12 Ways to Live a Yogic Lifestyle Starting Now!

*Updated August 2024

Living a yogic lifestyle is key to a happy, healthy, and abundant life! If you’re ready to create authentic change and live a life that is more closely aligned to your core values, keep reading!

And, you don’t have to be a yogi to enjoy the benefits of a yogic lifestyle. A yogic lifestyle is a way of being in the world that brings balance, health, happiness, and clarity into your life. So, if you want to take your life to the next level, a yogic lifestyle just might be the answer!

What Does Yogic Lifestyle Mean?

The term yoga translates to creating union. This concept of creating union is based on the belief that our lives are an energetic and dynamic combination of body, mind, and spirit. Therefore, yogis make daily lifestyle choices, both physical and emotional, that cultivate inner peace, or sattva. Sattva is a sanskrit word that means purity, harmony, and balance.

The Tradition

Well known for its postures, or asanas, yoga challenges you to create balance, strength, and flexibility. However, the goal of a yogic lifestyle has shifted in modern times. Originally, it was to expand spiritual energy using the breath and mental focus.

The practice of yoga began over 5,000 years ago in Northern India. And, according to the government of India website, “As per Yogic scriptures the practice of Yoga leads to the union of individual consciousness with that of the Universal Consciousness, indicating a perfect harmony between the mind and body, Man & Nature.”

12 Ways to Live a Yogic Lifestyle Starting Now!

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12 Ways to Live a Yogic Lifestyle

Living a yogic lifestyle will help you to nurture a healthy body, a focused mind, and a compassionate heart. Yoga strengthens your connection to self, and therefore, encourages you in your pursuit of truth, love, and spiritual knowledge. And, a yogic lifestyle will help you become more resilient, and as a result, better equipped to overcome challenges.

1. Find a Style of Yoga You Love!

Yoga class is a sacred space where you can go inward and connect to self in a compassionate and nonjudgmental way. And, because yoga is a mind-body practice, it benefits both your physical and mental health on so many levels. There are different types of yoga for you to choose from depending on your wellness goals and physical needs.

Each of these yogic practices focuses on different elements of breath, meditation, and posture. And, people usually prefer one type over the others. So, find the style of yoga that is perfect for you! Here are 9 main styles of yoga: (Click here to learn more about each one.)

• Anusara
• Hatha Yoga
• Vinyasa
• Power Yoga
• Bikram Yoga
• Restorative Yoga
• Kundalini Yoga
• Ashtanga
• Iyengar

2. Stretch

If you want to feel your best, wake up every morning and stretch. Nothing feels better than lengthening tight muscles to relieve the stiffness in your body after a night’s sleep. Stretching first thing in the morning can also help release stored up tension from the night before. And, it promotes increased blood flow to prepare you for the busy day ahead. If you choose to stretch at night, you will feel more relaxed so you can enjoy a good night’s sleep.

One of the key components of stretching is the breath. Focusing on the breath, with deep inhales and exhales, will relieve stress and have a wonderful calming effect on you. Other beneficial effects of a getting a good stretch are:

• increased blood flow to muscles and brain
• more energy
• better flexibility
• lower stress
• faster recovery from injury

3. Nutrient Rich Diet

If you want to live a yogic lifestyle, how you treat your body matters. Incorporating nutritious, natural foods into your day is a wonderful way to practice mindful eating and boost your vitamin and antioxidant intake. So, be sure that the foods you ingest are loaded with nutrients to ensure an active, healthy lifestyle. Here are some unique ideas to get you started!

Coconut oil: This versatile oil improves heart health by increasing the HDL cholesterol levels. It also promotes weight loss, improves digestion, and boosts immunity, among other wonderful health benefits. 

Chia seeds: These chia seeds are packed with essential vitamins, minerals, fiber, protein, and omega-3 fatty acids. 

Berries: Berries are delicious, have lots of fiber, and are the perfect low-calorie snack. Blackberries, in particular, are a great source of vitamin E which fights disease and builds muscle strength. 

Leafy greens: Greens are essential to any healthy diet. They are loaded with powerful antioxidants, phyto-nutrients, fiber, amino acids, vitamins and minerals.

Food and Yoga Class

When planning to take a yoga class, be mindful about your food choices, especially if it’s a hot yoga class. Eat healthy, nutritious foods that give you energy and enhance your practice.

Also, be sure to eat several hours before class, and be mindful to stay away from processed foods. They can cause bloating and fatigue and prevent you from having a positive experience.

Vitamins and Supplements

You may not be getting all of the nutrients you need in the right doses through diet alone. So, as you age, you may want to add some key supplements to complement your diet. However, knowing which vitamins or supplements to take can be confusing and overwhelming. But, I have you covered! Click here to create a personalized supplement routine. (Please always consult your doctor for professional advice.)

