5 Ways To Practice Yoga Off The Mat

Okay, I’ll admit it. When I first started yoga, I was just there for the toning, the flexibility, the strength I was promised would happen if I practiced my sun sals every day. I wanted to look better, but running and burpees just weren’t doing it for me.

So, after discovering yoga in some woo-woo recess of the internet around 2017, I excitedly plopped myself onto my mat, found a teacher online I wasn’t massively intimidated by, and started at the beginning. 

Nearly 20 years later, and my life is 180-degrees different from back then. Sure, my body changed shape completely, I’m fitter, stronger, and more capable than I’ve ever been, and yes, my bread-and-butter is my online yoga studio, but my yoga practice changed the way I see and interact with the world around me. Put simply: it positively impacted every area of my life, not just my physical body.

And if you’ve ever been in a yoga class, you’ve probably heard your teacher talking about this impact on your life; they talk about taking your practice with you, taking it off the mat, being a better person because of the time you’ve spent in class today. 

But how do we actually do this? How can we find the biggest and most positive impacts from our yoga practice outside of the shiny purpose-built studio (or away from your fancy mat)?

Here are my most-practiced and impactful ways to bring your yoga into your day-to-day life, and see the life-changing effects:

1. Practice ‘boring’ mindfulness

This is, quite literally, your yoga practice in miniature. Think of this as really noticing the temperature and texture of the water when you’re washing your hands, or a moment to notice the tiny hairs in your nostrils moving with your breath. It doesn't always need to be a 15-minute meditation, or a full breath practice. Just close your eyes and take a minute away from what you're doing. This resets your brain to a more sage-like state, allowing you to be present, calm, and grounded, even when life starts to get a little hectic.

2. Be nicer to yourself

Every yoga class should encourage you to feel capable, welcome, and supported. This is regardless of how many handstands you throw in, or how often you take a childs' pose; regardless of your outfit, or how often you show up to practice. This is a huge mission to take with us into the rest of our lives. How can you show up for yourself more often in your life? Say nice things about yourself in the mirror, give yourself a high-five for a job well done (or for just making your bed in the morning), and wear your favourite outfit that makes you feel like a god(dess). 

So often, the yoga world (and the world in general) can make us feel less-than. We’re encouraged to dislike our appearance, we’re told we’re not good enough, rich enough, capable enough. But let this be a reminder that you, in fact, are enough, regardless. Practice this one regularly and often. And when we’re kinder to ourselves, it’s easier for us to be kinder to others, too.