Benefits of a Regular Yoga Practice

Students will ask how often should I do yoga? My stock but rather sometimes blunt answer is "How often do you brush your teeth, wash your hair, take care of your personal needs?" One of Integral Yoga's main philosophies and also a very important yoga sutra is... a practice is most beneficial if it is "steady and consistent"  One day a week, 7 days a week, really it is what works best for you to continue a steady and consistent practice. I have often shared with my students that a practice can be as little as 2 minutes of meditation or 2 hours of asana ( physical practice). It could change day to day also. One day you may feel the body is asking for stretching and a long relaxation, the next day it may be just a breathing and meditation practice. In our busy and stressed out environment of daily life having a specific strenuous and or demanding practice may be the last thing you need. Then again if you are sitting at a desk and then in a car for along time a powerful practice can release a lot of inner emotional and physical tension , just make sure you balance the practice with pranayama ( breathing practice ) and yoga nidra ( relaxation). Doing yoga on your own is recommended if you have had proper instruction from a certified yoga teacher and/or yoga therapist. Get a good base of poses that work for you that you enjoy and feel good doing. Ask your teacher questions and never do poses that cause acute pain. Most of all come to your mat with an open mind and enjoy every moment! Namaste