Personalize Your Practice : 2 major benefits

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With studios and group classes on every corner yoga continues gaining mainstream attention, and rightfully so! In todays high paced world the benefits of reduced stress and increase mobility add immediate value to our quality of life. Many high performers find themselves spending an hour on their yoga mat in a group class. But what if I told you that dropping into a group class hardly scratch the surface of the potential of the practice and the impact it can have on your life?

Yoga is a systematic approach to pursuing your highest self, your highest potential, freedom. The practice as described in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali outlines an 8 folded path to the practice :

  1. yamas - restraints

  2. niyamas - observances

  3. asana - posture

  4. pranayama - breath control

  5. pratyahara - withdrawal of the senses

  6. dharana - concentration

  7. dhyana - meditation

  8. samadhi - freedom

This path has many forks in the road :

  • Should my asana practice focus more on twists or lateral bends?

  • Should I be developing my inhale or exhale?

  • What technique turns my awareness inward as quickly as possible based on my unique distractions?

  • What am I concentrating on?

  • Why...?

There are 2 major benefits of a personalizing your practice :

1 // More efficient + effective.

I always wanted to run a half marathon, but every time I started to training with a generic plan I’d quit after the first week. It felt too far too soon and my back would lock up. Through the trusted guidance of my running coach (@runthisb) I was able to run my first mile. With progressively programmed mileage + rest days I was able to run 3 miles. With personalized speed work and cross training I eventually crossed the finish line, crushing my goal of 2 hours at 1 hour 49 minutes 47 seconds.

The personalization of your yoga practice takes you from where you are to where you want to go, as efficiently as possible.

  • physically - asanas (postures) and their unique variations tailored to your goals / alignment develop stability + mobility.

  • mentally - pranayama (breath work) practices balance your nervous system and move you from how you feeling to how you want (need) to feel.

  • emotionally - specific meditation techniques move you in the direction of your highest potential.

2 // Higher return on investment.

I knew I needed to build strength in my glutes to reduce chronic back pain, but after years of taking group classes I still found myself grabbing the same set of dumbbells. Through personalized progressive programming from my physical therapist (@themethod.pt) I was able to increase my deadlift from 70 lbs to 215 lbs in 6 months. This investment increased my strength and decreased pain in a fraction of the time.

Time is money. Personalize a progressive practice plan that is aligned with your unique performance goals / schedule in mind.

So how do you personalize your practice? The good news is that you don’t need to figure it out on your own. The systematic wisdom of yoga has been passed down for thousands of years from teacher to teacher. Hire a trusted teacher to be your guide.

Not sure who to hire? I’ve outlined it for you in the next blog post here.