• Hi! I’m Monica
  • The Facebook Group
  • Blog
    • Daily Life
    • Instruction
    • Recipes
    • Spiritual Book Club
    • Yoga Challenges
    • Happiness Project
  • Private Yoga Lessons
  • Resources, Yo(gi)
  • Contact

The Yogi Movement with Monica Stone

Ready To Start Your Practice?

Enter Your Name & Email To Get Your Guided Meditation, Yoga Practice, Journal Download & 14 Days of Freedom!

What It Really Means If You Skip Your Yoga Practice?

September 21, 2015 By Monica Stone Leave a Comment

Is it okay to take the day off from yoga when you’re feeling tired, exhausted, or drained? 

I can’t answer that for you. Only you know truly how you feel. Of course, the world won’t end if you do skip it, but I can’t promise you won’t create a minor setback either. 

Before you make the decision to skip practice and binge watch Netflix instead – I challenge you to evaluate if you really can’t practice. 

Are you really feeling as drained as you think? Or, are you lying to yourself? Do you think if you don’t practice you’ll wake up feeling more refreshed, and then your actions will be justified?

Here’s the thing. The whole 6 day a week thing has its reasons. Yes, it’s tradition, but I don’t like to just leave it at that.

Every tradition has its history and reason, so here are a few reasons we commit to 6 days a week:

1. It creates discipline.

2. It strengthens follow through and consistency.

3. You’re keeping your commitment, which builds confidence and trust in yourself. (If you can be stronger than your thoughts, you can do anything you put your mind to!)

These are important qualities to cultivate in our lives, and most people suck at these. Me included. Just keeping it real.

Yoga practice 6 days a week creates discipline and follow through. Why do you practice? #ashtanga
Powered By the Tweet This Plugin
Tweet This

Think about how you are at work? Do you do a lot of work, and then say – “I did so much, I think I’ll put off this small simple task until tomorrow?” Then, by the end of the week you have a ton of small tasks you put off, and you feel completely overwhelmed? So, you leave work and say, “Tomorrow…. I’ll get to it then.”

get to this tomorrow

If you’re trying to talk yourself out of practice, then you probably try to talk yourself out of a lot of things. 

I’m no different. I’ve talked myself out of practice many times in the past. Today, I was feeling exhausted, and I could’ve easily just laid down on my pillow and went into dreamland. 

Something about today was different though. I didn’t fight with myself. I did procrastinate, but I didn’t question at all whether I was going to practice. It was just a matter of doing it.

So, if you’re feeling weak, procrastinating, and about to give up. Wait.

I have a few suggestions that will get you to the mat no matter what:

1. Less is not laziness: 

It’s hard to justify doing a lighter or shorter practice. That’s the reason most people skip. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing. Just show up. Do what you can. 

Less is NOT laziness! It doesn’t have to be all or nothing. Just show up and practice. #yoga
Powered By the Tweet This Plugin
Tweet This

Tonight, I had a really rough time making it to the mat, but I decided to do it anyway. Did I work super hard? No. My Navasana was kind of sad, and I didn’t do dropbacks.

But actually, I did work super hard because the work for me was getting to the mat. 

And you know what? This happened – and this only happens sometimes.

is it okay to skip practice? See more at theyogimovementcom by Monica Stone

I’m telling you this because if you can go in with no expectations –  this is proof that small steps of effort towards your goal leads to big change and progress where you least expect it. 

2. Listen To Music, Podcast, or Audiobook: 

Whenever I have a hard time making it to the mat, I always have something prepared to listen to. I know that’s not tradition, but if it motivates you and keeps you focused – I say do it. 

When I started practice tonight, I did about 4 Surya Namaskara and wanted to go into Savasana. This would have been totally fine, but I decided to put on the 4 hour work week by Tim Ferris. I was so inspired that I got through my whole practice. 

Yes, it’s true – you’re only supposed to listen to your breath and observe your mind, but during my practice, I came up with this whole blog post. I felt more refreshed. I slept amazing. AND sticking to my commitments strengthened my confidence.

If you ask me – I just did some amazing yoga when I was about to talk myself out of it!

Tim Ferris says, “Different is better if it’s more effective or more fun.”  In this case – the audiobook was definitely more effective!

3. Just sit and breathe: 

You know what? just roll out the mat and meditate. Get into childs pose. Choose one posture and go with it. Bridge? Forward Fold? Baddha Konasana? Get on the mat, follow your heart, and breathe. 

So, here’s the thing. If i decided to just rest, would I have felt refreshed the next day and ready to practice? Maybe, but probably not. I probably would have felt tight and mad at myself.

Either way, I don’t want to find out!

Tell in the comments below your best method for making it to the mat when you just don’t wanna do it!!

PIN IT! make it to the mat

To Open Hearts & Happy Hips!

Monica

Filed Under: Instruction Tagged With: Musings

Monica Stone

About Monica Stone

Monica is a lover of all things yoga, a vegetarian, an avid tea drinker, and never gets sick of soup and noodle dishes. She teaches yoga, practices daily, and runs a Spiritual Book Club in Orlando, FL. She likes to challenge the strict rules of yoga, and makes it accessible for everyone - especially people who suffer from daily life and work stress.

