Practice Yoga Consistently Even If You Have To Swan Dive Into Your Christmas Tree In January

by Mary Cruickshank
Practicing yoga in the family room can be challenging. Finding the time, creating the atmosphere, fending off excuses...and fitting in the Christmas tree. Just because your Christmas tree is still up, doesn't mean you shouldn't practice yoga. Be persistent...stay motivated!

I've been doing yoga for almost a decade. Some years I have been more consistent and committed than others. One year I had a 365 day one-page calendar hanging on the wall of my office. I marked the dates with an X every day that I did my yoga. It made me realize when there was consistency to my practice and when I had fallen off the mat.

One day in January a couple of years ago I walked into my family room mumbling to myself that I needed to find the time to take down our Christmas tree and even contemplated substituting that for doing my yoga. As much as my inner voice pleaded to remove the decorations, my body won out and I did my yoga.

The epiphany came after I had positioned myself and started my sun salutation warm-up exercises flowing from a standing pose to a forward stretch and did a swan dive into my Christmas tree which was in the way of my moving right hand. The branches stretched to the ground and bounced back to position; the ornaments held on for dear life; and the yogi had pine needles under her fingernails. A funny sight to see but here's the point: I stayed true to my practice, did my yoga, remained committed to the sequence, and had a wonderful belly laugh to lighten the mood for the rest of the day and every Christmas since.

I attempt to do my yoga every morning for a 20 minute sequence. If I strive for 7 days a week and only achieve 5, I am much better off than if I only practiced my yoga once or none that week! Yoga has helped me through many stressful situations. My family even recognizes a positive difference in my attitude, my walk, my energy level, and my happiness when I am committed to my yoga practice.

Persistence, consistency and commitment. Even if you don't feel well, have a to-do list a mile long, or still have to take down the Christmas tree, you need to fit in your yoga practice whenever possible.

Which is more important - your health and well-being or taking down the Christmas tree?

If one of your New Year's resolutions is to get healthy, then consider yoga. Starting a yoga practice at the beginning of a new year is an excellent strategy since the coming of a new year brings out renewal and rejuvenation of the mind, body and spirit.

About the Author

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