15 Mar 5 Ways to Make Your Yoga Practice Fun
Do you notice how much of an effort you make to get to something you really enjoy? Yoga is no different. When we enjoy our time on the mat, we’re motivated to keep coming back. Regularly. If you’re pretty new to yoga, you’ll want to make it an enjoyable experience so you can build discipline and momentum, which will allow to eventually deepen your practice. Not sure how? Here are five ways to make your yoga session fun:
Hold poses that activate the sacral chakra.
The sacral chakra (Swadisthana) is a really important chakra to balance. When the energy there is stifled, negative emotions can set in and our perspective can become very ego-centric. When you work with poses that activate the sacral chakra, like Cobra (Bhujangasana), Upward Facing Dog (Urdhva Mukha Svanasana), Standing Forward Bend (Uttanasana) and Seated Forward Bend (Paschimottanasana), one can transform his or her energy and perspective into joyful, creative expression and positivity.
Have some laughs + Smile.
One of the best remedies to most of life’s biggest stress factors is laughter, so some aspiring yogis find it helpful to find a funny or witty yoga instructor to help them loosen up and find the right headspace when practice starts to feel a little too serious. Although this process may not offer you the deepest states of internal connection, it may keep you coming back while you hone your skills and build confidence, so that you may progressively deepen your practice. The result will produce the necessary enjoyment, you’ll be confident, inspired and will find the ability to balance out the more serious moments on my mat. Next time you have to hold a challenging pose, try the simple act of curling the corners of the mouth up into a smile and you will immediately start to enjoy the experience more.
Groove to the Beat
The best yoga instructors will always encourage students to indulge in devotional yoga music and often have it going in the background, but this can be a bit intimidating or awkward for some newcomers. It can produce a beautiful experience and encourage powerful meditation, but if you’re looking to balance out the more internal and serious practices with a bit of fun, play more trendy beats and you can still get a super fun workout. On those days when you want to feel a bit more playful on the mat, I put on some upbeat groovy tunes and go with the funky flow. You might not find spiritual enlightenment that day but you’ll be elevated and uplifted nonetheless.
Practice with a friend.
If you want to add a spring to your Surya Namaskar, try going to class with a friend or invite them over for an online yoga session. Grab a smoothie or a coffee afterward and chat about all the things you LOVED about the class. It more than likely will be a great experience to bond and learn from a peer’s experience for your own personal growth.
Practice heart-opening backbends.
Life can sometimes throw stuff at you and make you feel as if you carry the weight of the world on your shoulders, right? When that happens, what usually results is a heavy feeling around the heart space. The opposite of heavy-hearted is lighthearted, and that transformation is exactly what back-bending postures can facilitate. When we bend backward, it physically creates an expansive sense of openness across the chest. That physical action makes room for light and love at the heart space.
