Enhancing Your Yoga Journey: The Role of Journaling in Your Yoga Practice
There was a class I used to teach at Jai Yoga Studio a long time ago. It was during the pandemic, during a time that everyone’s nervous system was wrecked with isolation and loneliness. For me, yoga has always been a great tool to forge community. So to create a community of resilience, I started teaching a class called “Yoga & Journaling.”
I have to admit, this class wasn’t the most popular class offerings at Jai Yoga. But the people who came, came week after week. “Yoga & Journaling feels like therapy, but cheaper,” was the resonant feedback I’d get every week.
Yoga and journaling is a combination that is like cookies and cream. Why? Because yoga is more than just a physical form of exercise; it's a journey of self-discovery and personal growth. I love enhancing my personal yoga journey through various methods, one of which is journaling.
A journaling practice can significantly deepen your yoga experience, whether you practice regularly in a studio or at home.
Here’s how you can combine yoga with journaling at your own pace.
The Power of Reflection Before Practice:
Roll out your mat a few minutes before you start your yoga practice. Take a moment to journal.
Journaling prompts before your practice:
How do I feel now? (Consider your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual state)
What is my intention for today's practice?
What does my body need today?
What am I hoping to achieve or learn in this session?
Are there any specific areas of my body or mind I want to focus on?
This isn't just about your physical state, but also your mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Setting an intention for your practice can transform a routine exercise into a meaningful ritual. Reflect on what your body and mind need at that moment. This pre-practice journaling can bring clarity and focus to your session.
Mindfulness in Motion:
As you move through your poses, your mind might wander. Journaling about the thoughts that come and go during your practice can be enlightening. It helps you understand the nature of your thoughts and how they influence your practice.
After your session, note any shifts or changes.
Journaling prompts after your practice:
How do I feel now compared to before the practice?
What thoughts and emotions came up during my practice?
Did I notice any physical or mental shifts during the session?
What did I learn about myself or my practice today?
How can I apply the insights from today's practice to my daily life?
This post-practice reflection can be incredibly powerful and transformative.
Benefits of incorporating journaling with your yoga practice:
You easily can connect with your body
Yoga is a conversation with your body. Through journaling, you can enhance this dialogue.
BONUS PROMPT: Write a message to your body, or imagine what your body would say if it could talk.
This practice helps in acknowledging and overcoming limiting beliefs about movement and understanding what forms of movement feel right for you.
You easily are able to set your intentions and stay accountable to your goals
Journaling about your intentions with movement and how you want your body and mind to feel can set a direction for your practice.
BONUS PROMPT: Describe your current relationship with movement and where you want it to go.
Remember, it's about setting realistic and compassionate goals for yourself.
You create a strong foundation for a sustainable practice
Journaling helps you to consider what you need to keep your space of yoga and movement inviting and ready. Journaling can help you identify practical ways to show up for yourself and maintain consistency in your practice. It's about creating a sustainable and enjoyable yoga journey.
You create an opportunity to celebrate your body
End each journaling session by focusing on what you love about your body and its capabilities. This positive affirmation can boost your confidence and appreciation for your yoga practice.
Integrating Journaling with Yoga:
Even though my class “Yoga & Journaling” has become a part of pandemic history, many of its alumni still incorporate journaling with their practice regularly. They learned so much about themselves as a result and have become more self-aware of themselves, beyond their yoga practice.
This is because journaling is a powerful tool that can deepen your yoga practice in profound ways. It encourages mindfulness, self-awareness, and a deeper connection with your body and mind.
This is why, I highly encourage integrating journaling into your practice. It just takes a few minutes and all you need is some pen, paper and a yoga studio that understands the infinite depth a yoga practice can take you, like Jai Yoga Studio.
Check out our class schedule to find sessions that resonate with you. For those looking to deepen their practice further, our part-time yoga teacher training (Jai Yoga Teacher Training) can be an amazing, once-in-a-lifetime, transformative experience, offering more insights and techniques for your yoga journey.
At Jai Yoga Studio, we're here to support you on your journey of personal growth and discovery. Embrace journaling as part of your yoga practice and see where this introspective path leads you.