Is it possible to do yoga if you have a family and children, and go to work every day?
I think that many of us have tried and usually everything ends in “nothing” – every time new reasons are found not to do yoga or another technique of self-knowledge. Maximum half a year!
Events in my life developed similarly. Everything was impermanent and therefore the results from the classes resembled waves in the sea, sometimes stormy, sometimes not at all. About 10 years ago, I made a choice and now do yoga almost every day. In this topic, I will share practical points on how to start motivating yourself to exercise consistently and stay on this path, without forgetting about family issues!
I worked in an office for many years, so I understand very well all the difficulties and circumstances that the “office plankton” faces. Don’t think, I don’t want to offend anyone!!! It’s just that this name for office life, in my opinion, fully describes the lifestyle of people who work in an office.
The main task is to force yourself to wake up every weekday in the morning so as not to be late for work, and in the evening to go to work on time so as not to stand in traffic for too long and watch TV for at least an hour before going to bed or meet with friends and chat. It turns out that every day you spend 8 hours on the “chair in the office”, at best you spend 2 hours on the way to the office and then back, and sleep at least 7 hours. What’s in the bottom line? 24-8-7-2=7 hours
7 o’clock!!! Wow! So that’s a lot! There is so much you can do! But we will also take away from their time for breakfast and dinner, as well as time to buy groceries in the store and prepare a meal, and if there are still children, then they also need to be given attention. As a result, the bottom line is that, at best, there will be no more than 2—3 hours a day left for YOUR business, for what will contribute to the development of both soul and body!
If you analyze your typical day and calculate how much time you really have for yourself, think about how many minutes/hours of this time you use for your benefit. Don’t you spend it watching TV? Maybe on the Internet?
Now add up all your “free” time for the week. I do not doubt that the total number of hours is impressive! The first thought is, “How much can I get done in this time!”
Overlay your reality on these hours and see how much time you have for your development – how much do you meditate, practice yoga asanas, do pranayama, read, or listen to educational lectures?
And How? Most likely not enough – right?
Yes, this is your reality… If you want to change it, change it! The main thing is to always remember that changing is always more difficult than “building anew”, and be prepared for the fact that it will not be easy.
All of the above is directly related to yoga!
When you do yoga, you affect more than just your physical body. Changes also occur on a subtle level, changing your future in a more positive way for you. Positive changes require a lot of effort, and the habit of “making an effort” has not been developed.
After all, we all know well that human laziness knows no bounds. In general, you need an incentive – a strong, motivating one. For this reason, once you decide that you will practice yoga, you need to put a lot of effort into maintaining the strength of your intention. One of the most effective motivators is doing something for the sake of another person. For example, to show an example to a loved one that by exercising regularly you are experiencing real changes in your body and your environment. This will not become noticeable so quickly, but once it does, you will no longer be able to stop it, because… the taste of a victorious result will help overcome laziness. And one day, your partner will also start studying with you.
To make these changes not very painful, it is better to do them a little at a time. For example, if you have decided to do yoga, start doing it little by little – once a week or several times a week, but not for long. Even if you have some external or internal circumstances that prevent you from doing yoga on a set schedule, make an effort on yourself and, despite everything, continue to stick to your decision.
Negotiate with your body. For example: the body wants to go to a cafe instead of a class, promise it a double portion, but after the class. Gradually, you will notice that your yoga classes have become an integral part of your reality, that it is “woven” into your life, and it is easy for you to combine everything together – work, family and yoga classes. As scientists say, if you endure 40 days, then the new habit will become the norm in your life!
I can give another clear example of meditation. When you first start practicing meditation, it is quite difficult to sit in one position for 10-15-20 minutes. However, after some time of regular practice, sitting becomes easier and you can meditate longer. And at some point you can already meditate for 40-60 minutes and will not want to leave this state.
So, let’s summarize.
What is needed for the practice of self-development to become firmly established in your life:
- determine the motivator – why to do it
- negotiate with body and mind
- perform exercises at 70%
- It’s better once a week, but consistently, than 3 times, but for a month and then give up
- communication with people who practice a healthy lifestyle
- determine your minimum exercise in case you have a scheduled class but don’t have the strength
Combining your development and the modern pace of life is not easy. However, it is possible! The main thing is to determine your priorities, allocate time for them, and stick to your action plan. It won’t be easy… Space will “test” the strength of your intention, test how ready you are, and how strong your desire is. And if you are 100% confident in what you are doing, then you will succeed!
PS: This article represents only one person’s point of view. This article also does not provide any guidance for action. Each independent-thinking person must make his own decisions and rely only on his personal choices and decisions. I wish you success on your difficult path!
Olga-Yoga
March 2020
