Buzz
After committing to the Mytour Fitness Challenge in an effort to embrace yoga, I’ve been able to stick to a daily practice almost every day for the last nine days. It feels like a victory. As someone who’s been dealing with a moderate level of pandemic burnout, finding the drive to keep up with something new and requiring time management has been a real achievement.
Even if some days I only went for a 12-minute session, the point is that I made a deliberate effort to carve out time for something I’m not naturally drawn to—and I actually stuck with it. This simple act has already taught me valuable lessons.
Two weeks into this routine, I’m already noticing a greater sense of mindfulness.
Whenever I set up my laptop and choose a Yoga With Adriene video, I’m unknowingly committing to a specific amount of time dedicated solely to focusing on my breath and movement. Whether it’s 17 minutes or a longer 36-minute session, from the moment I hit play, I’m also making a promise to myself to be present and let go of other thoughts. Even though mindfulness wasn’t my original goal, it’s become something I experience at least once a day.
Of course, my mind does wander sometimes, and I occasionally catch myself anxiously thinking about tasks that need my attention after the yoga session. But the act of doing the poses serves as a constant reminder to refocus and return to the present moment. And to sound like a true yogi cliché, having this mental space once a day is a genuine treat (which, of course, science would back up).
I’ve discovered a routine that suits me.
Initially, due to poor planning, I ended up doing yoga at various times of the day, which turned out to be a blessing in disguise as it helped me figure out which time worked best for me. So far, it seems that the afternoon or evening sessions are more enjoyable for me than practicing in the morning—when I’m naturally more alert and energized to engage in something faster-paced, like a run or a brisk walk.
There have been days when I plan for a 20 or 30-minute mid-afternoon session (a time when I often feel drained and need a physical pick-me-up), but work responsibilities often take precedence, pushing my yoga routine to a pre-bedtime activity. And while yoga before bed doesn’t feel as much like exercise as it does a way to unwind, I’m totally fine with that, because there’s nothing more relaxing than a good Shavasana on a hard floor.
