Don’t listen to your inner lazy dog and do a downward dog!

Everyone has those days of course. You’re feeling really lazy and just don’t want to do anything – especially no exercise!

No matter how much you love your yoga class and even though you know that you will feel amazing afterwards you just want to sit on the couch with a glass of wine or a hot chocolate. And that’s ok once in a while but what if your inner lazy dog is taking over? What if he is talking to you all the time?

This is about how to deal with him and get back to your downward dog!

First of all I have to excuse myself for the title. In case you were wondering about the “lazy dog” this is my translation from the German expression “Innerer Schweinehund”.

I love writing in English but it’s not my first language… I live in England so think and dream mostly in English but once in a while there are some German expressions which are just so much better and so much more descriptive! Innerer Schweinehund is definitely one of them! The inner pig-dog (literal translation) doesn’t sound great to be fair so if anyone has a better translation then let me know!

So anyway, if you let him this inner lazy dog will tell you that you’re much better off doing something else than yoga! Preferably nothing…

Here are a few things you can do to control him!

Listen to the lazy dog

Let’s not dismiss straight away what he wants to tell you! It might be that you need to slow down because you’re tired or overwhelmed. Slowing down does not mean sitting in front of the TV! It means have an early night or take a hot bath!

Why is he talking to you

So let’s get to the bottom of why that lazy dog is talking to you in the first place. Find out what it is that is really holding you back. Are they just excuses? Do you maybe have to get some help with all the things you think you need to do? Are you scared of something?

There are many ways to do yoga and there is always an option which is right just for you. Have a look at 8 top tips for your first yoga class if you’re not quite sure where to start

Think of the benefits of yoga

Honestly that lazy dog doesn’t have a leg to stand on when you think about the benefits of yoga! Reduce stress, get stronger, more flexible, leaner and more toned, improve your respiration, energy and vitality, be more balanced… to name just a few!

Focus on what you gain by going to your yoga class! Think about how you usually feel straight after the class. You know that you will be so glad you went in the end!

Make a plan and stick to it

The easiest thing to do is commit (and prepay) to a regular yoga class of course but not everyone can do that. You might be travelling a lot or have a family to look after so find something that works for you! Maybe it’s an online video that you do regularly or maybe you want to do do your own yoga practice at home. Decide what works for you and then schedule it in.

Be realistic about it! 60 minutes of yoga four times a week might be possible for a couple of weeks but decide what is realistic in the long-term! It doesn’t have to be much and 10 minutes a day are already fantastic so don’t be too ambitious if you know you won’t be able to keep it up.

Ask for help

Talk to your partner or your family and tell everyone that you want to do yoga regularly! Once you say it out loud you are much more likely to do it! Ask them to support you and give you some peace and quiet (even if it’s for 15 minutes here and there) or give you an evening a week off!

If you’re finding it really difficult to stay on track then take a few private yoga classes and let the teacher know that you need a little bit of help to stay motivated! Most teachers are very happy to come up with a personalised plan for you and sometimes we just need someone to help us look after ourselves!

…So find out what that lazy dog has to say and then make a plan to keep him quiet! He is allowed to have his way once in a while but even he knows that you’re much better off in downward dog!