Keeping Up Your Practice In The Winter Season

Winter presents challenges on many levels.
Here are some tips for getting to your practice when it all seems toooo hard.

• Do a short practice. Ten minutes daily or even every second day is better than a longer practice occasionally. Allow yourself to build up over time.

• Do mostly poses that you enjoy and only one or two that challenge you (but do try to throw in a challenge)

• Use some props to support you and your alignment. It'll help you to practice more often, for longer, and with greater clarity

• Practice with a friend or a practice group for mutual support and encouragement

• Go to classes and feed off the teacher's energy and experience (but find a good, well-qualified one!)

• Do some Pranayama.  Simple Ujjayi or Viloma breathing is very settling and really helps set the day off on a positive note. Laying down or sitting up with support is fine. Ten or 15 minutes is great.

• Do a quality Savasana.  If you have trouble remaining present, go through the process of relaxing your whole body and then turn your attention to the breath.  Formulate a silent sound on each out-breath such as the sound of the word "one". As you notice the mind has drifted, simply return to the breath..."Wunnn"  It is infinitely better to do a good Savasana than to do no practice at all.

• Read some words of inspiration or wisdom from a favourite author.  If you don't have one try reading "Light on Life" or "The Tree of Yoga" by Iyengar.  A page or two a day can really help.