« Meditation when you’re feeling low energy, stuck in life, or can’t sleep
#TinyYogaTips Instagram Challenge October 2015 »

Hi! I’m Monica

Monica StoneWell hello there! I'm Monica. I'm a yoga & meditation teacher (and junkie). I teach yoga practices that are quick and effective for the busy person who just needs a few minutes of quiet time in their day. Click around and you'll find quick meditation tips for calming the mind to simple stretches to relieve stress and tension. If you are sick of being intimidated by yoga or just confused by all of the different styles out there - then this page is for you. Yoga helps me daily & I know it will help you too! I'll show you how! Welcome to The Yogi Movement :)

Start Your Yoga Practice With Me!

Join the 14 Day Yoga Challenge & Get Your Free Yoga & Guided Meditation Download & Journal With Daily Activities to Find Balance, Clarity, and Purpose.

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Testimonials

  • Jaime ShearerJaime ShearerYoga Student Since 2012

    Monica is dedicated to her own practice and the true path of yoga - the one of personal experience - which makes her an outstanding teacher. She is warm and easy to talk with, and she allows the student to have their own experience on the mat. She explains postures and breath in ways that are understandable so that the student "gets it." She makes yoga real and tangible in ways that truly serve the student. Work with Monica. You'll be glad you did.

  • Jacob AbercrombieJacob AbercrombieYoga Student Since 2011

    have always wanted to try yoga, but was always nervous. Monica took that fear away and made me feel like i was the only one in class with a room full of strangers. She is able to work with multiple students during the same move and still make it a personalized class for one.

  • Serena JonesSerena JonesYoga Student Since 2010

    Monica has been a highly influential teacher to me. She creates a safe environment for learning and practice. I have always felt grounded in her classes, and she pushes me beyond my own expectations. She inspires and motivates! I can't imagine my life without sharing a path with her!

  • Angela OrofinoAngela OrofinoYoga Student Since 2011

    Monica is a caring, wise, thoughtful, and talented yoga instructor. She has an in-depth knowledge of the philosophy and spirituality of Ashtanga yoga. My previous yoga experience had mostly just been at my local gym. Luckily, last year I found Monica. She has been guiding my practice at least once a week since then. As a newcomer to Ashtanga yoga, Monica made me feel comfortable and had the patience to teach me the basics. She also encouraged me to start an at home practice so that I was able to obtain a deeper understanding of Ashtanga. Monica is always encouraging and lets me know in subtle ways when she feels that I am ready to move deeper into my practice. I feel that the growth in my practice over the last year has been tremendous. Not only do I notice the change in me but others around me do as well. I am so grateful to have found Monica!

  • Sasha TamarSasha TamarYoga Student Since 2012

    I’ve come across many a yoga instructor over the years, but Monica stands out as genuinely amiable, as she glows with an infectious inner light, and highly devoted to and passionate about her practice. Her dedication to Ashtanga as a lifestyle is very clear, and creates for a contagious motivating force. Every time I’ve practiced with her, she eagerly transmits her devotion and passion of Ashtanga and meditation to everyone in class; she makes the most fledgling beginner feel at home, and simultaneously challenges the more advanced students. While I only practice Ashtanga with her, I know she provides therapeutic yoga sessions as well as meditation. And, if her methods of guiding students out of the Ashtanga vigor into the more meditative savasana are indicative of her meditational techniques, I’d recommend her to anyone

Check Out The Latest Posts..!

How to get out of a rut and back to your old self again by Monica Stone, Yoga Instructor in Orlando, FL at theyogimovement.com
Most of the yoga you do should be outside of the studio by theyogimovement.com
Here's how I modify my ashtanga practice yoga with shoulder pain or injury..
Have you ever heard of the 4 seals of dharma? They are the 4 things that make you a buddhist, and all emotions are painful is the first one. That sounds crazy! What about love and happiness? How is that painful? Well haven't you ever had love and lost it? What if you got a brand new car & then got into a car accident right after? Or simply, what if you won an award, and then a few hours go by? The high goes away, right? All emotions lead to pain... but here's why it's actually a good thing... keep reading...
Two years ago I quit my day job. I didn't have a plan, and I started losing money fast! I did everything to run and grow my business, but it was so hard on my own. I don't suggest not having a plan. All of those people who preach quitting your day job do not tell the whole story. Let me help... !
There are so many misconceptions about why we practice yoga postures. I want to erase all of the rules and requirements and bring the fun back into yoga. Yoga is for everyone, and it works for you however you need it. Read more about my theory here!

All Blog Posts Here…

Check Out My Sauce Site! Learn to Make Incredible & Simple Sauces With Me!

Proudly Partnered With:

FitFluential Is Fitness Found


Legendary support for a lifetime of practice with the Manduka PRO

Insta-Love

This error message is only visible to WordPress admins

Error: No connected account.

Please go to the Instagram Feed settings page to connect an account.

Copyright © 2023 · glam theme by Restored 316

  • Home
  • Start Here
  • Contact
  • Policies
  • Web Site Agreement / Terms of Service