What to do when…

…LIFE gets in the way of your YOGA practice.

Here’s my dilemma: Work during the day. Volunteer during the day. Paper due by midnight. Halfway finished. Yoga 6:45-8:30pm. I am totally useless past 9pm.

What to do… 

1. Do it in your living room… Or kitchen, or bedroom. Pick your favorite spot, throw down your mat and do your thang. No, it’s not the same as going to class. Personally, I love classes, the energy from the other people gets me going and not to mention there is somebody there to challenge me into new asanas my body has never seen. However, I also like my solo practice. It’s calming, quiet, and who can complain about having the world’s-best-dog lay next to your mat (and sometimes ON your mat) and kiss you during savasana?  So, no, you won’t have any help in your latest pose adventure, but there’s something to be said about doing it all by yourself.  Better yet, do it outside and get some vitamin D/fresh air/sounds of nature/sounds of the city while you’re at it.

2. Drink a chai while you study… Seriously. New studies show that coffee and tea are great nutritious snacks (in moderation). That’s almost as exciting as the study that says that chocolate is good for you, right? Almost. I’m not a big caffeine person and I don’t drink coffee, but chai has just the right amount of caffeine for me. I like to use two Tazo Organic Chai tea bags (for extra spice), 1/2 cup of soy milk, and a splash of pure vanilla extract. Caffeine speeds up your metabolism and gives your brain a little kick to get you into study mode.

3. Take meditation breaks… And by meditation I mean any activity that gives you a brain-break. Walk the dog, sit on your porch, take deep breaths, cook dinner, whatever it is that calms you. When I take Bailey for a walk I usually realize halfway through that my mind has been completely free of thought, just focusing on the simple act of walking. If that’s not meditation tell me what is.

Bailey likes meditation breaks.

4. Yoga will wait for you… Realize that your practice will be there when you need it most. Yoga is pretty dang reliable. To be honest, this one is hard for me. Mostly because I want to conquer that next pose. But I realize that in this moment what I need most is not yoga (sigh), it is to be a good student.

5. Focus on the present moment… Blah, blah, blah, right? You hear it over and over again but it’s true. If I focus on why I am skipping yoga it helps. I am writing a paper to make an ‘A’ in this class. An ‘A’ in this class gives me more knowledge in my field making me, potentially, a better teacher. I am actively preparing for my future in this moment, writing this paper, drinking my chai.

Whatever it is that you must do instead of yoga, go do it. It’s okay. Life happens. Yoga will wait for you.