Is showing up on your yoga mat hard?

Did you almost not make it to your mat this week? Did your hip ache more than usual? Or have you missed a week a couple of weeks and need to re-establish the habit?
 
The hardest part of a movement practice can be simply showing up, even when we don't feel like it. 
 
The challenge of the practice, the physical and mental 'progress' has its own inherent motivation - but what motivates you to show up? 
 
Initially we need to establish a baseline that feels like it is meeting our needs and goals. Finding a sense of reward that motivates us to continue showing up. We need to feel like the forward bend is getting easier or doing something good, the breath is becoming more spacious and accessible, the back is less achey, our mood feels lifted after practice.
 
At first, we need to meet the resistance to getting on the mat head-on. Find out what the obstances are (Netflix? Instagram? Bad weather? Kids or work derailing our days? Twingey back?) and figure out how to step on to the mat even when life doesn't pause and make space for it. Showing up messy is much better than not showing up at all. 
 
We can often get a little lost in the idea of tangible progress, and overlook the more subtle aspects of yoga which are possibly even more valuable. The improved sleep, the less urging for snacks as our anxiety isn't as heightened, the increased patience with our kids, colleagues and neighbours, the inherent 'okayness' with our day. 
 
We need to acually 'do' yoga for anything to begin to improve. 
 
I used to clean my teeth because my parents told me too. Because my dentist insisted and I was scared of him. And now I do it because it just doesn't feel right to leave them uncleaned and I know I still want to have my teeth decades from now. It is a baked in part of my day that I would go to some lengths to achieve, even if I lost my toothbrush.
 
This built in motivation and habit of practice happens in yoga practice. It takes a while to get to this stage of stability. Initially the effort is showing up and noting the motivating rewards that will keep you coming back. 
 
The sheer joy and pleasure of it will eventually shine through. It might very well become the most joyous and pleasurable habit that you ever learn to cultivate, which positively influences the very foundation of your life. 
 
To help you get to your mat, it is helpful to pre-commit to your practice. Plan ahead, schedule it in, prioritise it. It's important. Identify your obstacles and show up anyway. We need yoga more than ever. If you haven't even got 5-minutes for practice, set aside at least 10 and show up.
 
You'll be so glad you did.