The hardest thing about doing Yoga is not lacking motivation or struggling when taking part, but it is finding time to fit it in. Many of us just don’t have the luxury of having a few hours each week on our own that we can dedicate to working out. Nor do our bank accounts allow us to pay for classes to attend a few times a week.
I’ve chatted to a bunch of busy women about this and they each have their own way of finding the time to do Yoga. And when I say they are busy – trust me, they are busy!
Here are 4 ways people fit in working out that might just work for you.
- Getting up early
More and more people are the first to get up in their family so they can have a quiet house to themselves to do as they please. A super busy friend of mine will get up at 5.30 each morning and do a Yoga session on YouTube (see below, Yoga with Adriene). She LOVES this time to her self, and then she is in a good mind frame for the whole day and can feel good that her workout is done and dusted. This appeals massively to me, yet after feeling sleep deprived for 5 years due to kids, if I can sleep in until 7 am then that is a luxury I am going to take! - Going to an early morning, lunchtime, or evening class
Like gyms, most Yoga studios will have classes at around 6 am, 12.30pm and 7 pm. For exactly this reason, it is hard to fit in classes when most of us are with our kids or have other jobs to attend. Another friend of mine has her Dad come over to babysit twice a week so she can go and work out in the late afternoon. If you have children maybe you can work in with a friend to take turns looking after each other’s kids when a suitable class is on to attend. - Short workouts often
Just the other day there was a health and fitness lady on ‘The am show’ talking about Snackercising, taking short snacks of fitness throughout the day. She was claiming that these short snacks of exercise are extremely beneficial for the body and your overall health. By getting used to a few poses and making sure you are familiar enough to do them right as to not cause injury, then you can start dotting them throughout your daily routine. For me, this doesn’t feel like you would be getting the nice zone out and into the mind moments you get with Yoga, but hey if it means you get to fit in some Yoga time then I am all for it! Waiting for the pasta to boil, break out into a plank and some leg taps, hanging out the washing, stop and do some sun salutations, folds, and tree pose, kids are in the bath then get into chair pose 🙂 - Doing Yoga with a friend or family
Not only do you have a whole lot to fit into your weekly schedule but you also want to hang out with friends and family. Have a think if there is anyone who would enjoy doing some Yoga with you while you hang out. If you’re visiting your parents maybe Mum or Dad will do a practice with you, maybe a friend will attend one of your classes or you could make it a weekend activity. Yoga with a friend or family member is amazing bonding time and gets you doing Yoga. If you have kids do Cosmic Kids Yoga with them, I have many times and we all love it.
Working out at home:
Yoga with Adriene
Adriene has a YouTube channel and different series with episodes where you essentially take a 30-day course. Each session is 20 – 40 minutes long and she is so experienced at running these programs that you really get the advice, workout, and mindfulness that you need. Adriene is your new best friend. She is funny, sweet, gentle, believes in you, and will catch you if you fall (yes, you will hear her say this).
Do you have kids?
If you have kids, in an ideal parenting world you would have quiet time to your self, uninterrupted to do Yoga. But I know all too well this is often just a dream. So instead of being annoyed at your interrupted session and angry you didn’t get to finish it. Just go with the flow, if they are climbing on you when you are down in plank, just smile and see it as funny. If they need you to stop, then maybe you can come back later or maybe tomorrows session will be easier. Don’t be too hard on yourself, if anything, I would recommend watching some videos on meditation and being in the moment which you can do any moment of the day you find a chance. Off for a walk? Inhale deep and look for beauty in nature. If you’re next to your kids outside, then do a couple of sun salutations, fold, halfway lift, plank, downward dog, child’s pose. It’s amazing how it can make you feel.
I would LOVE to hear how you fit in time to workout, or if you just don’t!
Before you write – stand up and do a little warrior 1 😉 xo
