Accountability

When it comes to a dedicated Yoga practice, consistency is key. When I was training, one question many in the group seemed overcome with was what is the "least" one needs to practice?

Everytime someone would ask what was the "least" I felt energy drain from the room. I couldn't help but ask myself, "Why come to India to ask what the least you have to do is?" To me it was an oxymoron.

There is no "right" amount of Yoga. With that said, when given the time I can typically practice asana for anything up to and beyond three hours. My teacher in India spoke of performing asana for anything up to and beyond six hours and my teacher here in Cork spoke of practice sessions in excess of four hours. Other people have a complete Yoga practice and yet may not practice for more than 30 minutes at any one time.

In your practice, you are your own accountability partner. Yoga, according to Vedic myths, takes several lifetimes to achieve. Regardless of your metaphysical leanings, the point is that arriving at a state of Yoga is a long process. Along the way, family will pass on, teachers will fade back into their own lives, and friends will move in different directions. So, you must develop the resolve internally to practice daily.

Daily practice is the only practice. Of course, Yoga practice is much more than the performance of physical postures. So when we say Yoga every day, we mean it. We just might not mean it the way you think.