April 1, 2024
We believe there is a hero within each and every one of us waiting to be awakened into the world. This year, we’ve decided to focus our energy on stepping up to that level of greatness by becoming the heroes of our Yoga practice. When we realise how to become the heroes of our Yoga practice we naturally begin to become the heroes of our entire lives. Let this year be the year you transform your life by channelling intention, consistency and compassion to achieve your yoga goals (& life goals). Let’s awaken.
Put simply, having a Yoga Practice is all about self-devotion and creating habits around Yoga in-studio and at home. Sound’s delightful. But for many, creating yoga practice that we show up for regularly is no piece of cake. And we are not just talking about students here, teachers too! Despite common belief, most teachers don’t find the time to practice Yoga as regularly as you might think. So, as part of our collective New Year resolution, we have decided to share our insight into these the heroic qualities – Intention, Consistency and Compassion – to support you to become the hero of your yoga practice. Are you with us?
There’s no heroic act without an intention. Intentions are how we decide on what we want so that we can achieve it. For 2024 intention-setting, we recommend grabbing a journal and writing down 1 to 3 things you would like to achieve in your yoga practice this next year. An example might be; I want to learn how to hold a freestanding handstand by the end of 2024. Or perhaps something like; I want to focus on my breath work and how to bring more attention to breath through the various asanas and flows. These intentions will become your roadmap to becoming your own hero.
Looking for some more in depth intention-setting guidance? Yoga Journal lets you in on 3 secrets for Setting New Year’s Intention’s That Work. Check it out here:
https://www.yogajournal.com/lifestyle/set-intentions-that-work/
From here, you might want to get clearer by creating a plan for how you’re going to achieve these intentions. We suggest planning and mapping out your weekly Yoga time, just like you’d schedule a meeting or brunch with friends. By setting aside these key times, you’ll naturally start prioritising your Yoga practice in the same way you do work, family and friends. Our app allows you to schedule your classes 2 weeks prior to classes to give you plenty of time for planning! And, don’t forget to also set an alert on your phone to remind you. It’s harder to skip a workout if you give yourself plenty of opportunities to be mindful of your goals from the get-go.
If we can learn to do something consistently, then we can begin to see that we are completely capable of changing our behaviour. This is where the superpower lies.
So, for us to become our own Yogic Hero’s we must first learn to become consistent students. This doesn’t mean a 60 min class a day; let’s be real, we can’t all fit that into our schedules. But, consistency asks us to carve out equal(ish) time each week for yoga. Remember, it’s more beneficial to do a little something regularly than a 60 minute power class every once in a while. So, honestly consider your lifestyle and how much time you have each day to dedicate to the practice. Maybe it’s 3 classes a week and 2 shorter self-practices at home. Maybe it’s less, maybe it’s more. Whatever your weekly yoga schedule looks like, aim for consistency.
We get it — life gets busy and getting to more than 3 classes a week isn’t compatible with everyone’s lifestyle. This is why we believe every yogic hero must remain open to cultivating a little self-practice at home. Realising that you can practice Yoga, breathwork and meditation anytime, anywhere will empower you to practice yoga more consistently than ever. How empowering!
Compassion – no matter which way you look at it – is always the answer. Why? Because while intention, planning, consistency and self-practice are all essential, compassion is the container which we must hold each and every one of those sub-containers. Without love and compassion, the journey of becoming your own hero wouldn’t be attainable, let alone enjoyable.
This means taking things slowly, listening to your body, paying attention to your peak and finally, practicing gratitude. Let us break these down for you:
The key to becoming your own hero is to start slowly. To create a consistent routine, make sure you start small, set realistic goals, and build in recovery days. Incorporating rest days is just as important as scheduling your yoga practice. Allowing yourself compassionate time to recover and heal will help you return to your routine even stronger. With the B+F app, it’s easy to plan your classes. You can select classes that align with your current fitness level, time availability, and desired intensity and style. At Bend and Fly there is truly something for everyone.
It’s easy to get swept up in the charisma of our Yoga instructors (they are incredible!). However, sometimes we focus so much on them that we may lose track of us. The only way to honour your own body compassionately is to continually ask for its feedback. Check in with your heart rate, check in with your breath, and make sure to listen to the answer!
In many classes there’s generally a moment where we feel like we want to stop—and that’s a good thing. Most classes have a peak. A peak feels great because you’ll know you’ve pushed yourself a little bit out of your comfort zone. So while it might feel like a challenge, pushing yourself can sometimes be one of the most compassionate acts. Key word: Sometimes. Make sure you don’t push yourself beyond what’s right for you.
A gratitude practice is a quintessential ending for every practice. Too often, we beat ourselves up over what we didn’t do or our bodies limitations, rather than acknowledging our growth and progress. If you missed a class and end up doing a walk or 15 minute BFTV class instead, remind yourself that a little movement is better than none. To be compassionate is to practice gratitude for your amazing body without exception.
Cultivating a Yoga practice is more than just a physical journey, it is also an inward journey. By learning to become the hero of your Yoga practice in 2024 you won’t merely be conquering Yoga goals, you’ll be conquering life goals! The hardest part will be showing up… But once you do, we promise the payoff will motivate you through the rest. Let this year be the one where you step up, create new habits and new practices which will empower you to live on a whole new level, the level of greatness. Let this year be year where you become the hero of your Yoga Practice.
