It's easy for me to promote the positive aspects of journalling, as I'm also a writer and editor. Often, the flow of words to a page just feels more intimate and insightful, especially in journal form, as I don't share the contents of my journal with anyone.
And, unlike many people, I usually burn a journal when I've completed one. I feel the steps through that journey are complete, and I'm ready to move on. It's cathartic to toss it on my compost pile and light a match!
But I don't burn my yoga journal. I feel the progress outlined on those pages is especially helpful to understanding what I experience on and off the mat. What? A yoga journal? What is that? It's a wonderful way to document your practice in a way that's most meaningful to you. You can start with the basics, e.g. -Date -Time of practice -What you ate/drank in the past 24 hours (this can really impact your movement) -Type of sequence and length Then you can expand your observations, e.g.
-How you feel before/after practice -A particular focus, such as a pose, an emotion, a breath count, and so on -What you think you need to work on -Your state of mind after practice -If you've reached a particular milestone, such as a new pose, a visualization, a more profound relaxation, a deeper meditative state
-And oodles of other variables important to you Now, not everyone is a fan of "navel-gazing" about practice--some people just want to get on and off the mat. And that's fine. It's interesting to try keeping a journal for 30 days, though, and see what happens when you read through it after a period of time. Like many things in life, sometimes we need proof of progress to affirm our behaviors. Not sure where to start? Here are some tips from the Center for Journal Therapy.