6 Top Tips: How to Elevate Your Yoga Perfomance

6 Top Tips: How to Elevate your Yoga Performance

Yoga is a time-honored tradition that keeps our minds and bodies healthy while being an excellent way to look after our spiritual health too. Here are a few tips that can help you get the most out of it!

Eat properly before you practice. This is an important one. It's best to avoid large meals for around three to four hours before you begin any form of exercise, including yoga, but it's always good to plan ahead — stay hydrated, and make sure to have a balanced, nutritious meal earlier in the day! This means water, carbs, proteins, fibers, and small portions of healthy fats. You want food and drink to supply your body with energy as well as giving you the building blocks needed for muscle growth. While it’s not recommended to have a heavy meal just before yoga, you don’t want to end up with low blood sugar during your practice, so a light snack (a piece of fruit, or maybe a protein bar) is always a good idea!

Set up your space. Finding the right spot for yoga is essential. Somewhere that will get you in the right mood, inspire and invigorate you is best — it could be your garden, a bay window in your living room, or even just on your bedroom floor! It’s all about finding somewhere that suits you. You’ll want to find somewhere you can lay your mat with enough free space around it to do your poses! It’s also nice to be somewhere with some natural light to get some vitamin D. You might even try practicing outside! Really, any comfortable space where you feel at ease, with minimal distractions, is perfect. Use a hard floor so there’s less chance of your mat slipping. If you’re indoors, a great thing to do is to tidy your space. Tidying is both a way to make your living space more comfortable and a wonderful opportunity to practice mindfulness — a great way to get your yogi mode on! Take the time to immerse yourself fully in the act of tidying. This means living in the present, thinking about nothing aside from the act of tidying, slowing down, and seeing it as a spiritual and enjoyable exercise instead of a chore. There's something uniquely satisfying about being in a nice clean room!

Now it’s time to pick the right clothes for you. The best options are comfortable clothing that won’t restrict any movement and won't fall all over the place as you stretch — flexible, form-fitting attire, like yoga pants, is ideal! Take off any jewelry and if you have long hair, tie it back to avoid restricting your movement! So, now you’ve got your room nice and tidy, the right clothes on, and your body’s all ready. Time to find the proper mindset! One way to do this is by simply sitting in silence, or by meditating and practicing mindfulness. Existing purely in the present and clearing your mind of any unneeded clutter is the key here. Many people use the OM mantra as it’s thought to be good for dissipating negativity. In fact, mantra meditation has a particular way of deactivating the limbic system in the brain, including areas such as the hippocampus, thalamus, and amygdala in a manner associated with relaxation. Other wonderful things to try are essential oils, music, incense, and really anything that might help you to relax. It’s all about finding what’s right for you!

Now it's time to warm up! With any form of exercise, science shows that warming up is absolutely essential. This not only improves performance but also helps to reduce any risk of injury! Try starting with some easy stretches to get your body ready. You want your muscles to be relaxed and supple, ready for a variety of positions! Start slowly, with exercises like pranayama breathing and sun salutations. Be aware of your own body’s limitations, and don't push yourself too hard. Yoga’s a journey, and whether you're starting out or you’ve been at it for a while, the important thing is that you know what’s best for your body!

Remember to cool down! After your yoga session, it’s important to spend 5 to 10 minutes cooling down. This has a range of benefits. For example, it can prevent cramping and dizziness by gradually slowing your heart rate, promote healthy muscle development, and even improve your flexibility! There are so many to choose from! Hold your stretches and take some deep breaths as you gradually slow down before finishing your session! Let’s grab that mat and get started!