Consistency in a yoga practice.

Ashtanga yoga is all about consistency and devotion. The Buddha describes the mind as a wild elephant, dangerous and sometimes harming itself and others. In the Bhagavad Gita the mind is seen as a chariot that is driven by two wild horses that when there is no charioteer rampage out of control and cause harm. The two horses are the senses and emotions (pain and pleasure) that govern the untamed mind.

The yoga practice is a tool to help discipline the mind and rather than being ruled by emotions, can then become a powerful ally. Sometimes in the Western world, yoga is mainly seen as a physical exercise. And it is true, the asana improve circulation and vitality of the body as well as strength inside and out. However, the main goal is to gain some control over the mind so that we can be more focused and consistent and consistently well.
The mind fluctuates by nature from fear to interest and back to fear. It is inconsistent and unreliable. 

Also, it is the nature of the ego mind to arise in the form of excuses in order to prevent us from emancipation. It is sometimes compared to the snake that lures Jesus in the desert. It offers Jesus all his riches if he resigns his quest for the truth and follows him instead.
Practising yoga in the morning without excuse is a way to override these deeply rooted tendencies. It is not important how ‘advanced’ the yoga practice is, this is simply an outer appearance. What matters is the inner disposition, the willingness to step on the mat no matter what. Important is the consistency of the practice and the quality rather than the quantity. And again, quality here is not measured by physical advancement but rather by the fluency of the breath, the inward focus of attention and a reverent humble attitude. A teacher then can help to encourage the student and to guide the practice and to invite them to be consistent.

In the West, students who take up the yoga practice often misunderstand it as a physical exercise and just practise when they feel up for it, have the money or time for it.

Ashtanga however, encourages you to step on the mat each day no matter what. It does not matter what excuses the mind comes up with. If the body feels weak the practise can be adapted. A short light practice is great and much better than no practice at all. What matters is to step on the mat and give it your best on that day. This is how inner strength is cultivated. We learn how to overcome the lurings of the mind which then can be used as a powerful tool in the struggles and challenges of life. It is easily seen how this can be taken off the mat.

Often students ask what do I need to do to advance? And often they mean to become more flexible. My answer would be to cultivate consistency, humility and devotion. When I travel around the globe to see my family in Europe and meet with other yogis I have almost no interruption to my daily yoga practice. I have practiced in multiple hotel rooms, alongside swimming pools, airport runways, in airplanes and airports all over the world. I practise the day before I leave and the day after i arrive on the other side. It doesn’t matter if time zones and weather changes dramatically from winter to summer and back from night to day. It doesn’t matter if I am tired or weak or hungry or short of time. One thing that never changes is my daily practise. I am not worried about space or temperature or time. I just step on my mat and see what will happen. What matter is that I take that step. It has always been rewarded. I rarely get sick, ill or stiff from days in the airplanes, the jetlag lasts a few days. I take up my normal routine of work and practice the day after land. There is no disruption because a daily yoga practice cultivates an inner strength that translates onto the body and the mind.