We are all, as they say, creatures of habit.
Do you always set up your yoga mat in the same space in the room?
Do you always auto-tip your hand to your front foot in Trikonasana (triangle pose)?
Do you always put your feet at the same distance away from your hands in Adho Mukha Svanasana (downward dog)?
We change each day. Habits like this do not really serve us in the long run. The right choice for you yesterday may not be the appropriate one for you today. I encourage you to mix it up a bit and look at your practice with fresh eyes.
What about practicing near someone new and experiencing how his/her energetic efforts wake you up a bit?
Perhaps you should try using a block in Trikonasana and observe the possibilities that arise from elongating the bottom side waist and allowing for more activity in the supporting legs?
The downward dog alignment you have practiced for years? Maybe your alignment has changed. Get into your next one with the curiosity of a beginner and see if you make different choices to support your more experienced practice.
Your first yoga classes often are your most memorable because each one is jam-packed with discoveries. Over the years we can get stuck in our ways on the mat. A yoga practice can only become more advanced when you begin to notice your habits. Use the present moment to work with your body and mind as they are, not as they have been.
- TaraMarie