Did you know that average person stops their studio membership after only six months? And many only take one class, only to never return. If most people begin with great intentions, and everyone wants to feel happier and healthier, then why are the efforts of the Yogi lifestyle so short lived for so many? I am going to break it down in this article. The “One Class Wonder:”
Everyone has their own personal reason for why they walk through that door and roll out a yoga mat for the first time. Whether it’s injury, weight loss, desiring change, or because a loved one dragged you there, there’s always a great reason why a person takes their first class.
As a studio owner I was curious as why people would take one class and then not return, so I decided to take a poll. I asked people who only attended one session and never returned, why they never came back for a second class. The answer that I received over and over again kind of surprised me. The most given reason for not returning to class is that the person didn’t feel they were good at the postures. They found they couldn’t do the poses or the class was too hard, so they gave up.
If they had stayed longer, they would have learned that the challenge of the class is really the catalyst for change. And when you struggle and overcome your ego mind that tells you you’re not good enough, you break through into a whole new mindset that you never thought possible. A mindset where you’re proud of yourself, have a self-confidence, achieve all your goals, break old habits, love your body, appreciate your unique gifts, and become a better version of yourself.
How to get over the six month slump:
The average span of an unlimited membership is only six months. My first several years of yoga, I carried around the fear that I would give up on myself, however 17 years later I’m still hard at work with my daily practice, and loving it!
Before I opened Kauai Hot Yoga, I co-owned two yoga studios in Virginia. They have been open since 2002, and they have many longtime practitioners there. When I return home to Virginia to visit, I always take class at the studio and see the same faces that I practiced with 17 years ago. It’s like a time warp because they look exactly the same. They haven’t aged a bit. They even set up in the same spots in the room and look the same in their postures! It’s absolutely fascinating to observe people doing yoga for so long. They preserve their health and youth. Many even look better today than they did years ago. It’s the opposite of how we view aging.
So how do you break through the six month slump and become one of these immortal lifetime yogis? Here are some tips I have found, both through observation of myself and others, of how you can turn your yoga practice into a lifetime and lifestyle.
Know that any reason that your mind gives you for quitting is simply an excuse coming from the ego. Your excuses will come up in many forms. And sometimes they are really convincing. It could be financial or that you’re too busy. It can show up in the form of a hard class. Sometimes you have conflict with a teacher or a person at the studio. It can even be more serious like an illness, injury, or needing to care for a loved one. But the truth is that all the excuses for not coming will shift and resolve themselves over time. And what are YOU left with? If you can stay with your practice through the ups and the downs and the highs and the lows of life, you will be left with your health, sanity, and a strong body and mind. I’ve seen people overcome great obstacles to get into the yoga room and take care of themselves. People in wheel chairs, with broken legs, and even students going through chemotherapy. The truth is that if you have a spine, you can do this yoga. You do not have to have arms or legs. You do not have to be in great health at the time. You do not have to be flexible. You do not have to be a certain personality type that burns incense and meditates. You do not have to be spiritual. All you need to practice this yoga is a spine and the willingness to try.
When you notice your excuses, coming up that are telling you to quit, keep going! You can modify in your class. You can take it easy and you can take breaks during class. You can try taking classes at different times. You can try out new teachers. As long as you continue to maintain three times or more, that is what is important.
Surround yourself with yoga friends. The more you have friends that do yoga, the more fun it will be. Have a yoga buddy. Or just have a group of people from yoga that are like-minded that you have dinner with once a month. That way you can talk about Yoga and keep it in your social world.
Continue your own personal education through hobbies outside of the yoga studio like reading or watching movies. There are great books and films about yoga that will keep you interested and make you fall in love with your practice all over again.
Invest in your yoga practice. Treat yourself to a new yoga outfit or a yoga mat. Sign up for a workshop or online course where you dive deeper into the study of yoga. Where your money goes, energy flows. So you always want to be investing in your health. Stop saying that you can’t afford it, or it’s too expensive. You’re just reaffirming that your health is not important enough for you to invest in. The truth is that a yoga membership is one of the cheapest ways to take care of yourself. For the cost of dinner for two you can have an entire month of unlimited classes.
Take a yoga vacation or attend a yoga festival. Attend a retreat. Drive to a different part of the island and take a class. Do something fun that involves Yoga.
Set goals for yourself. Each month pick a posture to work on. Maybe do a few extra repetitions of that posture after class while you’re still warmed up. After class ask the teacher for some tips to improve the posture. Have the teacher take a before and after picture of your pose so you can see your improvement over time.
Do yoga homework. Your yoga practice doesn’t have to end when you walk out of the studio. Have some additional exercises that you work on at home. Maybe do some extra backbends or stretches each day or incorporate a 20 minute meditation into your daily routine. Having something to work on at home will keep you learning and growing.
Become your own greatest teacher. White it’s wonderful to have great teachers to guide you, you can’t always guarantee that you’re going to vibe with every teacher or that your teacher that day will have the experience or motivation you might be longing for. YOU have to become your own greatest teacher. That way you can take any class, anytime, anywhere, and have an incredible experience that is beneficial. Don’t become dependent on the person leading your class to make or break your yoga class. When you become your own greatest teacher, you will never have a bad class. You will always walk out of the room learning something new. And you might even help others along the way!
And that brings be to the last bullet point which is one of the highest forms of yoga. When you do start to reap all the wonderful benefits from yoga, and your life starts to improve, then this is the time to start giving back to others. Treat a friend to yoga class, attend a teacher training, or write a testimonial for your studio to share. Do something where you can give back to the practice that has given so much to you. The more you give, the more you receive, and the more you receive, the more you give. It’s a beautiful cycle!
I hope this article helps to inspire you to stick with your practice! I can’t think of anything more wonderful than being able to look back on a lifetime of yoga!