Yoga has endless benefits, but how can you get those benefits when you’re on the go from the moment you wake up to the moment you go to sleep? For busy professionals or non-stop parents, fitting in a yoga class isn’t always possible. Plus, it can get expensive paying for a yoga class each week!
However, there are ways you can incorporate yoga into your daily life without sacrificing an entire hour of your precious time. Try some of these easy ways to do yoga during even the busiest of days.
1. Do a Quick Sequence When You Wake up or Right Before Bed
In the morning, before you even brush your teeth, you can do a quick yoga sequence to start your day on the right foot. Try a few sun salutations to honor the day and give your body and mind a fresh beginning. You can also use these few minutes to set your intentions for the day. Just spending a few minutes each morning with yourself can make a world of difference as you go through your busy day.
You can also end your day with yoga. Do some poses before bed as a way to bring your day full circle. Reflect on how you did throughout the day and what you want to do better tomorrow. There are even sequences you can do in bed! What could be easier?
2. Try an Online Class
If you don’t have time to go to a studio and take an hour long yoga class, have no fear. There are thousands of videos online that offer yoga classes from the comfort of your own home. Plus, most of them are free! You can find these on YouTube or with a quick Google search.
These videos can range from 10 minutes to an hour or more, so you can choose one that fits in with your schedule. You can also find certain videos that focus on a certain body part or intention you might be needing at that time.
If you don’t feel like following a video and would rather go at your own pace, you can also just make up your own sequence. Do what feels good for your body and just mix together anything you remember from previous yoga experiences. This can actually be very freeing, and since you’re doing exactly what your body is asking for, it’ll feel great.
3. Take Deep, Meaningful Breaths During the Busiest Part of Your Day
An important part of yoga is the focus on breathing. During yoga, you are encouraged to take full, deep breaths, and focus is always drawn back toward the breath no matter what else is going on. The secret, though, is you don’t have to be doing yoga to get the benefits of this type of breathing.
When you find yourself caught in a frustrating conversation or in the middle of a particularly stressful afternoon, take just a second to draw your attention back to your breathing. Focus on taking full breaths, and you’ll feel yourself calming down. Plus, you’ll be getting a lot of health benefits from this type of breathing.
4. Practice Mindfulness During Your Commute
Even if you can’t get into a yoga pose, you can still get its balancing effects with some meditation. Your commute to work can be the perfect time to fit it in. There are some great guided meditation apps that allow you to practice meditation and mindfulness while you’re driving or even while you’re working.
Try this during your commute to make the drive less stressful. Doing this every day will allow you to have a part of your day that you purposefully set aside for meditation. Adding it to your daily routine will make it feel natural, and eventually, you’ll feel like you’re missing something if you don’t do it.
5. Be Gracious
Part of yoga is challenging yourself to think positively. You can practice this any time during your day. Take a few minutes in between meetings or between tasks to sit in silence and think about what you are thankful for.
Practicing gratitude will help you focus on the positive things in your life and will actually help cultivate more blessings. Taking some time during a hectic part of your day to focus on this will also help you calm down and relax, which will help you do your best work later.
You Can Do It!
It’s easier than you think to practice yoga throughout your busy days. It doesn’t always mean going to a studio and paying for an hour-long class. Instead, try some of these simple tips to add yoga periodically throughout your day. This will make it more of a natural addition to your lifestyle rather than feeling like a commitment, so you’ll be more likely to stick to it and reap the wonderful benefits of being a yogi.