Starting yoga recently? Hoping to start yoga soon?
When we are starting something new, whatever it may be, there can be a lot of excitement but also a lot of hesitation and doubt. We might start out really, really strong; or get ready to start and keep putting it off because we think we aren’t quite ready.
What can be our motivation to start and overcome the doubt and hesitation and worry?
When you start to adjust to your “new normal,” the body adjusts, the results begin to naturally slow. As we interpret the results dropping off, or we feel like we go backwards with those results, which then, of course, undermines that motivation, even more.
And you can start out motivated, pulling alllll the clothes and bags and shoes out of the closet.
There’s that initial excitement, but things that are going to show you really great results also usually take a long time. Those long-term, fully realized results are often something that it takes a while for us to actually achieve. And it can sometimes start to be disheartening if it feels too far away.
It’s hard work to stay dedicated or to keep working at that thing, even if we really want it. And sometimes we just want to be like, you know what, I’m just not going to go somewhere else, and then I won’t see it/can avoid it. I’m just going to close that door, go home, put this or that away, and I’m going to ignore it.
Remember the why.
Remember the want.AND
Remember it doesn’t need to happen overnight.
Remember that there’s always highs and lows and moments of exhaustion.
Remember you can restart any time.
A lot of goals and things that we want results for are kind of lifelong things. It’s not as if there’s an end date to some of those things.
“The kids need my focus right now.”
“I need to ____ first, and then I can ______.”
“I’m not sure it’s really what I want to do anyway, so I don’t want to spend the money if it’s not really what I want.”
“When it’s warmer/less hectic/easier/on sale, THEN I am all in.”
“I need someone else who is willing to do it with me.”
“It’s probably a silly idea.”
Maybe tomorrow, you decide to pursue that goal/that wish/that thing you want to make progress on. Maybe you look at it again. Maybe you think about it again.
Maybe you get back at it. Maybe you rework your approach.
Give yourself that grace; be kind to yourself. This isn’t getting back at it full of judgment for where you think you should be by now or how you stopped before, etc. All of that is natural.
Tell your mind that you appreciate it trying to keep you safe and giving you alllll the reasons you should maybe opt out, but you want this and want to work toward it and want to achieve it.
Then, it’s usually about 10 seconds of bravery.
…to walk into the class
…to make the call
…to drive to the ___ instead of home
…to decide
If it is hard, think how great it will feel when you have that breakthrough or you have those moments.
You don’t have to achieve everything in one day or week or month or even one year.
One day at a time.
Make the decision, do the thing, today. Keep those results in mind as you approach your goals, and realize kind of that ebb and flow, and that all goals worth pursuing take longer than we want, and are more and more exhausting than ever.
Keep at it, and keep me posted
Are you thinking about starting yoga as a beginner or hoping to take the first step in your yoga journey soon? Don’t forget the Yoga Starter Kit if you have wanted to try yoga but feel you are not yet ready to step into the studio. I understand. I couldn’t do downdog pose or many poses when I first started.
