You may have heard Kundalini Global teachers singing the praises of what happens when you take on a daily practise. And perhaps you would like to take a practise on for yourself. It is a wonderful idea. Making a daily commitment to yourself will bring huge change relative to self-esteem, managing emotions, feeling present and much more…
We hear lots of chat about why taking on a daily practise feels tricky or unmanageable so we thought it would be a good idea to share 10 things that may just help you along your way.
1. It does not have to be yoga.
Kundalini Global teachers commit to a daily practise. But we do not adhere to any rule that says it has to be a yoga series that is taken on. Nor a breath or meditation.
You could choose a daily walk in nature, a run, 5 minutes of core-work… it is about finding something that lands your body and mind into presence and then making a commitment to doing it.
2. It can take as little as 5 minutes.
We always suggest starting kindly and slowly. For many, taking on an hour-long practise from nowhere and then committing to it as a daily thing can be a route to overwhelm, or to abandoning the practise entirely which is counter-intuitive to one of the benefits of a daily practise: to build self-esteem.
If you would like to make your practise a posture or breath, choose one you enjoy, or that you’re curious about, and take it on for 2-3 minutes a day. Allow an additional few minutes to be still afterwards.
3. You can fit it in when suits your life.
We do not believe that to benefit from a daily practise it needs to be taken on before dawn, or even in the morning. Find a time that works for you. Morning is always lovely as it allows for starting the day reset, but equally, an evening practise can work best for many and can be a great thing if you’re someone who struggles with sleep.
4. It does not have to be for 40/90/120/1000 Days.
The number of days for which you take on a practise is entirely up to you.
The repetition of a practise has huge benefits (we’ll come to that next) but do not feel bound by a certain number of days.
Some will love the challenge, and find the intention that comes with, numbered days helpful. For example, 40 days is said to ’break a habit’, and the number 40 has great symbolic meaning to Christians, Jews and Muslims even today, often representing a period of probation and trial.
For others it may be that they want to continue until their intuition tells them it’s time to move to the next practise or add something new to the mix.
5. You will rewire your brain.
One of the huge benefits of a daily practise is the potent impact it has on creating new neural pathways.
If you’re working with Sufi Grind as a daily practise, taking your rest at the end of the practise every single day, and choosing to notice how you have made yourself feel, will begin to train your brain into being more able to find and bear stillness, safety in stillness, beyond the mat too.
6. Setting a space can really help.
Taking the time to set a space to practise, by lighting a candle, burning some incense, carefully rolling out your mat… is a wonderful gift to yourself. You create your own quantum field in the intention you bring to making your practise sacred.
7. Consider making yourself accountable.
If you want to take on a daily practise but it feels out of reach, you may consider doing it in a group, or with an other.
You can motivate each other. You can take turns to lead. You can do this over Zoom, in-person or just by checking in with each other each day. If you feel accountable you may find it easier, to begin with, to commit.
8. Allow time for a rest at the end.
This is important. Whatever your practise, do be conscious of pausing, of being still, for a short time at the end before moving on with the rest of your day. The pauses and rests are important in the awareness they bring, and for physiological reasons too (allowing, for example, the hormones you have worked to release into the system to do their job…)
9. We’ve all missed a day!
You don’t have to be perfect. Every Kundalini Global teacher can relate to those times you get to day 38 of a 40 day practise and are sick, or the dog is sick, or you just somehow manage to forget to do it…
We are imperfect. All of us.
The transformation that comes in continuing, none-the-less, is fantastic. You begin to become more and more aware of how much agency you have in choosing to create your own change.
10. The practises that come in to Kundalini Global classes are great way to explore what you could take on.
Next time you are in class, perhaps you can choose one breath, one posture, one prayer, one meditation… and take it away to use in your own daily practise.
If you do, and you find something that works for you, we’d love for you to let us know.
