Did you know that you can improve healthy habits (and your ability to stick with them) through yoga and meditation? This dynamic duo can loosen your mind, lower your stress level, reduce your risk of depression or anxiety, and boost your confidence. The list of benefits could fill a full-length book.You can learn more through Yoga Journal.

If you are struggling to stick to your New Year’s resolution, try incorporating yoga and meditation into your daily life. This will increase your chances of leading a consistently healthy lifestyle.

Follow these five tips to get started:

1. Study The Craft 

Before taking part in a meditation or yoga class, learn more about the crafts online. It’s important to understand the background and techniques involved. Meditation has a fascinating history in the Buddhist religion, while yoga is rooted in both Buddhism and Hinduism. Both crafts are connected through their focus on inner spirit and their ability to calm participants. If you can respect the history associated with the practices, you’ll be more apt to benefit from them.

2. Join Classes

While you can do both yoga and meditation in the comfort of your own home, working with a professional instructor can be a rewarding experience. You can learn more about the average cost of yoga classes through Cost Helper Fitness. Meditation classes are generally comparable in price, and are often offered at the same facility.

Schedule your classes on days when you have a tendency to feel stressed. For example, if you have a busy afternoon on Mondays and Wednesdays, schedule your classes for Monday and Wednesday mornings. This way, you’ll get the most bang for your buck.

If you absolutely can’t take classes in-person, research techniques that you can use at home. Visual Mediation shares seven meditation methods that you can practice alone, while Greatist has a fifteen minute morning yoga session that will rock your world.

3. Bring Friends

You can either bring existing friends to yoga and meditation sessions, or you can make new friends of your own. Do You Yoga outlines five reasons why yogis make amazing friends. These reasons include compassion, admiration, and persistence – all skills that will help you make healthy habits permanent behavior.

As you meet new friends, you’ll notice your confidence and social skills improving. If you’ve had trouble making friends in the past, yoga classes can be the solution that you’ve been waiting to find. You’ll rarely meet regulars that aren’t willing to chat.

4. Feel The Change

If you schedule your classes on the right days, and stick with them, you’ll quickly begin to recognize changes in your daily life. Your body will feel stronger, your mind will seem sharper, and you’ll be more confident in yourself.

If you suffer from overwhelming stress or anxiety, you’ll notice those frustrating emotions slip away. While yoga and meditation won’t completely cure you, they will ensure that you stick to healthier mental and physical habits – such as a healthy diet and exercise.

5. Practice Healthy Habits

Once you begin to feel the chances associated with yoga and meditation, start incorporating healthy habits back into your lifestyle. Yoga is already a smart exercise choice. You can add cardio and muscle training to create a well-rounded workout session. Partner this exercise with nutritious foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grain.

If sticking to healthy habits seems easier this time around, there’s a reason. Regular yoga and meditation sessions can change the way you see the world. Junk food and vices will no longer feel as important as your mental and physical health – two things that truly go hand-in-hand.

Through yoga, meditation, and healthy choices, you’ll strengthen your resolve and accomplish your New Year’s resolution in 2017.

Big thank you to Guest Writer: Paige Johnson