I love it when new potential students try three classes before deciding to practice with me. Kaiut Yoga is unlike anything else, and that’s exactly why they’ll enjoy it. It may take some time to experience its depth fully, but once they do, it just clicks.
We begin to feel freedom in our joints, ease in our bodies, and calm in our minds— and suddenly, we can’t imagine life without it. I wasn’t always here, but now? I wouldn’t trade it for anything! At first, it was hard to grasp the idea that our joints enjoy pressure; after seven years of practice, it makes sense. Stick with it, and you might fall in love, too.
I recently chatted with a student who has been practicing with me for nearly five years. I asked him to share his thoughts. He said, “It has become something I look forward to each week, especially after noticing improvements in my body's mobility and blood circulation. I feel energized after every class.”
When I reflected on these experiences, I realized that these life improvements occurred over 5 to 7 years of practice while we were aging. We want to focus on the long game in the coming year. According to the Urban Dictionary, "The long game is having a long-term plan or goals or taking actions now that prepare you for the future. The long game involves taking the necessary steps today to set yourself up for long-term success."
We don’t want to sacrifice long-term gains for short-term gratification. Cultivating a consistent practice, pushing through slumps, and continually fostering a positive approach are all vital components of long-term practice. Here are five insights from research regarding consistency.
Research shows that consistency is one of the most important factors in achieving goals, especially after taking the first steps. Here are some key findings:
The Compound Effect – Small, repeated actions lead to significant long-term results. Research in psychology and habit formation (e.g., Atomic Habits by James Clear) shows that success often comes from small, consistent improvements rather than large, one-time efforts.
Neuroscience of Habits – The brain strengthens neural pathways through repetition. The more often you engage in an action, the easier and more automatic it becomes over time (Hebbian learning).
Goal-Setting Theory – Research by Edwin Locke and Gary Latham shows that setting clear, specific goals, combined with consistent effort, leads to greater achievement, especially when accompanied by feedback and accountability.
Motivation Follows Action – Research indicates that motivation frequently grows after taking action, rather than before. Consistency creates momentum, making it simpler to keep pursuing a goal.
Resilience & Adaptation – Regularly evaluating progress and adjusting strategies while sustaining continuous effort increases the likelihood of long-term success. Research on self-regulation and grit (e.g., Angela Duckworth’s studies) highlights the importance of persistence in reaching goals.
If you’re trying something new to achieve a goal, consistency enables you to collect meaningful data, refine your approach, and develop the habits necessary for long-term success.
Returning to my student, this was not someone who practiced every day. This student, who attended one or two classes sporadically for several months, eventually began practicing one to three days each week. While we could benefit from practicing more, what truly matters is our consistency. Whether you practice once a week or every day, I want to support your journey toward consistency. I am excited that you have chosen to join me for classes this year.
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