I often chat with yogis who feel anxious about their inability to practice yoga regularly. Well… I want to say there’s more than one way to practice yoga daahling. Phew – what a relief. You’re probably doing it more than you think you are.
I’ve made a list so you can be suuure to live up to expectations of ‘good’ yogi-ness. 
- Go to the park and walk barefoot on the grass…connect to the ground (good if you’re feeling stressed out or disconnected)
- On your walk to work, focus on the soles of your feet hitting the ground, or keep your focus on your breath or heart space. Notice how long you can stay centred as you walk through the busy-ness of life.
- Buy a book about kindness, connection or yoga philosophy and read it…I recommend starting with Yoga and The Quest for the True Self by Stephen Cope and Bringing Yoga to Life by Donna Farhi
- Take five minutes in the middle of the day to stop what you’re doing, pause, breathe, close your eyes and reconnect. When the moment comes, you’ll know it.
- Make art and get into it. Anytime you absorb your attention into the creative process it’s like the small ‘you’ disappears and the higher self takes over.
- Go dancing and get into your own experience in the body – spend some of the time completely absorbed in the music and movement. See if there are any events in your area such as Five Rhythms or No Lights No Lycra. Where ever you dance, get into it!
- Spend time with animals – even better, go to an animal shelter and give some love.
- Do what you love. Repeat, do what you love. It’s that simple – your heart is alight, you are connected and feeling free. This is a legit meditation technique in Kashmir Shaivism – absorb yourself in whatever gives you pleasure.
- Use confrontation as an opportunity to practice not reacting…pause, soften and listen instead.
- Do something for someone else without expecting anything in return…it can be really simple…what would you like to offer a friend.
- Forgive someone – can you see their human-ness?
- Release the need to be right – allow for a myriad of right-nesses. You’ll feel much better.
- Have sex and set the intention to lovingly give your body an experience and enjoy the other body with you. Stay involved! If there is no other body around you….well, we’re all adults here. Love your own body instead.
- Cook with reckless abandon. I’m partial to making a passionate mess.
- Start witnessing the nature of your mind – notice the thoughts that feel good and the limiting thoughts that hold you back.
- Use the power of thought to create good feelings inside…for example notice all the evidence of abundance around you, think about everything you can appreciate.
- We are mirrors for each other so reflect good things to a person dear to you. Try it today! Especially in close relationships, it’s easy to get critical and judgemental. Look at them with love. Let them know how much you appreciate them.
- Be kind to yourself and all beings… it’s called Ahimsa
- Laugh – you can start with this video. Or go to a comedy show and note: if you were an alien, group laughter would be so weird to witness. It would be funny. For sure.
- See the divine nature of the person sitting in front of you and contemplate this: are we human beings trying to spiritual or spiritual beings trying to be human? When I look at someone this way I feel honoured to be part of their life and I see them as precious.
- Honour the creative spirit that wants to flow through you by taking action on projects you’ve been dreaming about. This force of desire is the real deal so don’t block it.
- Move towards life affirming activities and away from draining ones – this means saying no consciously and saying yes when you really want to. Why? Because you’ll be happier and not so grumpy at home.
- Lie under a tree and contemplate your oneness.
- Focus on your breath as you sit in traffic
- Give something away as an affirmation of the abundance in your world.
- Tell the truth…the real, absolute truth of you.
- Enjoy your food and give thanks for every tasty morsel.
- Help someone in need
- Make a connection with a stranger – show them you’re genuinely interested in them and their day.
- When you’d rather run away, go towards and love instead.
For those who want to get on the mat….look out for my Month of Passionate Practice course…coming up real soon!