Most women will also benefit from a probiotic specifically designed for vaginal and gut health. So, consider adding a high-quality, all-natural, vegan probiotic to your wellness routine. It is something that I thank myself for everyday! You can get read more about my probiotic journey here. (Say goodbye to bloating!)

Click here now to start your own Routine Probiotic journey! (Use discount code: GGG at checkout for 20% off today!)

4. Hydrate

One easy, effective way to live a yogic lifestyle is to drink lots of water! So, get into the habit of drinking a glass of water first thing in the morning. Drinking water on an empty stomach clears your body of toxins and keeps your skin healthy and glowing. Warm water, in particular, can stop premature aging by repairing skin cells and supporting your digestive system.

And, by drinking enough water, you create more oxygenated blood. This stimulates the growth of red blood cells and gives you more energy. Staying hydrated also increases your metabolic rate which allows your body to burn calories more quickly. (If you’re not sure how much water you should be drinking per day, you can calculate it here.)

Don’t forget to add lemon for additional health benefits like preventing kidney stones, boosting immunity, and supporting skin health.

5. Consider a Sattvic Diet

Along with making healthy food choices, I’m mindful of eating a plant-based, or sattvic, diet. Therefore, I design my meals around foods that are fresh, seasonal, and homemade.

Sattvic foods are organic, minimally processed, in season, and locally-grown. For instance, vegetables, fruits, seeds, nuts, legumes, and whole grains, along with your area’s local crops are all wonderful choices. One easy way to shift to a sattvic diet is to visit your local farmer’s market and choose foods based on the available selection.

Plant-based foods provide your body with energy directly from the sun. And, as you practice a yogic lifestyle, and deepen your spiritual life, you will naturally lean toward a more vegetarian or vegan diet for this reason. The overall idea is that pure foods bring inner peace to the body and inspire spiritual progress. Through Sattvic living, you will bring balance, peace, and harmony to your life.

6. Meditate

Meditation reduces stress, nurtures a connection to self, and boosts your mood. And, it’s most beneficial when practiced daily. Declutter the Mind suggests, “To get the most out of your meditation practice, you should be aiming to meditate at least once a day.”

Keep in mind that meditation doesn’t have to be a lengthy or detailed practice. Studies have actually shown that as little as five minutes each day can be beneficial. It’s also well worth the effort! Research shows that people who meditate regularly have better preserved brains as compared to those never meditated.

In one particular study, participants who had been meditating for an average of 20 years actually had more grey matter volume throughout the brain as compared to younger meditators. So, meditation can actually keep you younger, longer!

Also, meditation is beneficial for the entire brain, not just localized areas. The author of the study, Florian Kurth, stated, “Instead, what we actually observed was a widespread effect of meditation that encompassed regions throughout the entire brain.”

Meditation boasts countless other benefits as well and is a highly effective tool you can use to make positive life changes. (Click here to learn more about starting a meditation practice.)

Meditation can also:

• increase your sense of well-being
• improve focus
• make you more creative
• reduce stress and anxiety
• may help fight against addiction
• promote emotional health
• enhance self-awareness
• boost self-acceptance

7. Create Space

Your surroundings have a strong effect on the way you feel, whether you realize it or not. That’s why it’s important to have a soothing area, free from clutter, where you can practice meditation or yoga without distractions from the outside world.

In the same way an organized office can motivate you to be more productive, your meditation or yoga area should remind you of your intention to gain mental clarity and peace through your practice. Here are some helpful ideas to create the perfect Zen space.

• Choose a special area of your home. Your special area will most likely be your favorite room. But, it can even be a patio or backyard garden. Get creative!
• Smudge the meditation space to purify the air. Personally, I’m ultra sensitive to the energy around me, and we all are to some extent. So, invest in a smudging kit and clear any negative vibes that may be trapped in the room.
• Bring in spiritual décor. You want to create a beautiful space, but don’t go overboard. Choose a few pieces that create a calming effect in the room. Too much clutter can be distraction, so keep it spacious and open. Also, pick some flowers or bring in a plant. Nature is always a beneficial element in any room.

8. Breathe

Mindful breathing is crucial to any self care routine. When you exhale longer than you inhale, the body immediately receives a message that it can relax. As a result, your heart rate slows, your blood pressure goes down, and you feel a greater sense of peace and calm. Meditation takes you out of the fight or flight response mode which may be your default way of handling stress.

Therefore, breath is key to a yogic lifestyle. Breathing is an automatic and instinctual function, however, you have full control over it. Anytime you feel stress, overwhelm, or anxiety, simply return to your breath. This will always calm your body and mind and bring you back to center.

