Balancing Repetition and Novelty

Same Same
but Different

Two years ago, we embraced studio life with the hope of bringing some consistency into our weekly schedule. There is a real comfort in creating rhythms and building patterns that give our days structure and flow. But one of the surprises along the way has been realizing how easy it is to become caught in the routines - rushing through the motions, repeating the same actions without fully savoring the moments.

Repetition is something that shows up in all of our lives, often without us even noticing. Take our mornings, for example. We wake up before our kids, share a cup of black tea and move through familiar steps of preparing ourselves and our kids then biking to the studio.

It is a pattern so familiar that we even bike the same streets every single day.

That is, until we make the conscious choice to do something different.

In yoga, we talk about balance - between effort and ease, strength and flexibility, breath and movement. But there is another balance that plays an important role in both life and practice: repetition and novelty.

The beauty of this balance is that our body and mind crave both - we even need both. Repetition builds a strong foundation, helping us to refine skills, deepen the great and connect more fully to our bodies. It is through the repetition of poses and sequences that we can measure change, notice subtle shifts and find stability.

But novelty is essential. It keeps things fresh, challenges us to grow and invited us to stay open to new possibilities. Some days, we crave the comfort of a familiar Sun Salutation, while other days we look for something different - a new pose, a different style of yoga or even a new teacher.

Both repetition and novelty have value.

So when the bike path became auto-driven, we took a different route - introducing novelty. It was a tiny change, but is shifted the energy of the day. Reminding us that novelty does not need to be grand. Sometimes it is as simple a making a micro-adjustment.

Where is your practice calling you?

Coming back to poses, sequences and breath techniques creates consistency, allowing you to:

*** build stability and strength
*** refine your alignment
*** deepen the mind-body connection
*** cultivate awareness

Whereas, trying new poses, experimenting with new styles of yoga or exploring new techniques can:

*** challenge your body
*** engage your mind
*** encourage growth
*** awaken curiosity

Probably best is to take a little bit of this (repetition) and a little bit of that (novelty). If you are looking to introduce a little more novelty into your practice you can check out our upcoming & ongoing workshops and events or simply try a new style of practice. Or if repetition is what your practice needs right now, stay consistent with your favorite weekly classes and teachers right in the heart of Basel City Center, letting the rhythm of your practice bring balance and stability to your day.

Either way, we are here for you.