According to yogic philosophy, we’re born with a karmic inheritance of mental and emotional patterns—known as samskaras—through which we cycle over and over again during our lives.

The word samskara comes from the Sanskrit sam (complete or joined together) and kara (action, cause, or doing). In addition to being generalized patterns, samskaras are individual impressions, ideas, or actions; and collectively, our samskaras make up our conditioning. Repeating samskaras reinforces them,  creating long term habits that are difficult to resist. Samskaras can be positive—imagine the selfless acts of Mother Theresa. They can also be negative, as seen in the mental patterns behind low self-esteem and self-destructive relationships. The negative samskaras are what hinder our positive evolution.

As a longtime yoga teacher I’m sympathetic to the struggle people have to stay motivated about doing things that create better health and well being. That could be anything from eating right, getting enough movement/exercise, sleeping, practicing yoga and meditation, or dealing with emotions.

It’s a big mystery why we get started on healthy things and then drop off after a short time. The answer is complex or “it’s complicated.” We live in very challenging times and some days the energy it takes just to “get through the day,” is huge.

I’ve witnessed for myself, and seen other people learn to make healthier shifts when they create and practice rituals on a regular basis. By regular I mean at least 3-4 times a week. 4 is ideal but 3 done consistently will bring change.

A ritual is something that is done in a similar way, consistently,  is your creation, uniquely designed for your personal growth. For example I have a ritual that I practice every morning that if I don’t practice,  I don’t feel well and may affect my entire day. After I wake up and take the dog out and give her some love, I fix my morning beverage and sit quietly with no talking, phone, internet, etc. for about 20 minutes. This is where I get to practice minimalism….simplicity. I try to use this time to get my head into a positive place. After sitting very quietly for awhile I go into my yoga/meditation space and light a candle. Then depending on how much time I have, I practice asana for at least 30 minutes followed by pranayama and meditation for 20-30 minutes. After I’m finished with that I take some time to read something spiritual.

The consistency of my routine is good for me because it keeps me grounded, on track and in the moment. During that time I am present, and reminding myself to stay present and open. To me that is the most important aspect of the ritual…being aware and present.

Rituals can be something that start small and build. Even 5 minutes a day over time makes a difference. Spend some time allowing yourself to create your own ritual…reflect on what time of day works best for you. Then commit to it. Use your willpower to stay with it for at least 40 days…the amount of time the yogis believe it takes to create a “new Samskara or pattern.”

Peace,

Yoga Jane