Kundalini yoga is a style of yoga that focuses on the breath. This practice uses breathing techniques to harness the energy inside you. Through meditation, chanting, and singing, Kundalini yoga promotes stillness and self-awareness. And, this cultivates inner peace, increases self control, and supports mindfulness.

9. Practice Compassion

Living a yogic lifestyle means that you are kind to all living creatures. This principal is from the Ashtanga tradition. According to The Yogic Encyclopedia, Ashtanga Yoga, which literally means “eight-limbed yoga”, is a system outlined in the yoga sutras attributed to the ancient sage Patanjali.

The first limb along this path is the yamas (or the restraints that yogis are meant to adhere to), the first of which is ahimsa, non-violence or harmlessness. The underlying tenet is that one must not wish harm on any living creature. Although this cannot always be practiced literally in the normal course of life, having compassion for all living creatures is a wonderful expression of living a yogic lifestyle.

Do I Have to be a Vegetarian?

Many yogis are vegetarians or vegans, like me. However, lots of people who live a yogic lifestyle eat meat. And, they still receive all of the wonderful benefits of this practice. However, as you embrace a yogic lifestyle, you may discover that you naturally begin to increase your intake of leafy greens, fruits, and vegetables.

10. Be Truthful

Being honest with yourself and other people is an essential part of living a yogic lifestyle. And, it’s an important step in your spiritual journey as well. When you live a yogic lifestyle you will be inspired to embrace the truth in everything. So, try your best not to lie to others, even when it might be the easiest way out of an uncomfortable situation.

Even more importantly, don’t lie to yourself! This can be difficult, especially when the truth, or the reality of your life, is painful. But, have courage; you can do this. Although, keep in mind that if you’re not living a life aligned to your personal truth, it can take time to unravel what you’ve created. So, be patient if things start falling apart. This is life’s way of realigning things to match your new, higher vibrational frequency.

11. Be Mindful

The practice of mindfulness is central to living a yogic lifestyle. According to Mindful.org, “Mindfulness is the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are, and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us.”

The goal of mindfulness is to stay fully present in all that you do. By living mindfully, you deepen the quality of every interaction, no matter how small. As a result, the quality of your life will improve and new opportunities will open up to you. The key is to learn how to quiet the mind and put your full attention on whatever is happening in the moment.

Eckart Tolle, bestselling author of The Power of Now, can provide wonderful insight into the practice of mindfulness, and can teach you how to cultivate it in your own life. If you haven’t already read it, I highly suggest this bestselling book as a way forward on your spiritual path.

12. Connect to Self

When you truly live a yogic lifestyle, you know that your connection to self is the foundation of a happy, healthy life. Acquiring a deep inner knowing is one of the greatest of all spiritual practices. In this way, you learn to trust your own innate wisdom. And, when you are grounded in your personal truth, you will naturally become a more compassionate, grateful, and altruistic human being.

As a result, you will stop assigning blame to other people, or the outside world, for your life circumstances. And, will no longer need to seek advice, or look to others for validation and acceptance. This shift in thinking will strengthen your self confidence and boost your self-esteem, while allowing you to create an authentic life that’s perfect for you!

If you are struggling with low self-esteem or think you may have a codependent personality, here are some articles that may useful:

• 3 Life Skills Codependents and Empaths Need for a Happy, Healthy Life
• 3 Ways to Learn How to Trust Your Feelings as a Recovering Codependent
• 5 Ways to Free Yourself from Codependency and Live an Empowered Life
• 5 Ways to Set Healthy Boundaries that Work and Thrive in Relationships

Embrace Your Inner Yogi

Yoga is a journey back to self. At its core, the goal of the physical aspect of yoga (asana) is not necessarily to make you master every pose, but to use the poses (asanas), techniques, and sequences to release toxins and harmful elements that pollute your spiritual life.

By living a yogic lifestyle, you will ultimately be able to break free from negative, egoic-based, thought patterns. Quieting the repetitive voice in your head and relaxing into self is wonderful aspect of living a yogic lifestyle. Attending yoga class or having a regular sadhana (daily home yoga practice) will help you maintain a calm, harmonious quality of life.

A yogic lifestyle also encourages a healthy diet, an organized, clean, happy home, and generous thoughts. And, most importantly, it creates the foundation for a beautiful, well-lived life!

What are some ways that you relax your body and mind and bring yourself back to center? Which of the benefits of living a yogic lifestyle appeals to you the most? Let’s get the conversation started below!

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Disclosure: Melissa Damiani is a participant in the Routine Probiotics Program an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to merchant, and the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking amazon.com. Although I only promote products that I love, use, and have confidence in, always do your own research before purchasing any product or service. Read my disclaimer here.