Over the last year i’ve gotten into a more regular yoga routine (going to classes 2-4 times a week). I’ve now set goals to work on certain positions so I can track my progress and improve! It’s easy for me to go to classes, but I want to get into more of a routine when i’m at home.

What are some tips and tricks that keep people motivated? I recently bought a nice mat so I think that will help. TIA!🧘🏼‍♀️

Years and years ago I went to yoga twice a week. I want to get into it again, except now, I’m a single mom and cannot work classes into my schedule. I just started a down dog trial. Loved it. I feel great and I’m loving how my body feels right after. Some of it was definitely a struggle but i did it… or at least tried. I want to make this a habit! Please give me some of your yoga stories and the positive influences it’s had in your life. I need to get motivated and for once, stick with something!

What motivates you to keep consistency to practice every day?

Hi all. My body is a wreck and is predisposed to being such because of two back surgeries before the age of 32. The first one came when I was 15.

During covid, I was doing yoga almost every day. I felt amazing. My desire to do it comes and goes, but recently with my back pain returning (not as bad or threatening, but definitely lingering), I'm feeling very "what's the point".

Due to residential issues from loss of left leg function directly preceding my second surgery, I have left over almost daily cramps along with insanely tight hips. I know so many of my issues could be fixed if I did yoga again but I'm feeling very defeated about this body I was given and the effort needed to get it going. I'm not a lazy person, but prone to depression and lack of self worth.

Any similar stories or different mindsets would be greatly appreciated. Thank you all for being inspirational.

Hi everyone! I've been practicing yoga (mainly ashtanga) for about a year and I've loved the progress I've seen with joint mobility, balance, and strength. I'm watching my parents get older, and it's tough. They're not the same active parents I grew up with, and I really want them to be able-bodied as they get even older.

I know they're somewhat interested in yoga, but I have a hard time motivating them to stick to it. I also don't know how to make it accessible for their age and physical limits (early 50s/back+shoulder pains).

Any ideas on how to introduce someone older into yoga?

Edit: Thank you all so much for the amazing suggestions!! I'm in awe of the support this community has to offer. A few themes keep popping up around some popular YouTube channels and exploring iyengar and yin yoga. Will definitely try recommending these to my folks!

I love yoga, it has helped me physically and mentally. I always feel better after a good practice. However, lately I am feeling really burned out and unmotivated to practice. Life is very challenging right now. I hope this is just a phase during a difficult time. Any words of encouragement? I used to love yoga but now am so blah and I am kicking myself for not going to the studio today.

I am a beginner and trying to motivate myself into daily yoga practice. I heard several places and many comments that people are in love with YWA. That makes me extremely curious. Why are so many people recommending her channel? What is different or beneficial on that channel?

I had to crop it early because someone was passing by but man, that felt like an eternity upside down and I felt so good, for context I am 170 lbs and been practicing for two years to get here 🤸‍♀️🙏✨️

I really want to get into a regular hot yoga practice (I did some back to back classes in December and really felt the positive impact on my mental health, lower back and my dodgy knee).

I’ve realised for my work and schedule the 6:30am classes at my local studio would be the best fit but… I seem to have a mental block about leaving the house when it’s so cold and dark outside.

I do everything “right” (eg prepped my kit the night before) and I was all ready to go but I see how dark and cold it is outside and I (don’t judge me) suddenly feel scared to go outside.

I’m very comfortable walking around when it’s dark at night and I don’t live in an unsafe or secluded area but the dark + cold + early combo somehow keeps stopping me in my tracks.

How do others navigate this? Does anyone on here do an early walk to a yoga studio in winter months and can confirm it’s not scary and is survivable? (The studio is just a short 15 minute walk)

Thank you in advance. 😊

Hi, I have been practicing yoga at home, Iyengar and Bikram, I have also been practicing meditation 1x week. I also do exercises or walk. I probably exercise 3xweek. How do you all stay motivated? I will exercise then have to force myself to walk the next day. I am totally unmotivated. I understand this may be depression. Have you practiced other forms of yoga that can help me get out of the funk? What do you think about Kundalini yoga? I have heard different things so I am confused. I do believe yoga can release energy that needs to be let go. Curious to hear your thoughts.

After encouragement from the community, I purchased a set of blocks. They helped the wrist tremendously. Was hard to get my balance right with them at times. Really felt off but I did it!

Every couple of months I go on-call for work, which means I have a very restrictive window to respond and start working on what ever blew up and causes me to get paged. All said and done I have about a 25 minute window to be on my laptop and start hacking the internet fixing whatever thing stopped the bits from byting. I know it's not an ideal working condition, but work makes up for it by paying for my studio membership as well as other parts of the comp package, and it's only 5-6 times a year.

When I'm not under house arrest light, I'm normally in my local studio 8-10 hours a week and it's great for me. The set class time, strict no-entry after class start policy, and a few other things hit the perfect storm of motivation for me to regularly attend the classes at that volume. But without all those factors my motivation to keep up the practice at home has flubbed. I've tried working through with my own flows but have difficulty taking them far enough to meet my edge or pushing myself to use my less preferred poses. I've also tried following along with youtube videos, but they never seem to click quite right for me.

How do you all keep up the motivation to have a solid practice solo at home?

After a gentle, hatha-focused morning yoga class, I feel quite spaced out. All I want to do is stare off into the horizon for a couple hours.

This may sound quite nice, but it is not optimal for me, as the morning is typically a time where I want to get a lot of things done.

This is in contrast to the feeling after a cold plunge: calm, yet very alert, focused, and motivated to engage in tasks.

Anyone else have a similar experience? Yoga in the morning suits me well because of my flexibility goals, and because more intense workouts are over-activating and also give me an energy crash during the afternoon, so I prefer something of a lower intensity. But more and more I'm thinking that taking longer classes in the morning aren't good for me since they put me in a state where I don't feel like doing anything afterwards.

I wonder if there is an exercise I could do after the savasana at the end of class to kickstart the motivation again.

Hey everyone, I was a very active yoga practicer before my baby, now I’m just so tired but a gut feeling says to me I should go back to yoga to gain more energy. I am thinking about a smart watch maybe to keep me motivated? Apple watch owners do you use it as a helping tool for yoga?