This article will discuss how to jump back into yoga after a long time.

If you're like me, you don't necessarily get out of the habit of going to yoga as often as you need to, simply because you just don't have the time. That's why you need to be mindful about how you use your time in class.

Are you taking this time to relax, or are you really trying to grow?

For some people, yoga is their entire life, and some people are just casual participants, and it's up to you to decide what's best for your goals.

So what do you do if you want to start going to yoga once or twice a week to loosen up and get your body moving but you need to ease your way back into it? Take a look at the helpful tips below.

1. Don't do it too soon

"The hardest thing about returning to your yoga practice is that you just don't know if you can do it!" explains Joy Luck Club Yoga Instructor Christy Henrikson. "It takes practice to learn how to come back to the mat after taking a break."

This is why it's important to ease back into yoga by taking small steps, doing a little bit each day, with enough rest and water.

2. Add more yoga to your routine

According to Jennifer Lanzetta, author of The Yoga Flow Bible, if you're ready to go back to yoga, but your schedule doesn't allow you to, you should try adding a little bit more yoga into your routine.

"Adding one yoga flow to your yoga practice doesn't have to take away from your other practices," she says. "This could be taking your power yoga class, joining a class of sun salutations, or a friend's birthday class.

Just make sure to schedule in time to do this kind of yoga."

3. Start with a new teacher

If you're new to yoga and you're worried about taking a class with a new teacher, don't worry. When I decided to take my first yoga class in over a year, I had two options: take the instructor-led class or the YOGA 101 class.

As a brand new participant, I chose the first option. I wasn't sure if I was ready to return to yoga, but it turned out that I was actually fine with new yoga, especially the YOGA 101 class, because I was able to follow the teacher and her instructions.

You might want to do the same!

4. No practice is a scary thing

"We usually hear that we need to practice yoga at least twice a week to see benefits," Joy Luck Club Yoga Instructor Christy Henrikson says.

"But when we practice daily, we break ourselves of these strict routines, and we put ourselves in a fearful place. Remember, we can't control the universe, so we can choose to take care of ourselves on a daily basis through the practice of yoga."

This can be a bit scary, but most yoga teachers, consider taking a class every day a little practice. It's something to be mindful of, but ultimately, a practice every day is a practice every day, and that's a practice in itself.

5. Start with a class that focuses on relaxation

"Striving to be calm, steady, and centered is a way to detox and renew," Joy Luck Club Yoga Instructor Christy Henrikson says. "Yoga practice helps us engage our bodies and mind at the moment.

Most yoga teachers will tell you to listen to your body and do what it asks of you. We all have a way that we need to be, and I would encourage you to take a deep breath, go with the flow, and just do what is right for you."

6. Take it slow

No one ever said yoga was going to be easy, and your first time back to yoga might just be the hardest class you ever take. If you're anything like me, this will cause you to try and push yourself too hard and stress out, so plan on taking a break between classes.

"Do a little yoga one day a week and rest the rest," adds Channing Free, founder of Pura Vida yoga, which teaches classes in private residences and retreats. "Your body and mind need rest and time to adjust and heal."

7. Practice what you learn in yoga classes

When I first tried yoga, I had never heard of something called savasana, which is a type of simple rest.

In yoga, you are supposed to rest and use your body and breath to connect to the universe, and since that's what I learned about in class, it's the part I enjoyed the most.

Try to incorporate these practices into your regular yoga practice, and then you'll notice a change in your body.

8. Love yourself

I've said this before, and I'll say it again: it's no coincidence that when you stop trying to be someone else and just love yourself, you find yourself in more fulfilling relationships.

In a world that is constantly trying to put us down, we need to be sure to love ourselves. It's a struggle for most of us, but it's the first step to removing toxicity from our lives. Remember that every day is a new day to be the person you want to be.

That's why, for me, yoga is a lifestyle.