Mix Up Your Yoga Practice

I believe that variety is the spice of life. I'm a big fansomething in a new way. I might have the
of the sampler platter. No matter how delicious aopportunity to choose a class and teacher that I
meal is, I don't want to eat it again tomorrow night.know will provide just the kind of yoga I think I need
As much as I may love a song, if I play it too much,that day, and other times I just pick a new teacher
I will get tired of it. I believe you can have too muchto try or attend whatever class fits my schedule.
of a good thing. And so, I need some variety in myEither way, I enjoy the variety, spicing up my
yoga. I like to experiment with new styles, trypractice, keeping my mind open and my body
multiple teachers, and go to different classeschallenged.
depending on my mood.In the same way that no single food can fully satisfy
Saying you like yoga is almost like saying you likeor nourish us for a sustained period of time, no single
music. What kind do you like? Have you only triedapproach to yoga is likely to serve a person for a
one? Maybe there's more to love. There are solifetime. If we all survived on the first food we ate
many options. There are different schools to follow,and never tried anything else, we might all be eating
including Kundalini, Ashtanga, Anusara, Vinyasa,pureed peas for dinner tonight instead of the
Iyengar, and more. There are variations in style,multitude of delicious options we have, anything from
speed and level of challenge, such as Hot, Gentle,sushi to pizza, lentil soup to filet mignon, and beyond.
Restorative, and so on. Consider that more than oneI know there are some people that try vanilla ice
kind of yoga, class or teacher might inspire you andcream and love it so much that they see no reason
invigorate your practice.to ever try another flavor. There is the Ashtanga
In my own journey of yoga, I started with Kundalini.school of yoga, which follows set series of yoga
At the time, that was all I knew of yoga, and I lovedposes that students are to practice every day,
it. Then I branched out and found an Ashtanga class.improving and moving further through the series over
That was an interesting new challenge. Since thentime. I appreciate that there is value in dedication and
I've been open to the yoga that's been available toconsistency.
me. I'm lucky enough to have a pretty broadBut if you reach a point when you find your yoga
spectrum of classes available where I live so that Ipractice has become bland, consider spicing it up with
can pick based on the times that fit my schedule anda little variety. Try a new teacher that is trained in
my mood or need at the time.the same school that you've been practicing or try a
Sometimes I'm in the mood to be challenged and todifferent style of class by a favorite teacher. Seek
have a teacher urge me out of my comfort zone.out a new yoga style or studio near home, or travel
Other times I need someone to give me permissionto participate in a yoga retreat in a new place. You
to slow down and be kind to myself and my body.might find that there's even more about yoga to
Once in a while I need a teacher to question mylove.
understanding so that I can see or experience