This entry was published on August 6, 2025 by Charlotte Bell.
Why practice yoga? There are a multitude of different answers to this question. As with any long -term relationship, over time, our practice evolves; He refuses and flows. Sometimes our practice is fresh and vital; Other times, you may feel like you have reached a tray. Sometimes we can abandon practice for a while, and others, we can rejoice to get on the carpet or sit on our meditation cushion. It can be useful to remember why we have decided to prioritize the practice of yoga in the first place. Reflecting our initial motivation to practice can help us maintain not only consistency, but also inspiration.
3 tips for developing motivation for practice
When I look at my motivation to train, I found it really simple. I practice because after 37 years of meditation and 43 years of yoga, I recognize the immeasurable value they bring to my life. I don’t practice myself because I was going badly if I don’t do it. This is not just something I added to my list of daily tasks. It is not a should. I trust the practice. I have confidence in practice. And it is not a blind faith, but a faith that has been verified through decades of experience.
How to develop motivation to practice? Whether our central practice is yoga or meditation, we must often remember why we do it. Here are some tips for staying on the way:
- Think of your practice as part of your morning ritual, a way to maintain the health of your body / mind. We do not think twice of eating a decent breakfast, brushing our teeth, showering, etc. Yoga and meditation practices are the ways in which we bring balance to our body and our mind.
- When you reserve time to train, give it all your attention. You have a lot of time to review your task list, or to think about this difficult conversation you had with someone yesterday. You have time to formulate your response to this person – the office. Use your practice time to invest your mindfulness in what you feel in your body and mind, here and now. Your practice time is precious. It deserves your attention and care.
- Think about the value of your practice in your daily life. According to Yoga Sutras, the benefit of Asana practice is the culture of equanimity in the face of the ups and downs. This can apply to tiny daily troubles, or it can be applied to the main challenges and losses. The advantages can be subtle or obvious. What advantages have you experienced? Reflection on this can remind you why you train yourself and can help you stay motivated.
Trust your yoga and meditation practices
Reflecting on the value of the practice in your life can be delicate. Although there are advantages that you may feel immediately when you practice yoga and meditation, some of the deeper advantages are subtle. This is where reflection on the history of these millennia practices can be useful. Yoga and meditation have survived for thousands of years. They survived because millions of people have collected their advantages. So, even if you start and the advantages you feel are on the more subtle side, trust the process. Approach your practice with an open and curious mind. Think about why you like your practice. Then take your meditation cushion or your yoga carpet, open your mind and see where your practice is going to you today.
About Charlotte Bell
Charlotte Bell discovered yoga in 1982 and started teaching in 1986. Charlotte is the author of Mindful Yoga, Mindful Life: A Guide for Everyding Practice and Yoga for Meditators, both published by Rodmell Press. His third book is entitled Hip-Healthy Asana: The Yoga Pratitioner’s Guide to Protect of the Hips and Avoid Si Joint Pain (Shambhala Publications). She writes a monthly chronicle for Catalyst Magazine and is online Yoga U publisher. Charlotte is a founding member of the board of directors of Greentree Yoga, a non -profit organization that brings yoga to poorly served populations. Musician for life, Charlotte plays an oboe and an English horn in the Salt Lake Symphony and the Sextuant Folk Red rock Rondo, whose DVD won two Emmy Awards.