The Chef’s Kiss: Why Regular Practice Matters
It’s a tough subject to bring up, and I’ve thought about it a lot. The last thing I want is for this to sound like I’m just trying to keep my business afloat, please don't think that!
But here's the honest truth: a regular practice, especially if you're a beginner, is absolutely imperative.
The Nervous System Knows
The most important reason to be consistent is to build a routine into your body’s nervous system.
Your body actually knows what’s coming. From the minute you step through our door to when you roll out your mat, your system starts to sigh an internal sigh of relief. It becomes a ritual:
You leave the house, you park the car.
You walk in and think, "I'm here again, thank goodness."
You roll out the mat, take that first breath we hold, and let out an exhale of any tension you walked in with.
The more times you do this, the more your body will drop into its parasympathetic nervous system, your rest and digest state. If you leave weeks-long gaps, you break that cycle. Consistency is key to keeping your body in that wonderful state of "I know what's coming."
The Physical & The Whole You
We all know the physical truth: the body will start to tighten up if we don't regularly move. While it doesn't have to be yoga, yoga is a great way to keep the physical body in shape. It’s an all-round targeted exercise: we build strength, we build flexibility.
But what makes yoga truly different?
It's the coupling of the physical postures (like a flow or a Vinyasa) with Pranayama (breath work) and some form of guided meditation or visualisation. This gives you a much more rounded exercise, touching on the mind, body, and soul; the energetics of you, in a way most other exercise does’t.
I'm not saying other exercise isn't great; it is! Weight training, cycling, swimming, anything that gets you moving is wonderful. But yoga has that something else, doesn't it? It’s that chef’s kiss extra that keeps bringing you back time and again, which actually complements everything else you do in your life.
Motivation, Integrity, and Ringing Out the Towel
Next time you’re glued to the sofa, the fire is lit, and you’re thinking, "I just can't be bothered," peel yourself up. Have some integrity and motivation for you. I promise you won't leave thinking, "Well, that was a waste of time."
If it's truly difficult, here’s a tip from my teacher that I cling to: "My teacher has done it."
Remember, your teachers don't just materialise out of the ether! We still have to battle through traffic and the rain sometimes, and we've turned up for you.
One final thing: when you come to us, you are often broken, going through a breakup, work stress, or caregiving difficulties. You come regularly because you really need us, and things start to feel better.
If you break that cycle, those tensions will re-enter the body. Think of a yoga practice like ringing out a flannel or a towel. If you don’t wring it out regularly, it just gets sodden, heavy, and weighed down again.
Come and keep your energy channels running crystal clear, like a mountain stream with the sun glistening off it. Have that feeling every time you leave the mat.
Stay tuned for a podcast coming up! I love you all and see you on the mat soon!
Love, Tess.