Why Yoga Consistency Is Hard – And How to Make It Easier

Yoga Inverted Pose - How to make it easy

There is a feeling of accomplishment after a yoga session. Your body may feel more alive, a sense of peace balances your mind and soul, and life feels energized. Yet, even when experiencing the benefits, you might go through periods of not being able to maintain your practice. Your dedication might fall short. Weeks can pass by between practices. You think to yourself, “I need to get back into it,” while your yoga mat collects dust and your calendar overflows with everything else except yoga. Many yogis occasionally experience this. You are not alone.

Making yoga an essential and consistent part of your life goes beyond finding more time or waiting for your motivation to return. It's about understanding why we struggle to maintain practices that benefit our mind, body, soul, and daily life. Let’s explore the challenges that drift us away from our dedication and how to turn an occasional practice into a welcoming routine.

The Mental Battle: Understanding Why We Struggle

The Distracted Mind

The mind is extraordinary in its ability to multitask. This ability has its positive advantages, but it can also be a disadvantage when we're trying to establish new habits, routines, or maintain a schedule.

We often gravitate to doing things that are easy, familiar, and instantly gratifying. For example, when you sit down to work through emails instead of taking time to practice yoga, you're experiencing the tension between intention and action. You want to practice yoga, knowing you will feel better afterwards, but your mind may not be accustomed to prioritizing your well-being over other things that seem more important. In the moment of decision, the mind presents numerous compelling reasons why now isn't the right time:

• Let me do this first.

• I’ll have more time to practice yoga later.

• I’m too tired at the moment.

• I’ll definitely do it tomorrow.

First-time yoga practitioners often have it easier because they have the momentum and energy of starting something new and exciting. However, sustaining your practice requires something different: the willingness to show up even when that initial excitement has worn off, and you feel like you’re just going through the motions.

There’s More to Motivation Than You Think

We've been taught to wait for motivation, as if it will eventually arrive to carry us to our goals. Motivation is important, but it also changes depending on our mood. Some days we wake up feeling energized and ready to practice. Other days, the very thought of unrolling your yoga mat and moving your body feels overwhelming. Yet, we normally don’t give much thought to moving our bodies through daily life because that is a necessity.

Motivation fluctuates. It's high when we're inspired, but it can withdraw into the corners of inactivity when we're stressed, tired, or facing setbacks. If we only practice yoga when we feel motivated, it can become sporadic.

There’s a difference between motivation and discipline. Motivation is a feeling that may or may not show up, while discipline is a decision you make regardless of how you feel. For many, discipline is viewed as harsh or punishing, but in reality, it’s not. It's simply the practice of honoring commitments to yourself. Doesn’t that sound like a motivational way of putting it? [wink]

What are the Challenges?

Balancing Multiple Priorities

Most people will agree that, in some form or another, life is a juggling act. There are job demands, family needs, health and home needs, nurturing social and relationship connections, and the list goes on. And somewhere in all of this, you're supposed to find time for yoga.

Finding time is a never-ending challenge that can delay your progress. This is not to deter you; it’s a wake-up call to start making time instead of searching for it. There will always be multiple priorities that need your attention, but waiting for a perfect opening in your schedule for yoga may never come. It’s not whether you have time for yoga. It's about your willingness to prioritize to make it happen.

Struggling to Prioritize

Yoga often gets pushed down the to-do list because it doesn't scream for attention like a work deadline or more urgent matters that stay at the top. As time passes, you forget the last time you practiced.

This happens because we blur the lines between what is important and what is urgent. Urgent things demand immediate action. Important things fall into the time management jungle. Practicing yoga may not be urgent, but it's profoundly important to our long-term well-being. Prioritize importance over urgency, at least some of the time.

Shifting from "I should practice yoga" to "I must practice yoga" requires recognizing what truly deserves your energy and attention. Think of yoga as essential well-being maintenance so it remains a welcome priority. When you take care of yourself, you’re more capable of taking care of everything else.

How to Create a Sustainable Practice

Commitment Over Convenience

Committing yourself to yoga doesn't necessarily mean practicing for two hours every day or achieving perfect attendance at the studio. It’s more about deciding that your practice matters enough to have a positive impact on your life; doing it without feeling it's inconvenient, and even when your time may be limited.

Sporadic practice feels better than nothing, but dedicating yourself to it delivers yoga's deeper benefits. Consistent effort over time is transformative. A committed practice nurtures your body’s muscle tone and flexibility, the respiratory system through breathwork, the nervous system, inner vitality, and puts you into a state of peaceful presence.

Make Your Yoga Practice Non-Negotiable

You can adopt a casual approach to taking time out for yoga, but this often falls into a non-dedicated rhythm of practicing, only when all your scheduled commitments have been completed. Instead, identify specific times during the week when you will practice. Incorporate your yoga time into your calendar, whether doing it alone or in a class setting.

Create your optimal practice times according to your preferences. Some people prefer early morning yoga to energize the start of their day. Others find their rhythm in the afternoon, while some people prefer practicing in the evening to release tensions from the day. Discover what works for you and commit to that time.

Creating rituals around your practice can help. They signal your mind and body that something important is about to happen as you transition into your yoga practice. Some rituals include making a soothing tea, lighting a candle, or playing meditation music.

Doing It For Yourself

We live in a world that is driven by self-sacrifice. Taking time for yourself can feel selfish, indulgent, or even irresponsible when other things need your attention. Taking care of yourself isn't selfish; it's necessary. Think of it this way…When you're depleted, stressed, and not taking care of your well-being, you have less to offer in other areas of your life.

Like the saying goes, “You can't pour from an empty cup.” Yoga refills that cup so you can take better care of yourself. In much the same way we take care of the things going on in our daily lives, we also need to nurture the yogi within.

Create positive self-affirmations as yoga becomes an essential part of your life. Remove as many obstacles as possible that get in your way – mentally, from the outside world, and even the ones hiding within your daily life schedule.

When challenging periods enter your life that pull you away from your practice, don’t get discouraged. Return to your practice as soon as possible. Taking the time to practice yoga during challenging periods can be beneficial in helping you cope with stress, stay focused, and support your health.

Celebrate small wins and progress, even when they feel insignificant. Acknowledge these moments. They're transforming you into the dedicated yogi you're becoming.

As the year comes to a close, may you meet yourself with kindness — on and off the mat. Whether your practice has been steady or interrupted, yoga is always an invitation to return.

Wishing you a peaceful Christmas and a grounded, conscious New Year.

With warmth,

Satvika & The Ashram Ibiza Team