I saw these six weeks as a way to see how tough I was, how much willpower I had. After college I took the opposite approach. I decided to add something instead of giving something up. Maybe it was getting older, but I longed for more of a self-improvement challenge instead of a self-deprivation challenge. Last year, I decided I would do yoga every day for six weeks. I practiced at most once a week and enjoyed the class I went to but rarely thought to do it on my own. My only parameter was for my challenge to do a minimum of 15 minutes. Here’s what I came away with: I tell the clients I coach constantly that the best workout or diet is one you will do consistently. Still, I was surprised by the big difference I felt by doing such a small amount, and this concept really clicked. It didn’t matter that I wasn’t going to a full-hour class or attempting incredibly hard poses each day; the changes came from my taking time each day to practice. Without recognizing it as a priority, I was quick to brush it off as something I didn’t have time for. There was no class offered at a convenient time, or I couldn’t fit in a solid half-hour on my own, or I wasn’t wearing “yoga clothes.” However, when I stopped letting myself off the hook, I found there was time, I just wasn’t looking for it. I found when I let go of the regimented idea of what yoga “should” be—taught by a professional, an hourlong class, done to relaxing music—and let it be whatever form it needed to take to fit into my day, it wasn’t nearly as daunting. There’s no one way to do anything. Letting go of your ideal version of your goal actions in favor of what you can actually do that day, is the key to building lifelong habits. As Harry Truman said, “Imperfect action beats perfect inaction every time.” Then an instructor casually said, “Your leg will go here, and if your hips don’t open that way, it’ll be closer to your glute.” That seemingly obvious concept served as my “aha” moment. Some poses simply aren’t in my personal range of motion, so instead of forcing it and getting frustrated, I settled into a position that was good for me and let gravity do the work as opposed to tensing and pushing. Isn’t this true for everything in life? Looking at what you don’t have and can’t do never serves us. Yet, when you embrace where you are at that moment, you open yourself up to possibilities you overlooked and can enjoy the journey. Pigeon pose is now a regular part of my practice and something I even look forward to. I don’t do yoga every day anymore, and that wasn’t my intention. However, I am practicing at least three to four days every week. I am consistent. I look forward to my Monday night class and have built up enough knowledge to easily do 30 minutes on my own throughout the week, each time looking forward to trying whatever challenging pose I’m currently into. When you’re working to build a habit, you’re going to have slip-ups. Instead of wasting energy on what “should” be, focus on what is and what you can do in that moment to grow closer to your ideal self. You may just find you’re closer than you think.
