Yoga Boosting Tips to Take Your Practice to the Next Level

For yoga practitioners, there’s no limit to your growth. Even the most experienced, adept, and wise yogi has somewhere higher to climb. It's a journey that is unique to each person. Finding ways to take your yoga practice to the next level can sometimes be challenging, but here are some ideas to help you grow.

Go Back to Basics

If you're ready to move forward to the next level, Yoga Journal notes one way to boost your practice is to revisit the basics and reexamine the foundational pieces of each pose. Your posture, the amount of time you can hold the pose, your breathing, your form -- all of these things can be remastered before moving on so that you strengthen your foundation to ensure your success at the next level.

Set a Goal

If you aren't already using an app on your phone to set your goals, now is an excellent time to add that into your routine. Having an app for yoga provides a place to journal your experience, set goals and intentions, and hone your practice. Try Daily Yoga, which not only lets you set your yoga program based on goals but gives you videos of routines to try. It's available on the Apple and Google Play store.

An important thing to consider aside from which app to get is whether your phone can handle the data required to advance your practice. Apps can be a drain on your smartphone, and older-model phones may not be able to run them properly, which can really disrupt your yoga sessions if you’re trying to keep up with an instructor. If you need a new phone, look to models like the Samsung Galaxy S10 series. These models boast a super-fast processor, wireless charging, and are water resistant. If you prefer an Apple product, the iPhone 11 Pro Max has an impressively bright screen and an A13 Bionic processor.

Leave Your Comfort Zone

When you've practiced yoga for a while, things can get stale. Consider trying your routine in a new place, like outside if you usually practice indoors, or go to a new class you haven't tried. Find a new teacher or look into a different type of yoga style. Or, take a monthly challenge. Yogi International notes there are lots of them on social media that you can follow, and you’ll have a fresh pose to master each day.

Take a Risk or Try Something New

Just like leaving your comfort zone can help with getting out of a rut, so can taking risks or trying something completely new and different. Ready to teach a class? Maybe incorporate a whole new type of practice or theory into your routine, like meditation, hot yoga, chakra-focused yoga, crystals, or a specialty class that focuses on a targeted goal such as relieving back pain or losing weight.

Don't Compare Yourself to Others

Lastly, one of the best ways to up your practice is to remember not to compare yourself to others. Every person is different and goes at a different pace. How you learn, how your body reacts, the amount of flexibility you have, and more all are dependent on your body and ability. Accept yourself where you are, and go from there.

Leveling Up

Remembering to have fun and enjoy the process is a big part of blossoming in your yoga regimen. Make sure you're always in a place of enjoying your yoga experience. With these tips, you'll be able to begin moving to the next level, whether you're setting new goals or leaving your comfort zone.