There are many benefits to making yoga a regular part of your exercise routine. It’s healthy for your mind, body and soul. While yoga is also designed to be relaxing and enjoyable for those who practice it, inevitably, sometimes yoga routines can have the tendency to feel more like a chore than fun at times. That’s why it’s important to keep yoga routines fresh and exciting. There are several ways to do this- here’s a look at six:

1. Go to Yoga Class

Perhaps the best way to prevent falling in a “yoga rut” is going to class to practice the exercise. At class, not only is one able to leave the house- and all the distractions that come with it – but one can mingle with friends and fellow yoga enthusiasts and receive instruction from a yoga teacher. Just getting out of the house to practice yoga can be a breath of fresh air, but there are several other benefits that come with doing this as well.

2. Different Locations

Yoga doesn’t always have to be practiced in the studio.  Similarly,  it doesn’t always have to be practiced at the same location. So switch up the  location. Do it in the  living room one day, maybe at the park the next day, the beach on another day- the beautiful thing about yoga is that it can be done pretty much anywhere. With this freedom, why stick to just one place?

3. Fresh Music/Routines

Don’t just do the same routine over and over again. Just like trying various locations– switch up the music and routine. Doing the same thing everyday can become boring and  robotic. If practicing yoga three days, or even five days per week, pick a different routine and music regime based on the days of the week or month.

4. Try different yoga styles

There are so many yoga styles one can do- from vigorous ashtanga to gentle yin to sweat-inducing hot yoga to energy-boosting kundalini.  Learning new styles is exciting, fun and will deepen one’s practice.

5. Make Friend:

Another way to get the most of any yoga class session is to make a conscious effort to make new friends. Everything is more fun with friends and yoga class is a great way to meet people with similar interests. Consider carpooling to class with friends and setting aside time to hang out in between yoga class as well.

6. Be Perfect

Finally, an additional way one can keep yoga routines fresh and exciting is by striving to perfect them. Work on perfecting the positions to ensure that the benefits are maximized. This added challenge of perfecting yoga positions can be very motivating.

Yoga is supposed to be fun, but sometimes it does take work to keep things enjoyable. By following the aforementioned tips, one is well on their way to breaking out of a yoga rut!  Namaste.