5 Non-Negotiables I Have as a Student of Yoga

One of the most humbling parts of practicing yoga is remembering that we are always students. No matter how many hours we’ve taught, how many trainings we’ve completed, or how familiar the poses feel, this practice continues to reveal new layers the more we show up for it.

Over the years, I’ve come to recognise a few principles that keep me aligned, grounded, and growing. These are the five non-negotiables I return to again and again — not because they’re rules, but because they help me stay connected to yoga in its truest form.

1. Stay Curious

Curiosity is the heart of lifelong learning. Even in the poses I’ve done thousands of times, there is always something new to notice — the way the breath lands, a subtle shift in alignment, an emotional response, or a moment of mental clarity.

Approaching each practice with an open mind helps me stay engaged rather than complacent. It also keeps me receptive to my teachers, my body, and the wisdom of the tradition itself.

2. Prioritize Consistency

Yoga is not a practice of perfection; it’s a practice of devotion.The most transformative shifts don’t come from long or intense sessions — they come from the commitment to show up regularly.

Some days that means a full-length class. Other days it’s ten minutes of breathwork, a few sun salutations, or simply sitting in stillness. What matters is that I keep the thread of practice alive.

Consistency cultivates discipline, resilience, and a deeper connection with myself.

3. Listen to My Body

Yoga invites presence, not performance. Honouring my body’s signals — its limits, its energy, its needs — helps me practice safely and sustainably.

Instead of pushing through discomfort or striving for what looks “advanced,” I focus on what feels true. Listening builds trust: trust in the body’s wisdom and trust in the practice to meet me where I am.

Being a student of yoga means respecting the messenger as much as the message.

4. Stay Connected to the Breath

The breath is what transforms movement into meditation. It guides pace, focus, stability, and softness. Without it, yoga becomes exercise — useful, perhaps, but disconnected from the deeper purpose.

Staying connected to my breath keeps me grounded in the present moment and supports me through both challenge and release. It reminds me that inner awareness matters more than outer form.

The breath is my anchor, no matter the practice.

5. Honour the Tradition

Yoga is more than postures. It is a holistic system that includes ethics, philosophy, breathwork, meditation, and self-study. The physical practice is just one doorway into a vast and meaningful tradition.

Honouring the roots of yoga — and the teachers and lineages that carry it forward — keeps me accountable, respectful, and humble.

Being a student means continually learning beyond the mat, engaging with the history, context, and teachings that shape this practice.

A Lifelong Path

These five non-negotiables guide me not just in my personal practice, but in the way I teach, parent, and move through the world. Yoga is a lifelong journey, and these reminders help me walk it with intention, integrity, and curiosity.

If you’re reading this, I’d love to know:What are your own non-negotiables as a student of yoga?

Share them — your reflections might be exactly what another yogi needs today.