Guest post by Sheila Johnson

As with most things, the more you practice yoga, the better you will become. This can involve changing the way you practice as well as trying new things. If you’re looking for ways to get the most out of your yoga practice without breaking your budget, then this article is just what you need. 

Set Clear Goals

It’s easier to achieve your goals when you have a clear idea of what they are. Yoga Journal has some helpful advice for setting your goals and keeping on track. It’s recommended that you stay flexible when setting your goals while aiming for consistency in your practice. It’s best to be realistic in your expectations, so make your goals based on where you actually are in your practice. To help you accomplish your goal, consider installing a few yoga apps on your phone like 5 Minute Yoga or DailyYoga. Many apps are available for free while others may give free access for a set time. Doing yoga with an app can also give you control over how long you stay in a pose, which can help you master it. 

Personalize Your Program

It may be tempting to compare yourself with others when practicing yoga, but that does you no favors. In fact, it could just be that you haven’t yet found the right yoga style for you. According to Best Health, hatha yoga styles work well for persons who want a program built around slow movement, while vinyasa yoga can have more movement involved. On top of that, you have to bear in mind that each individual has their own physical capabilities, so making comparisons is unfair to you and distracts you from your goals. When creating your own programs for at-home practice, you should make sure to include poses that you’re currently comfortable with. From there, you can add more challenging poses that will take your practice to the next level. You should be sure to plan a balanced practice and mix things up occasionally so your personal program doesn’t become boring. 

Try New Things with Props

While doing similar poses consistently can turn you into a pro for those particular poses, it might not have much of an effect on improving your overall practice. According to The Journey Junkie, some of the poses that can help to break you out of your rut include warrior three, revolved triangle and shoulder stand. Depending on where you are in your practice, a few of these poses may seem intimidating, but props like yoga blocks and straps can help. Since you’re on a budget, you can get great deals on gently used yoga aids when you shop on sites like eBay. You can save money at eBay on your purchases by setting up deal alerts and obtaining coupons on a website like Rakuten.

Focus on the Meditative Side

When you think about yoga, it’s tempting to only pay attention to the active movements. However, there are some definite benefits to improving your meditation skills as well. For instance, meditation can improve your self-awareness and your attention span. Both of these can be very handy in boosting your yoga practice. If you’re having trouble meditating, then there are some relatively simple steps to follow. You need to get comfortable, close your eyes and focus on your breath or a mantra. While it’s normal for our brain to wander, bringing the focus back to your breathing or mantra will help to keep things under control. 

Boosting your yoga practice may require some work, but fortunately, it doesn’t require that much money. In order to get on the right path, make sure you set goals that are in line with your current capabilities and practice at home consistently. You should also look for ways to challenge yourself, but try not to get too carried away in order to stay safe during your practice. 

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