Bouncing Back After a Yoga Break

So, confession time: I took a bit of a break from yoga recently. And by "bit of a break," I mean that I took a full month off. I didn't even realize it for a while; I though it had only been a week or so. When I realized it had been a full month -- and that my last full week of classes was back in February -- I was not happy with myself.

And what's more, I was really nervous for my first class back so I really wanted to put it off for as long as I possibly could. I didn't want to know how tight my muscles had gotten during my hiatus.

Luckily, this wasn't my first workout (or yoga) break, so I had some tricks for getting back into the swing of things. If it's been a while since your last yoga class, here are some things that might help you too.

1. Ease into it privately at first. If you just can't brave a class, make a deal with yourself to practice today...but you can practice at home. Maybe you do a yoga DVD, or maybe you just do a few of your favorite poses each day. It can be nice to have that first "Oh no, my hips don't open anymore" moment privately. At least when you had back to class (and make yourself go within a few days of your at-home practice), you'll know the worst is over. 
2. Just go. I know, it seems so obvious. But there's a reason Nike has made millions off the idea -- because sometimes, you just have to do it. Don't make excuses. Each day that went by that I made up another excuse, it only got worse.
3. Take any class that's new to you. One of the most frustrating things about taking your first class after a long break is comparing yourself to how you were before the break. It can be so disheartening. So take a class that's completely new to you instead. You'll have no basis of comparison. So what if you're sore? Who isn't sore after a new class?
4. Take a beginner's class. I'm a big fan of taking beginner's classes periodically, just to get a refresher on form and position. But after a hiatus, I find it's even more useful. The class moves slower so you can ease back into things and you can avoid the frustration (and injury!) you might experience if you jump back into your advanced-level class.

After my first class after my yoga break, my muscles were screaming and I was mad at myself for staying gone so long. But once I got that first class over with, I remembered why I love yoga and it was much easier for me to keep going. Since then, each class has gotten progressively easier and I'm feeling more like myself again. Sure I'm not back to where I was before, but I'm somewhere. And that's something to be proud of.

- Rachel