Why is it Hard to Stay Consistent with Yoga Practice

Why is it hard to stay consistent with yoga practice? Let’s talk about it

I’ve been thinking a lot about how yoga can feel so inviting yet oddly elusive at the same time. You roll out your mat, stretch out your body, and for a moment, it feels like you’ve unlocked something—calm, connection, maybe even clarity. And yet, staying consistent with yoga practice? That’s the tricky part, right?

I get it because I’ve been there too. For years, yoga has part of my daily life, but not in the way you’d think. I was teaching, guiding others through poses, alignment cues, and even the deeper philosophical teachings of the yamas and niyamas. It looked like consistency from the outside. But the truth? My personal practice had quietly slipped into the background.

And that’s where I want to start—because if you’ve ever felt like staying consistent with yoga is hard, there’s a good reason for it.

Why Consistency Feels Elusive

Here’s the thing: we often approach yoga like a checklist. We hear about the benefits—less stress, more flexibility, that magical sense of balance—and think, I should do this every day. And maybe we start strong, fueled by motivation or the promise of transformation. But over time, life creeps in. Work deadlines, family obligations, and let’s be honest, some days just feel too heavy to even think about unrolling the mat.

It’s not just about time, though. The real challenge is deeper. Yoga, at its core, isn’t just about physical poses; it’s about creating space for self-inquiry, stillness, and connection. That’s not always easy to face, especially when life feels chaotic.

For me, consistency became even harder when I was teaching. My focus was on guiding others, not on my own practice. I was showing others how to connect with the yamas and niyamas, but I wasn’t giving myself the time to embody those principles. And that’s where I realized something big:

The foundation matters.

The Missing Foundation: Why the Yamas and Niyamas Come First

If you’ve ever felt like yoga isn’t “sticking,” it might be because you’re trying to build without a foundation. Think of the yamas and niyamas as the blueprint for your practice. They’re not about what happens on the mat; they’re about how you show up in your life—with compassion, honesty, discipline, and contentment.

For a long time, I skimmed over this part. I’d teach the yamas and niyamas in my classes, using them as reminders for students to be kind to themselves (ahimsa) or to honor their truth (satya). But I wasn’t giving myself the space to explore what these principles meant in my own body and life.

When I finally slowed down and let the yamas and niyamas guide my practice, something shifted. Suddenly, asana (the poses) wasn’t just about physical movement—it became a reflection of the values I was embodying off the mat.

For example:

• Ahimsa (non-violence) became gentleness with myself on days when my energy was low.
• Santosha (contentment) taught me to accept where my body was, instead of pushing for more.
• Tapas (discipline) helped me find small, sustainable ways to show up consistently, without burning out.

And here’s what surprised me: when my practice started from this foundation, it didn’t feel like a chore. It felt like coming home.

Teaching vs. Embodying: The Gap I Had to Cross

I think one of the reasons it’s hard to stay consistent with yoga practice is because we’re often focused on the external. Whether it’s following along with a class or chasing a particular pose, the attention is on the “doing.”

That was definitely true for me as a teacher. My energy was spent creating space for others—watching alignment, planning sequences, ensuring students felt safe and supported. But while I was helping others embody the practice, I wasn’t giving myself the same space.

There’s a big difference between teaching and embodying yoga. One is about giving; the other is about receiving. And to stay consistent, we need that balance.

Reconnecting With the “Why” in Why Is it Hard to Stay Consistent with Yoga Practice

If you’re struggling to stay consistent, take a moment to pause and ask yourself: Why am I practicing yoga?

It’s easy to get caught up in the idea that we “should” practice daily or that yoga has to look a certain way. But yoga isn’t about perfect attendance or nailing a headstand. It’s about creating a space where you can reconnect with yourself, even if it’s just for a few minutes.

When I reconnected with the “why,” I realized that my practice didn’t have to be elaborate. Some days, it was a few gentle stretches paired with a deep breath. Other days, it was simply sitting with a principle like ahimsa and noticing how it showed up in my interactions.

That’s the beauty of yoga—it meets you where you are.

How the Restore Program Bridges the Gap

This journey back to the foundations of yoga is what inspired the Restore Program in the Creating Calm app. I wanted to create something that helped people connect with the yamas and niyamas in a way that felt practical and approachable.

The program is designed to guide you through 13 weeks of exploring these teachings, starting with self-awareness and moving through principles like mindful boundaries, emotional grounding, and reconnecting with what matters.

Each week focuses on gentle, actionable steps—whether it’s a reflection prompt, a mini meditation, or a way to bring these principles into your day-to-day life. It’s not about overhauling your life; it’s about small course corrections that add up to big shifts.

For me, this approach transformed my practice from something I “should” do into something I wanted to do. And that’s what I hope for you, too.

Finding Your Own Flow – Why is it Hard to Stay Consistent with Yoga Practice

At the end of the day, staying consistent with yoga practice isn’t about willpower or discipline. It’s about finding what makes the practice meaningful for you.

Maybe that means exploring the yamas and niyamas as a foundation. Maybe it’s allowing your practice to be imperfect or letting it evolve with you. Whatever it looks like, the most important thing is this: show up for yourself in a way that feels authentic and sustainable.

For me, that’s been the biggest lesson. Yoga isn’t just about poses—it’s about how we move through life. And when you start with that foundation, consistency becomes less of a struggle and more of a natural rhythm.