Essential practice

Serious students of yoga will naturally want to practice regularly.
When the body becomes used to the supple and energised condition that comes with regular practice it is hard not to notice how the stiffness creeps back when one stops practicing. An absolute minimum amount of time spent on yoga discipline will serve both the beginner and advanced practitioner well.

Get into the habit of regular yoga consciousness, and stretch, breath and find a few minutes of meditative quiet every day. Find a few minutes gap in your day, upon rising in the morning, or waiting for the kettle to boil, or standing in a line at the bank to relax, align the body, watch the breath and maybe stretch a limb or joint. Lie on the lawn, or on a thick carpet for a few minutes whenever you have time to spare – regular stress release is a most vital ingredient to health.

Watching the sunset from a garden chair by yourself can provide most of the meditative space that you need for the week. Touch your toes after brushing teeth in the morning, and open the chest with a back bend after a few hours of sitting at work. Take a deep breath or two, one slowly for relaxing, one faster for energy, every hour or so. Find half an hour at least once a week to practice any combination of postures that you are familiar with. Remember to use the last five minutes for deep relaxation.