In an ideal day, you wake before sunrise for a blissful meditation, followed by yoga to stretch and strengthen the body. An easily digestible breakfast awakens the digestive system.
Your workday is productive and positive with a balanced mental state and stress level. In the evening, meditation closes off the busy day. With yogic practices at the core of your everyday life, this life is possible!
Begin with a Peaceful Morning
Highly successful people begin each day with a sense of calm. To ensure that this happens, get up earlier, even if just by a few minutes before the daily chaos sets in.
Take this time not to check your phone or your email, but savour the moment for yourself. Do what feels good for you – a few minutes of meditation, a few rounds of sun salutations, maybe some asanas.
Start small to develop a habit you can nurture for life. Building positive associations with getting up early creates an internal desire to continue the habit. It’s important to do a little each day, even when you don’t feel like it. You’ll gain a sense of accomplishment and feel better after you finish your practice.
Check in During the Day
The workday can be full of planning and post-analysis, drawing us out of the present. Remember that keeping the past in the past and the future in the future will help you be your best now.
Check in with yourself throughout the day. Choose an activity you do throughout the day – look at the clock, get a coffee, or grab a nibble to eat. Each time you start and finish the activity, stop and take 5 deep slow breaths, then do a quick assessment of your physical and mental state.
Now ask yourself: Do I need to mentally let go of something? Do I need 5 more breaths to let go physically? If you’re not feeling calm already, do 2 minutes of meditation. The busier your day is, the more critical it is to check in with yourself.
Recharge in the Evening
After a busy workday, recharge your energy so you can maximize your precious time with friends, family, or yourself! A recharging activity done in the early evening is a good way to transition from work to personal time.
Practice asanas again to invigorate the body, or dive deep with a 30-minute meditation to give your mind a well-deserved rest. If time is tight, a few minutes in savasana lying down or in a chair can’t be beat! Set a timer for 5-10 minutes so that you can completely relax and not worry about going over time. You’ll feel better afterward, guaranteed!
Imagine how great you would feel every day if you were able to keep up this routine. By adapting yoga to fit in your life, you can make it happen. It’s possible if you start with small, realistic steps. Each day is a new day, so don’t be discouraged when you miss a few steps, that will happen. But the more you do it, the better you’ll feel.