Guide for Daily Yoga Practice Articles | Yoga

By: Darren Williger

While this is a nearly complete guide which can be taken as a guide for your daily yoga practice, you might find it a bit difficult to follow, when you try to actually get down to it. Like all sadhanas, you have to be sincere and honest in your approach and have the will to go ahead with your plans to do yoga every day, no mater what barriers or obstacles come in your way. According to Swami Sivananda, concentrated approach to pursue your goal, or Sadhana, is a three-pronged approach, like the Trisula or Trident:

The importance of keeping a daily routine: Keep a strict schedule of daily practice of Yoga. There should be a fixed time for doing your yoga, and this discipline is necessary for your personality as well. During your daily yoga schedule, there are three points to focus on:

1. JAPA - When meditating is difficult due to lack of concentration, you must do this, which is chanting the same mantra over and over again, to maintain the same level of consciousness.
2. STUDY - Upanishads, Bhagavadgita, The Sermon on the Mount, The Imitation of Christ are different holy scriptures of the world. Make it a habit to read them daily.
3. MEDITATION - One of the most important facets of Yoga, you must be strict about meditating every day, at a fixed time, at a fixed place and facing the same direction. Do not change the place or direction (north or east) you face. Maintain the same posture or Asana every day.

An Annual Resolve. Make an annual resolution which should include: staying away from hurting or harming anyone, resorting to lies and incontinence. These three must be foregone, gradually. Practice Ahimsa (stop feeling envious about others), Satya (pursue truth at all times)and Brahmacharya (ascetic life style). In case you can not keep any of these three, go for fast one day. The fear of fasting will help you keep your resolve every day.

A Spiritual Diary. One of the best ways to maintain discipline in life is to maintain a daily journal which you write at the end of every day, before retiring for the night. Ask your self leading questions like “how many times did I lie today?” “Did I hurt anyone today?”, “How many times did I remember God today?”

If you practice these self-discipline measures, you can truly pursue your sadhana and practice yoga in true earnestness. Once you are honest about your efforts, success will definitely come your way.