5 Tips for Success

(waves crashing) Hello. I'd like to share with you five tips for success that I find have really helped me in committing to a daily practice. One, leave your yoga mat out in plain sight. Not behind the cabinet, not in the closet, but somewhere that you actually have to walk past it. So for me, that really helps to have it out, and if you have a small space, you can have it rolled up but still out in plain sight.

Two, make a plan. Commit to the same time every day, and if your schedule doesn't allow you to commit to the same time every day, look at the calendar in advance so you can really schedule the time that you're gonna be able to do your practice. And maybe for you it's every day for 14 days, or maybe it's other day, but making a plan, putting it into place. The other suggestion is hook it into something that you already do. So research shows, you'll be more successful in creating a habit if you hook it into something you already do, such as, you get out of bed, (snaps) get on your yoga mat.

Brush your teeth, get on your yoga mat. Walk in the door from work, get on your yoga mat. Put the kids down for a nap, get on your yoga mat. So making a plan, committing to your plan. Three, find support.

Maybe find a buddy, a friend to do these classes with, either together in the same place, or have your buddy or friend doing them separate so you can check in and just hold each other accountable, ask how it was. At the very least, have the folks that you live with know that you're committing to this practice, so then that way they can support you. Four, don't sweat the small stuff. So if you miss a practice, or if a practice is a little bit harder, more difficult, don't worry. When we sorry, when we stress, we just waste energy, so to conserve our energy, be kind to yourself, don't sweat the small stuff.

And for the last one, five, paying attention to yourself. So as Karen Mincey Miller says, the greatest aspect of love that we can show ourselves is paying attention. So as we get into our practice, really noticing what cultivates energy for you? Are these practices working, since the goal is to create energy> are there certain poses that stimulate and move stagnant energy? Are there certain places in your practice that you feel more relaxed?

And as we progress in the practice, are you noticing that you're able to ease in the effort a little bit more? And as we progress even more into the practice, are you able to catch those gaps, those places in between thoughts where we can really relax and rejuvenate by being in the present? So again, those five tips that have really worked for me is leaving my yoga mat out where I can see it, two, making a plan, three, finding support, four, not sweating the small stuff, and five, really paying attention to myself and my practice. So I hope these tips are helpful for you. I look forward to seeing you day one.