Want a Daily Yoga Practice? Here Are 30 Things I Learned From Practicing Every Day for 30 Days

Have you ever wondered what you can gain from a daily yoga practice? As an on again, off again yoga practitioner, I wanted to find my way back to a more seriously committed yoga practice.
 

“It is only when the correct practice is followed for a long time, without interruptions and with a quality of positive attitude and eagerness, that it can succeed.” – Patanjali

 
So I decided to practice daily yoga for thirty days and see what happened. And while it wasn’t always easy to make it to the mat each day, I did it – and learned a few powerful lessons in the process.

Follow These 4 Tips to Create a Home Yoga Practice For Yourself
 

 
 

Here Are 30 Things I Learned From Practicing Daily Yoga for 30 Days:

Whether it was a quick 10-minute flow or a full hour practice, read on for the 30 lessons I learned while practicing yoga everyday for 30 days.
 

1. How to Be Present

In our fast paced society, multi-tasking is the norm, but stepping on the mat required me to settle into the present moment.
 

2. The Ability to Keep an Open Mind

Each day held a new practice, some with poses I haven’t done often or at all! Keeping an open mind was crucial.
 

3. The Importance of Chest Openers

We spend so much time hunched over our phones and computers, that it seems our shoulders are permanently rounded forward. Counteracting that with chest openers feels amazing.

3 Delicious Heart Openers You Should Get to Know and Love
 

4. The Importance of Stretching Your Body Regularly

I didn’t realize how much tension I was holding in my body – in my shoulders, my jaw, even my feet! Stretching every day helped me find ease, create space in my body, and melt some of that tension away.
 

5. How to Go With the Flow Both On and Off the Mat

There’s nothing like a swift vinyasa practice to remind you how important it is to go with the flow. Doing so off the mat proved incredibly beneficial to my relationships, too!
 

6. Daily Yoga Practice Deepened My Mind-Body Connection

Showing up every day helped me deepen my practice by taking it beyond the physical.
 

7. A Proper Warm-Up Is So Important

Whether it’s in Low Lunge or Half Moon Pose, staying light on my fingertips helps avoid dumping all my weight into my hands and wrists. This awareness came easier after practicing yoga for several days in a row and becoming aware of subtle areas of improvement like this.

Wrists bother you in yoga? Try These Wrist Stretches With YA Classes Teacher Ashton August!
 

8. How to Not Take Myself So Seriously

In the same way I shouldn’t dump all my weight on my wrists, I shouldn’t dump all that judgment on myself, either!

Laugh when you fall out of Half Moon Pose. Notice any judgmental thoughts as they arise and take that opportunity to replace them with an empowering thought like, “Good job for trying! You’ve got this! Keep going.”
 

9. Practicing Yoga Daily Reminded Me How to Nurture Myself

Learning how to move in a way that is loving, not forced, made a huge difference in the way my practice feels. It’s always good to drop the rigidity.
 

10. The Importance of Rest

Not only does restorative yoga feel really good, but it’s also really powerful! High intensity vinyasa flows much stronger when countered with a loving, gentle practice.
 

11. Get Curious

You don’t have to nail every pose – just try it and see how it goes. Maintaining a beginner’s mindset is the true definition of being an “advanced” practitioner. This lesson applies to life off the mat, too.
 

 
 

12. See the Good in Yourself and Others

Each day I show up to my mat and whisper namaste to myself, I am reminded we are all beautiful in our own ways. This simple shift in perspective on a hard day, helps me to find much needed patience.
 

13. How to Use the Breath to Focus

Deep, diaphragmatic breath can be a powerful source of focus and concentration – on and off the mat! Any form of Pranayama (or conscious breath work) is incredibly powerful to help you stay present.

Pranayama Explained + 5 Techniques to Get You Started
 

14. My Crow May Never Fly, and That’s Okay

Comparing my practice to others doesn’t serve anyone. The point is to be where you are and accept your limitations.

Want help with your Crow Pose? Check out this Arm Balance Tutorial: Learn Crow Pose and Hurdler’s Pose (Free Class)

 

15. Yoga Is a Process of Getting Closer to Yourself

It’s that inner connection and finding your own sense of self that truly builds with a daily yoga practice.
 

16. Hit the Reset Button on a Bad Day

We all wake up on the wrong side of the bed sometimes or need an afternoon reset. The mat is always available for us.
 

17. Daily Yoga Practice Helps Me to Stay Grounded

When stress hits and things feel a little anxious, yoga can help center you and calm the nervous system.
 

