YOGA FOR BEGINNERS- Physical postures (asanas)
- Breath work (pranayama)
- Withdrawing from the senses (pratyahara)
- Concentration (dharana)
- Meditation (dhyana)
- Meditative absorption or liberation from the mind
and the body (samadhi)
This is where they come into play. Because yoga is more
than a purely physical workout, you can find the time and
space to practice some element of it every day. For example,
do a simple breathing exercise where you spend a minute
decompressing. Take five minutes to stretch out the tight-
ness in your hips and shoulders from sitting at a desk all
day. Practice an entire sequence that gets your heart pump-
ing and your body moving. Maybe it’s as easy as keeping
your promise to practice one of the yamas like santosha, or
contentment, for the day. No matter what form your com-
mitment takes, the objective is to do yoga daily in order to
maximize its benefits over time.
Here are a few simple ideas to help you commit to a
regular practice:
SET ASIDE A SPECIFIC TIME EVERY DAY. Practice some form
of yoga, whether it’s meditating, breath work, a few
poses, or a whole sequence of poses. Pick a time that you
can commit to every day and stick to it. Set an alarm on
your phone to remind you, put it in your calendar, leave
a sticky note on your bathroom mirror. Do something to
make the practice a part of your life.