YOUR NEW YEAR FITNESS PLAN IS A FLOP JUST AS THE LAST ONE !

( An open letter to the New Year fitness enthusiasts)

If you’re someone thinking of a New Year New Me fitness plan this post is for you !

The first day is always a good workout. The watch beams good time splits , sufficient calories burned , good heart fluctuations. Everything you need. This lasts for few months, or probably just few days. Then the body starts spilling out all the atrocities we have done it through pains. And then suddenly the watch stops beaming.

Suddenly like a 6-months old girlfriend, who you no more give gifts or flowers, you stop prioritising your health thinking that I have put in enough for it to last forever. Trust me this thought process has failed many - in both relationships with a person and with their fitness routines!!

THE ANTARAYAS : UNDERSTANDING THE IMPEDIMENTS

Before we step into the solutions for progressing towards well-being , it is important to understand the possible challenges because these can make us delusional as being progressive. Sage Patanjali speaks of Nine ANTARAYAS in the Yoga Sutras:-

1. Vyadhi (Physical Illness ) : We often think of disease or illness as accidental and see it as possibly a random intervention to our progress. This ignorance can lead us into sustained and chronic conditions if they are ignored as a possible byproduct of a certain practice or sometimes just as a bodily response/ cleansing.

2. Styana (Disinclination): This is the most common scenario. “May be this is not for me ?”“I will start from tomorrow, today I need this break. “ These are common phrases we hear from participants after a short duration of practice. Human body has the tendency to be in inertia , and this develops the habit of procrastination.

Human body has the tendency to be in inertia , and this develops the habit of procrastination.

3. Samshaya (Doubt): “Which school of Yoga do you teach?” “She may be a good teacher but I am not sure I comfortable with her ?” These doubts arise when we don’t invest faith in what we have stepped in. It is imperative to have faith in the instructors irrespective of you have practiced Yoga for long in your perception.

4. Pramada ( Misplaced Priorities). “I have a party to attend so I cannot be at the class today .” “ I have some official commitments because of which I can’t do a practice. “ “I have to cook a meal for the family.” While some commitments in our life are inevitable and non negotiable, if we sit back and think most of these can be negotiated and realigned if your health is a priority .

5. Alasya ( Laziness): This needs no deliberate explanation. I often warn my participants of this because sometimes it is easily confused with tiredness.

6. Avirati ( Sensory Cravings) : “ I have to loose weight but I can’t give up on eating.” This is the most commonly heard phrase by Wellness instructors. Mindful eating, following a healthy diet is confused with starving. No trained instructor wants that !! It is usually our senses going defensive because we don’t want to miss our weekend dining experience!

It is imperative to have faith in the instructors irrespective of you have practiced Yoga for long in your perception.

7. Bhranti Darshan (Delusion): The biggest illusion or delusion is “ I Know.” Dear Participants it’s a humble request, had you known then probably you won’t end up coming to an instructor or a guide for assistance. Success begins at reconciliation with “I don’t know.”

8. Alabdhabhumikatva (Tendency to Fail or Give Up)- This is a common trend. Inability to stick to regimens and saying “it’s not working.”

9. Anavasthitva( Inability to maintain a level once reached) - My heart pains when I think examples for this. I have seen finest of students succumbing to this. And interestingly it could be because of any of the above reasons.

Success begins at reconciliation with “I don’t know.”

THE SOLUTION

I know most of you have scrolled down probably at the 6th or the 7th point, thinking “all that is fine but what is the solution?” Well this is precisely I won’t be doing in this article. I encourage you to instead do this introspective exercise.

Write down all your habits good and bad as per you. And slowly observe where do they fit in amongst the nine Antarayas stated above. To your surprise, some good qualities that you have assumed to be having could only be an illusion! Make this table , I am certain you can home on to the challenges in your sustainable journey to a healthier You! Until then I will work on the article for practical solutions!

Love and Joy

Nithi