These days, there’s a new gadget, app, or advancement in technology for almost everything, especially if it’s in a growing market such as yoga. More than 36 million people practice yoga in America, according to DisturbMeNot, and the number of people practicing it has gone up 50 percent in the past four years.
With those stats in mind, there’s no wonder why tech companies are developing new tools and equipment for dedicated yogis. Unfortunately, some of theseare short-lived and devoid of long-term benefits for users. With that in mind, here’s some advice that will definitely enhance your yoga practice so you’ll feel the benefits long after time is up.
Use Accountability as an Aid
The secret to successfully continuing anything is holding yourself accountable for it. For yoga, that means relying on technology, your community, or even a teacher to keep yourself at it.
Finding a well-educated yoga teacher allows you to get the most out of your journey. Plus, it’ll be one more person to help keep you attending classes or practicing in the comfort of your own home. Finding a teacher isn’t difficult, but finding a good teacher takes effort.
Fortunately, websites such as YogaFinder provide online directories that you can sort through, or you can begin attending classes until you find someone you like. However, the best way to go about finding a guide is by deciding which style is right for you and then seeking out certified instructors or in-app teachers, as well.
The right instructor will inspire you, even when you’re practicing at home. Thankfully, you can tune into yoga classes while you’re at home with the help of the latest tech. A portable streaming stick, internet access, and your smartphone can keep you connected. To get the most out of these home yoga sessions, make sure your home is organized and free of distractions and clutter so you can focus on your practice.
Finding someone you connect with will push you to continue practicing and really enjoy the impact yoga can have on your life. Depending on what you need, trial and error might be the best method of settling on a teacher to keep you accountable. This can extend into areas outside your physical or social comfort zones.
Improve by Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone
Although many people rely on yoga as a way to “comfortably” nurture their overall well-being, according to DoYouYoga, real growth happens when you push yourself out of your comfort zone. How else will you improve?
Practicing yoga consistently will lead to growth and an eventual plateau unless you shake things up. Move beyond your go-to practice in order to continue seeing improvement. So, grab your yoga essentials and prepare for a little discomfort.
Focus on the poses that give you trouble, and practice, practice, practice. You’ll be surprised how great you’ll feel after accomplishing a pose you would normally skip. Force yourself to at least try a different style of yoga or attend a new class in a new setting. Download an app with access to a library of all styles of yoga to pull from and track your accomplishments.
Whatever makes you uncomfortable, go for it. Doing something like this will allow you to stretch beyond your boundaries and possibly find something delightful.
Accept Future Failures
Anytime you try something new, you risk failing. Improve yourself by acknowledging failure and success as two completely acceptable outcomes and plan for both. Again, you can rely on a teacher to help keep you accountable and open to something new, but there are plenty of apps available that achieve the same thing. If you want to meet a physical goal, look into Alo Moves, which can help boost your skills in yoga and fitness.
Give yourself a goal and rely on available resources like apps to achieve each one. From a simple reminder to new routines every day, an app could be a cost-effective answer to your overall improvement. Fail or succeed, you won’t know which way you’ll land until you try.
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