15 days of yoga over the course of 3 weeks with each yoga class lasting no more than 30 minutes. In a similar vein to the 30 Days of Yoga challenge, this yoga program is a bit of a special one and so I decided to dedicate this month's Deepen Your Yoga Practice column to discussing it in a little bit more detail.
As we awaken and unfurl with the arrival of Spring in the northern hemisphere, I have spoken to many of you who have expressed that after an enthusiastic start to the year, you have fallen out of the habit of doing yoga regularly. Therefore, I thought I would share a yoga program that is designed to guide you back to your yoga practice.
I have been practising yoga since 2008 and believe me when I say that there have been plenty of times that I have found it challenging to maintain a consistent and regular yoga practice. I have been through dizzying peaks and cavernous troughs in the last 13 years and so I understand the feeling of wanting to do more yoga and knowing that it will benefit me but still being unable to unroll the mat. I designed this program to reflect the various tips that I have picked up along the way. Homecoming will allow you to:
Avoid procrastination. There is no better time than now! This yoga program begins on Monday 5th April 2021 with an introductory video and the first yoga class is the next day.
Start slowly. The first week comprises of 10 minute and 20 minute Gentle Yoga classes.
Build momentum. The final week comprises of 30 minute Gentle Yoga and Vinyasa Flow classes.
Cultivate consistency. There is one class for each day of the work week. A little + often = A lot.
Homecoming is your time to return to your yoga practice and dedicate time for your physical, mental and spiritual well-being. Self-acceptance is at the heart of this yoga program and you are invited to greet yourself with compassion, gentleness and kindness throughout the duration of these 3 weeks. This program is not about being 'beach ready' or 'post-lockdown ready'; there is no destination to your journey with yoga. When we accept where we are, as we are, without striving for perfection, this is when true personal growth and transformation occurs.
You can view Homecoming program here. 9 of 15 videos are hosted on my YouTube channel and the other 6 are exclusive to my website. You can gain access to all these videos if you are an Air or Ether Element Patron. If you are on a lower Patron tier, you can manage your subscription here and sign up as an Air or Ether Element Patron here. As an Air or Ether Element Patron, you get access to all my exclusive on-demand yoga videos (four new videos added each month) as well as all my on-demand and download Yoga Nidra and Guided Meditations.
I hope you can join me for this exciting journey! 🥰
This blog article is also your introduction and the first day of the Homecoming yoga program. In order to prepare you for the program and help you to along the way, here are a few tips for getting started:
Choose the same time each day to do yoga. Our brains are very receptive to forming habits and by choosing the same time each day to do yoga, you can facilitate the 'trigger, habit, reward' feedback loop (you can learn more about this here).
Choose the same area of your home to practice yoga. Again, your brain likes familiarity and so by creating a dedicated area to roll out your mat, you can help to facilitate the creation of a ingrained habit. It doesn't need to be a fancy space with lots of bells and whistles; simply find a space where it is as easy as possible to get set up. If you are doing yoga first thing in the morning, you can also set up the space the night before so that you can roll out of the bed and onto the mat.
Allow 40 minute in your schedule for your yoga practice. Although, each class is no more than 30 minutes long, there is time at the beginning of the videos for an introduction to the theme of the class and you will use up a good amount of time setting up and tidying up at the end. Set yourself up for success by allowing enough time for your yoga practice. Feeling stressed and rushed is the last thing you want to happen once you have finished your yoga practice.
Incorporate ritual. This is a special time of day, dedicated especially for you and a gift that you are giving to yourself. If it resonates for you, you can add elements of ritual to your practice. You can burn candles, make a tasty tea or lemon and hot water to accompany the class and you can wear comfy cosy clothes and use blankets to make it feel extra special.
Allow for fluidity and flexibility. Some days look entirely different to others and if things do go as planned, all is not lost, you can easily chose a different video from the same week to do instead or you can slot your practice in at a different time of the day or on a different day of the week. Self-compassion is at the heart of this program, perfection is not the goal and it isn't our fault when life changes up our schedule. 'Don't let perfect be the enemy of the good', as Voltaire says. Also, although I have designed this program to begin on the 5th April 2021, it will still be live going forward and you will be able to come back to it whenever it suits you.
Finally, when you start your yoga practice and when you finish, reaffirm why you choose to do yoga and why you chose to dedicate time for yourself by signing up to this program. When we understand why we do something, we can maintain momentum more easily and feel more motivated.
I hope that these tips help you with this yoga program and I am so happy that you have decided to join me for the journey. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email me. 🥰🙏
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