Andi Eslee Man

Self-care is essential to supporting the body’s natural processes. It helps us find balance in our lives and nurture good health and allows us to offer more of ourselves to the people we love when we take the time for self-care. 

To practice self-care, we need to take time for ourselves each day. It can be achieved through regular yoga practice and maintaining the yoga lifestyle. Ultimately, this means learning to understand your body’s needs by tuning into what your body and mind need to feel their best. How you practice self-care is profoundly personal and can range from preparing a healthy meal to taking a yoga class to doing absolutely nothing. The choice is up to you and what form of self-care best serves your mind, body, and spirit. Here are five self-care ideas for yogis to get you started:

1. Practice Gratitude – Starting a gratitude practice helps you to focus on the good things in your life. Some people prefer to simply think of a few things they’re grateful for and acknowledge them out loud, while others like to keep a gratitude journal. You can begin this practice daily by taking a few deep breaths then naming a few things you are grateful for. These things can be big or small like your morning cup of coffee, your family and friends, your career, etc. What you choose to be grateful for is personal and entirely up to you.
2. Detox Naturally – There are many ways to detox the body naturally, and it’s a practice you can uphold all day long. Start your mornings off with a mug of warm water and lemon. It is a simple way to detox your body each morning and give your body a health boost right at the start of your day. Warm lemon water is also great for easing stress and aiding in healthy digestion. You can continue to detox throughout the day by eating healthy whole foods and adding healthy detoxing fruits and vegetables to your water bottle. 
3. Take A Bath – A warm bath after a long day is a great way to practice self-care. It can help relieve muscle pain, menstrual cramps, improve circulation, detox the body, and allow you to relax and de-stress. You can also add essential oils or Epsom salt to the bathwater if you are feeling sore or want to soak in a blissful state. 
4. Create A Sacred Space – A sacred space can give you a small place all to yourself to practice self-care, do yoga at home, and temporarily escape from the hustle and bustle of life. Find a small space in your home that you can keep all to yourself and fill it with things that make you feel good. It can include books, candles, pillows, flowers, essential oils, etc. Once you have your sacred space set up, go there to meditate, practice yoga, and just relax when you need a few minutes to yourself.
5. Practice Restorative Yoga – Yoga is a wonderful and active form of exercise, but you should also remember to slow it down and practice restorative yoga too. Restorative yoga is a form of self-care that gives your body a break from intense exercise and helps you to unwind, sleep better, and relax your muscles.