18. Practicing at Home Is a Form of Self-Care for Someone Who Values Alone Time

As an introvert, I particularly find solitary practice a sacred place.
 

19. It Taught Me to Appreciate the Moment

So often in life we’re looking forward to the next big thing and we forget to appreciate what’s right in front of us. Getting on the mat each day reminds me to see the now.

Life Hack: Follow These 5 Steps to Be More Present In Your Daily Life
 

20. A Daily Yoga Practice Made Me Want to Explore New Areas of Yoga

We often forget how expansive the yoga practice really is. Dive into a new area and see how it deepens your overall practice.

Curious About the Origin and History of Yoga? Here’s the CliffNotes Version
 

21. Yoga Became a Daily Ritual

As time went on, yoga practice became a sacred part of my day, which made it easier to keep showing up.
 

22. Yoga Cultivates a Connection With Others

It might seem counterintuitive because we’re alone on our mat, but yoga teaches to love and connect with all things, offering a more expansive worldview.
 

23. Seeing Progress in My Practice Gave Me Courage to Try Harder Poses

While it’s definitely not all about nailing the pose, there is something to be said about the courage it takes to try something new (this one is powerful off the mat, too!)
 

24. Softening Can Allow For More Strength

Learning to be less rigid was a game changer and allowed for more fluid movement.
 

25. Yoga Is a Process of Returning to Self

It’s easy when our days get chaotic to lose touch with ourselves. Practicing yoga daily kept me closer to myself.
 

26. Release What’s No Longer Serving Me

This is such a great way to relieve stress and keep your outlook positive.
 

27. A Daily Yoga Practice Is All About Self-Love

Showing up for yourself every day is an incredible way to practice self-care and deepen your sense of self-love.

Practice This Yoga Sequence for Self-Love When You Need a Little Extra TLC
 

28. Practicing Every Day Improves Physical and Mental Strength

Physical practice will help you gain strength of body, and will help your mental stamina, too.
 

29. Showing Up for Myself Increased My Self-Trust

There have been a million times when I said I was going to do something and then didn’t follow through.

Keeping a commitment to yourself each day can be magical.
 

30. Practicing Yoga Daily Reminded Me That Showing Up for Yoga Is a Choice

We all have a list of to-do’s a mile long and it’s up to us to make our daily yoga practice a priority.
 
 

This Is How to Cultivate Your Own Daily Yoga Practice

Patanjali says “It is only when the correct practice is followed for a long time, without interruptions and with a quality of positive attitude and eagerness, that it can succeed.”

If you’re feeling inspired to cultivate your own daily yoga practice, here are a few tips to help you along the way. First, designate a special space in your home to practice. Having a set space will help you get on the mat and reduce distraction.

Want to create your home yoga space? Read: How to Design Your Own Distraction-Free Home Yoga Space

Next, consider doing online yoga if you haven’t already. No matter the amount of time you’ve been practicing, when you’re cultivating a home yoga practice, it’s so supportive to have a guided practice. It will keep you feeling inspired, it will help you stay motivated and committed to your daily practice, and you’ll be able to deepen your practice as a result.

7 Ways to Get the Most Out of Your Online Yoga Practice

YouAligned Classes offers hundreds of online yoga classes in a wide variety of formats, class lengths and experienced teachers to choose from. Plus, every class you take helps plant a food-producing tree which not only does good for others and the planet, it also motivates you to keep going!

Speaking of motivation, it’s inevitable that at some point you may lose the motivation to keep going. That’s ok! This is a great opportunity to remind yourself why you set this goal in the first place.

So whether you start a simple journaling practice to jot down your progress or personal lessons from each day, or if you opt to find an accountability partner to keep you on target, find a form of self-motivation that works for you.
 

We all have a list of to-do’s a mile long and it’s up to us to make our daily yoga practice a priority.

 
Finally, practice self-compassion. Don’t be afraid to take a rest day when you need to. Give yourself the grace to listen to and honor what your body needs. A yoga practice can and will look and feel different each day. Some days, your yoga practice may be a 20-minute Savasana or spent entirely in Childs Pose. That’s ok!

I’m so glad I took the plunge and committed to thirty days of a daily yoga practice. Getting on the mat has become one of the highlights of my day and continues to add depth and strength to my practice.
 
 

Do Your Daily Yoga Practice With Us on YA Classes!

If you’re ready to commit to practicing yoga every day, try our premium online yoga classes at YA Classes, and practice free for fourteen days! Members can download their classes to play offline, which is perfect for when you travel or don’t have access to wifi.

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