It's the beginning of January and everyone is going strong, running, practicing yoga, working out. I have never seen as many joggers in my neighborhood as I see right now. Seems like everyone is motivated and excited to make this the healthiest year of their life. Unfortunately by next month half of the people would have backed off, slowed down or given up on their resolutions.
Why are we not able to keep our resolutions?
I am extremely persistent with the things I enjoy and with the goals that are achievable and reasonable. When I talk to friends and yoga enthusiasts who tend to fail I notice a definite pattern!! The people that are most likely to fail usually set unrealistic, big goals that would crush even a yoga pro and once they skip a day they let it all go down the drain. Then they try to "punish" themselves for failing and come back even stronger. Maybe do 2 MONSTER classes in a row because they skipped a few. It becomes this daunting thing we HAVE TO do rather than a fun time that we can dedicate to ourselves, that we can enjoy and benefit from on an emotional, physical, mental, spiritual level and let's not forget have fun while doing it.
So some things you can do to make sure you achieve your goals are:
1. SET REASONABLE GOALS!
You don't need to workout 1 hour a day, 6 days a week to be fit. Check out the post I wrote on workout schedule and base it off on that: weekly schedule
Walk with friends, walk your dog, clean your house on off days and don't be harsh on yourself. If you are very busy make your goals achievable- 3x week rather than all or nothing approach.
2. Be sure to shift your perception and to "decide" that what you do is fun. COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS. Every time you roll out your mat make sure you realize how blessed you are to be able to sit and stretch and move and breath and goof on your mat while so many people in the world don't have that luxury. Be grateful and enjoy your blessings.
3. If you fall off the wagon don't sweat it. It's not the end of the world. Be kind to yourself. Even talk to yourself as if you are your own 5 year old child. Don't nag yourself. Tell yourself it's fine. And everything you do is enough. That way you are not laying the ground for self sabotaging out of guilt. (the most common reason why we fail is IMO guilt) Free yourself of guilt. It serves no one so why engage in a behavior that's not serving you or helping anyone else for that matter.
4. MOST IMPORTANTLY when you do fall of the wagon come back to it SMALL. This has been the secret to me being persistent and constant for years. I forgive myself with ease which has helped me forgive everyone with ease. I don't hold on to hurts and grudges and I definitely don't waste precious time beating myself down over small things. :)
Come back to your routine with something so modest and doable that you would actually do without fretting. Do a beginner 10 minute routine, or a beginning of a class only. If it pulls you in of course you can do more than that but my rule of thumb is just get back on the wagon by dedicating 5-10 minutes to it. Next day your energy will be high enough for you to complete a strong 30 minute class. :D I PROMISE
These are my 4 tips on how to make yoga and working out a lifestyle not a fad.
Let me know if you if you have personal tips and secrets for staying in shape long term :)
NAMASTE
SENDING LOVE AND GRATITUDE TO ALL
Tip 5: Follow Interval Yoga and get an awful lot of motivation by reading every day ;-)
ReplyDeleteTY, Ali =)
hehe very sweet of you :P
DeleteI just love you Ali, i needed to hear this right now �� You are so wise.. Thank you and much with love ��
ReplyDeleteJennifer love you back <3 HAVE A BEAUTIFUL DAY! Be kind to yourself :)
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ReplyDeleteYes, if you can't forgive yourself, you can't forgive anyone else. if you don't love yourself, you cannot love anyone else and no one can love you.
ReplyDeleteI'm learning to be kind to myself when I fall off my boat, but I must say that yoga became my passion when I started practicing it with you every day 8 months ago. Thank you for that Ali, this is a yourney for life :) Namaste
Inez I am truly honored! You are speaking words of wisdom. It's amazing when this "knowingness" sinks in so deep that it becomes a state of being :) Love
DeleteI like your attitude :)
ReplyDelete<3
DeleteYour 4 tips are perfect :)
ReplyDeletePersonally? I just follow my list, 101 in 1001 - as the goals are for 1001 days, it's easier to "eat the elephant" day by day :)
Dear Ali,
ReplyDeleteI eat healthy food and I try to cook the vegetables which are available for this season. At this time it is cabbage. There are a lot of nice cooking ideas in the internet. This is good for the environment ( no long transit distance and supporting local farmers).
And as an artist I need to do a lot of sports. But I have a different training scedule every day. One day yoga + juggling, next day dance and streching, following day yoga and capoeira and so on. So not the same muscles are used every day. Namaste!!!!
Petra great strategy for an amazing wise GODESS such as yourself!!!! Oh and I love cabbage as well :D Sending LOVE and HUGS your way!!!!!!
DeleteGODDESS >
DeleteGrazie mille :-)
ReplyDelete<3
DeleteAli, your a wonderful soul. As you do yoga I do my work. It is very useful post for the people who ever want to do something for a long period of time.
ReplyDeleteBala thank you!!! Yes commitment to projects and lifetime of work is so important when you are on a path :)
DeleteOne of the things that sets the mind back on track I think is the weekly habit of visiting the farmer's market , and devoting some time in nature weekly, the more (both time and nature) the better...! Gets things clearer and more in tune with sweet Ali's gentle kind aproach of keeping on track! <3
ReplyDeleteoh these are practical and excellent and spot on tips. staying on track can be fun and enjoyable :)
DeleteSometimes too fun :D and if not we can always make it fun!!!! It's all a matter of perspective isn't it??!!! And falling off the wagon has something to teach us and show us always :) so blessed it be , but not to overdo it :P because then we are heading backwards...!!
Deleteyeah tripping is perfectly fine. but we do need to get back up and keep walking, hiking, climbing :D
DeleteThat is what I am working at. Thanks! :)
ReplyDeleteAli you have no idea how much I needed to read this! I have fallen of the wagon and honestly I havent been kind to myself. Thank you for reminding me to let go of the guilt.You are like my personal guru and im so glad I found you on Youtube!
ReplyDeleteyes Lina, you are fine and perfect exactly where you are at the moment. give yourself the permission to feel free and you will get to the next level with ease and grace rather than pushing and kicking. be kind to your heart :) the heart is always pure <3
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