Clean up your act

Today is your gateway to the future, so begin to put in place the building blocks for a cleaner, better version of you, starting now

Clean Up Your Act

We are what we repeatedly do. Hence, if you gulp down a ton of chocolate every day and night mindlessly watching TV for hours on the sofa, then don’t expect to be your best, most vibrant self anytime soon. Nothing wrong with watching TV or the occasional binge, but let’s get real here. If you want to be fit and strong, healthy and happy, then we need to pay attention to our daily habits and whether they truly align with how or what we aspire to be. Yes, the top yoga teachers do still watch TV and they do still eat chocolate (it’s chocolate we’re talking about, after all!)…but it’s all about finding the right balance.

Albert Einstein reckoned the definition of madness was doing the same thing over and over again and expecting to get different results. So, guys, it’s time for a change. Luckily, transforming your life isn’t rocket science (or quantum physics, in Einstein’s case). Long-term change starts with identifying your patterns and then adjusting your behaviours accordingly. Yoga can help with this. Tuning in to the body and the breath during your time on the mat is a wonderful (and remarkably simple) way to start rediscovering yourself; to relearn about your beautiful body and extraordinary mind. It’s here where we can also start to appreciate the simplicity of life, how amazing each of us really is, and how interconnected all of us ultimately are.
If that all sounds too complicated then there is a shortcut. Cut through most of the diet and detox advice out there and you’re left with two very simple rules: Move more. Eat less. For the vast majority of people (where there are no other medical or other complications involved) then it’s pretty simple to start creating the best version of you. Starting today! Here, we show you how to get going straight away — effortlessly and fuss-free — to create the life of your dreams using nothing more than the power of yoga.

Do yoga

If you adopt one new habit this year, then make it yoga. Not to tone those abs (although, spoiler alert…that can happen too!), but just to treat your body to the regular movement it craves. Whatever your goals or plans — to travel, get healthy, find a new job — it can provide you with the motivation and stimulus you need.

Here are five other ways in which regular yoga practice can trigger positive change in 2018:

1. Feel good factor: yoga makes you feel good. It’s been well documented that yoga can trigger a whole flurry of positive emotions and responses, ideal for those struggling with stress. So roll out your mat for the good vibes and let all that positivity wash over you.
2. Find your tribe: there’s a great community spirit within yoga, which can have a massive positive impact especially for any individuals that may be feeling isolated. Do yoga and plug in to a vast (and often social) network of like-minded people.
3. Clean eating: yoga can make you more aware of what you put into your body. Clean eating doesn’t have to be complicated. You don’t have to gulp green juices or go out and buy goji berries to be healthier. Start with not overeating…even if you do nothing else, just watch what and how much you typically consume on a daily basis. Then take it from there. Yoga is the perfect way to learn about your body and what you put into it.
4. Soul searching: not everyone goes looking for the deeper meanings in yoga, but you might be surprised what you find once you hit the mat. Spending time alone on the yoga mat, or in a class with an experienced teacher, can lead to some unexpected insights.
5. Quieten the mind: yoga and meditation can help you feel calm and at ease, the perfect counter to the busyness of modern life. If you’re looking for a break from all that hectic living, especially after Christmas, then head for your local yoga studio.