It’s that time of year again! The calendar is changing and with that, we all get a fresh start in a new year. Just like in class, when each set is a fresh start. I love that about the Bikram yoga series – each set is a new beginning, and a new chance to move forward in your practice.  Can the change in the calendar give us a second set in life?

For as long as I can remember I have been making New Year’s resolutions.  Some years, I actually keep them :  ).  I remember a string of years when the same resolution kept appearing on the list, with no real progress made. I wanted to be more patient, which is a great goal, but that type of resolution was just too general for me, making it hard to take action against.  What did it mean exactly, and how would I measure success?  My repeated failure to keep this resolution made me realize that I was going about it the wrong way. I needed my resolutions to be more specific, with clear action steps identified.  That way I could add it into my routine, make it a habit and make progress.

So last year, I tried something very specific, and it made a big difference.  Our family decided to stop using bottled water. For years, we had probably consumed a large Costco case of 8 oz water bottles each month.  I know – pretty bad.  So last December, we just stopped buying them and instead we bought 4 stainless steel water bottles (one for each of us) and a Brita pitcher to keep in the refrigerator.  It was inconvenient at first, but then it became a habit, and that made it easy.  Now it is just second nature.  Success!

How about in the hot room?  Would a New Year’s resolution be a way to push my practice forward?  Should I pick one thing to add into my practice that could become a habit and then be easy to keep?  I think so.  In that spirit, in 2015, I will work to consistently get into Savasna within 3 counts.  I have seen teachers demonstrate it – the quick turn, straighten the legs and lie back. I do it sometimes, but this year I will work to make it second nature — a habit. Not only will this add an additional layer of discipline to my practice, but the extra Savasna time should give me more energy for the back half of class.  I am excited to try.

Fellow yogis, do you have a resolution for your practice in 2015?

Happy New Year to all my readers!  I am looking forward to a great 2015 at Hot Off The Mat and in the hot room!