Summer is the Perfect Time to Restart your Yoga Practice

Life’s been hectic.  There’s been more to do than there’ve been hours in the day to get it done.  And, if you’re like many of the women I coach, you probably put everyone else’s needs before your own.  ( I know, you’re working on not doing that anymore…I see you improving every day!). But, with all the distraction, busyness, and demands on your time, it’s easy to let your yoga practice fall away.  

You probably didn’t notice at first.  You missed class one week because your child had an awards ceremony.  The next week you had that appointment.  After that your shoulder was bugging you so it didn’t make sense to go to class that day.  Before you know it, it’s been a month and you haven’t practiced your yoga.  It’s not a moral failing or anything, but your body doesn’t feel as good, and you’ve gotten kind-of cranky when you used to be softer.  Plus, it just seems like something important is missing.

Yoga is Ready for You

The good news is, your yoga practice is always waiting for you.  Your mat is ready the moment you step back onto it.  And though you may stress out that you’ve “lost ground” or “are too far gone to come back” the truth is, yoga is a practice of meeting yourself exactly where you are.   Wherever you are when you do your yoga is exactly where you’re meant to be.  There isn’t any ground to lose or gain.  You can always come back to your practice.

The other good news is that we’ve reached the unofficial start of summer here in the States. That means more free time to reclaim those things you’ve lost in the busyness.  If restarting your yoga practice is on your to-do list, summer could be the perfect time to do it.  Here’s why:

Why it’s Great to Re-Start in Summer

Smaller Classes - Summer is the time for vacations. That means fewer people in town to go to class. The teacher has more time to help you get used to the class.  They may have more ability to answer your questions and help you get your feet under you. By the time everyone’s back in the fall you’ll be in the swing of things.  It also means more spaces in classes that usually sell out. Claim a spot and go for it!

Substitute Teachers - I know, I know, everyone loves their favorite yoga teacher.  But yoga teachers need vacations too.  Substitutes are great if you’re just getting back to your mat, because you get introduced to different teachers without having to change your schedule to meet them.  You’ll find out whether you like someone else’s energy, or teaching style enough to seek out their classes. You could even meet your next yoga teacher this way.  

Summer Vibes - Summer is a more relaxing time for most folks.  That means we take it a little easier in classes.  As a yoga teacher, I usually back off on the intensity and focus in my summer classes.  I invite students to take it a little easier on themselves, too.  That doesn’t mean that we don’t work our bodies, but the energy is different.  That makes summer a great time for students to rebuild a practice with less intensity.  (This may not be true for all yoga teachers.  It’s true for me, simply because the class roster changes so often because everyone is traveling)

Travel Yoga - Many hotels, resorts, and vacation spots have great yoga offerings these days.  As you rebuild your practice, it can be super fun to take a yoga class on the go.  You get to check out new studios, meet new people, and try different practices.  If you love it, great! Go back next year! If you hate it, great! You never have to see those people again.  We know that travel can be pretty challenging, especially if you’re with a lot of people.  Taking a yoga class while you’re traveling is a nice way to connect with yourself and stay grounded.  You might even invite a family member to come along.  Whether it’s great or cringe-worthy it’ll give you something to talk about later.

Back in the Habit - As summer schedules slow down, you may have more time to get to a yoga class. Coming back week after week starts to build a consistent habit.  Research shows that consistency is key for any practice to really make a difference in your life. If you can build the habit of practicing yoga consistently now while your schedule is lighter, it’ll be easier to keep it when things speed back up in the fall. 

Private Yoga - Finally, if you’re really stressed about getting back to your mat, you could talk to your yoga teacher about taking a few private lessons.  Summer is a great time for private lessons because everyone tends to have more flexibility in their schedules. That makes meeting up for the lesson a lot easier. And if you’re feeling relaxed because you’re in “vacation mode” you’ll probably pick up your practice a lot quicker.

But there’s something else you might not have considered about doing private yoga in the summer. Because classes are smaller, a lot of yoga teachers look for ways to supplement their income.  By taking a few private lessons, you help sustain your yoga teacher (or studio) in these quieter months.  You’d be taking your lesson for you, not for your teacher of course.  But sometimes folks are afraid to bother their teachers by asking about privates.  Turns out it might be that you’re really helping by taking a few private lessons.  Every teacher will be different about it of course, but it’s worth it to ask if you’re really curious.

And if you’ve kept your practice going for the last few months, all of these are great reasons to keep it up or add even more this summer.

Summer is kind of like it’s own little universe.  Like a New Year with all sorts of possibilities.   It holds the opportunity for more rest, relaxation, and connection with yourself .  It’s also short lived, the perfect time for a quick re-set to get yourself ready for fall.

Also, I know that summer isn’t a slow time for everyone.  Just parenting when my two kids were young was enough to make me pull my hair out some years. But you can’t deny that the energy of summer is different than the energy of the rest of the year.  It encourages us to turn towards enjoyment and rejuvenation.  Yoga can give you both whenever you’re ready.    

Come home to your Deepest Self

Once again, it doesn’t matter how long it’s been since you’ve been on your mat.  Yoga is a process of meeting yourself WHERE YOU ARE, AS YOU ARE, with the intention of remembering WHO YOU ARE at your deepest essence.  Your deepest essence has nothing to do with your expertise, your skill level, your body conditioning, or even your self-consciousness.  Your deepest essence has everything to do with Love, Peace, Freedom, Joy, Fullness and Light.  If you’ve been missing those parts of yourself then this summer could be the perfect time to come back to yoga.  

Take it easy and make it fun.  Your mat is waiting.