Yoga for Life Part 2: A Life Lesson Comes From Mixing Up Your Yoga Practice by Melissa Hurt

Sometimes we feel in a rut with the activities in our lives – we eat the same foods, wear the same five shirts each week, drive the same route... You get the idea. Doing the same yoga practice may feel like it is hindering your creative spirit. Here are two tips to mix things up:

• Try subscribing to an online streaming service and follow a teacher you enjoy. You will find a variety of classes taught in a style that resonates with you.

• Buy a monthly pass at a local studio and try several teachers, styles and times of day to practice (if your schedule allows). Every teacher has a different approach to beginning class, building a sequence and closing class. How do you feel as you explore different teaching methods? What do you learn about yourself? How does the way to talk to yourself about these differences teach you how you approach change in the world?

When we mix up our yoga practice, we encourage ourselves to be flexible. We can either tense up or soften and improvise. Maybe you discover you thrive in routine, which points to following the same yoga sequence daily. If you want to be more flexible in life, try different yoga classes and see what you learn about yourself.