve been avoiding steering your own yoga practice. It’s ok we’ve all been there. Relying on being led in group class by a teacher is a very important part of learning… but so is being brave and trusting that you can guide yourself.
Even in science it is understood that everything behaves differently when being observed, even down to the molecular level. So when we are alone, left to our devices, we will behave differently. That means you might move differently, perhaps freer in the knowledge nobody is there to witness, judge or correct what it is you are doing. You’ll possibly be more aligned with how the body is feeling rather than what it looks like… or perhaps the opposite! Either way it is good to practice flying solo and find out for yourself.
When we decide to direct our own private practice we are taking responsibility for the direction, the intention and curation of that practice. And by practice I mean actually “putting your intention into action”. What does this help cultivate? Someone who is actively co-creating their life. Someone who is actively engaging in the manifestation and direction of their life.
But let’s start small. Create a self-practice that best serves you, and take ownership of that! Maybe you like to get wild and creative, maybe you like repetition and routine?
Anyway… here are a few tips I have put together on how to create a self practice:
Create the space you wish to practice in. I personally need a clean, clear, well lit space. If my surroundings are cluttered I just cannot concentrate fully on my yoga practice. If it’s a very early morning or evening and the lighting is low, I love to light candles & pop on some incense to truly enjoy every aspect.
Listen to what your body needs on the day. Having a plan a week in advance is great… but also please allow for some adaptation. Life can throw curveballs at us, maybe work stress or a late evening means your body is more tired and less resilient… maybe, just maybe, swapping out a dynamic or power flow for a yin or gentle flow is better suited.
Maybe create a rough structure for your practice to start with. I personally plan with the following structure: meditation (&/) breath work, joint mobilisation, surya namaskar/flow, targeted strength exercises, arm balances, standing asana/seated asana and supine restorative/yin… savasana. I don’t always include all the elements, sometimes I jump straight into asana (in winter for example) so play around and be open to what you need.
Focus the practice on a theme, intention or peak asana. A few theme examples are: heart openers, back bends, front splits, grounding, hip mobility, full moon flows, seated asana, twists, standing asana, foot balancing, arm balancing etc the possibilities are endless! You could also focus on more nuanced aspects of yourself, check-in with how you are feeling, moving consciously with an injury or even focusing on the intention for your day… perhaps you’ve woken up feeling heavy and so the focus is shifting back towards the light!
On the flip side, be bold and move structure free! Ayurveda states that opposition brings balance. When my life is full and routine is rife, I like to find freedom in movement, play some music and just move in ways that feels good.
Really focus on breath, how the body feels (not how you perceive or want it to feel) and the movement quality. This means reduce your asana fidgets, watch how often you dip in & out of practice (aka if you break out to check your phone!) & listen to the sound of your breath. Pay attention to as many of the smallest, subtlest nuances of feelings in the body as you move.
Slow down and actually move with your breath. Even if you keep your flow simple and stick to a surya namaskar… concentrate of using the entire inhale to complete one movement, full exhale to complete the next. For example, full inhalation salute the sun with arms overhead, only when you begin to exhale do you begin to forward-fold.
Be patient. It’s that good ol’ saying “don’t try to run before you can walk”. In order to attain some more challenging asana, we must master the simpler ones that develop the strength, flexibility and skills necessary. So please be patient with yourself and understand that these things require time, patience, discipline and repetition to achieve.
When in doubt, note it out… sometimes we get into routines, ruts or run out of yoga inspiration. If this happens head to class, find some epic teachers on insta, google it, youtube it… make notes on things you like, things you can do or things you would like to try and do it! Be playful, be bold and just keep practicing. It doesn’t need to be complicated, just honest to yourself.
The more you practice, the easier autonomous self practice will become. As this physical aspect becomes easier you will find the underlying effects, the physical, emotional and spiritual effects become more obvious. It’s a beautiful process, so try your best to be disciplined and consistent for these are recipe for a successful self practice (in whatever way you deem successful).
And enjoy the process. This beautiful process of an unwitnessed self-inquiry, the curious development of self awareness, the physical development of moving with yourself, the unfolding of layers of selfing.
Love love love,
A