Yoga & Journaling: A Perfect Pair for Self-Reflection & Growth

March 3, 2025

Even as a relatively new yoga practitioner, you’re likely to have experienced a few magic moments on the mat. Try and remember them as you might, most of us move from a class to busy everyday lives.

Journaling allows you to hold on to those all-important moments, encouraging mindfulness, self-awareness, and emotional balance.

Here’s how to get started.

What Journaling Can Bring to Your Yoga Practice

Ask anyone who is new to yoga, what this practice is all about, and they’ll likely mention performing poses or moving from one asana to another. But a full yoga practice encompasses more than movement.

As experienced practitioners will tell you, the benefits of yoga multiply when you add mindfulness and meditation to your practice. Journaling is a great way to help you on your path of self-reflection.

Journaling is nothing other than writing down your feelings and thoughts to help you understand those emotions more clearly and follow trains of thought with less interruption. Experts believe that regular journaling can help you deal with stress and anxiety, supporting your overall mental health.

When you combine journaling with your yoga practice you’re building a bridge between movement and reflection. A journal allows you to keep track of those fleeting thoughts that are easily lost when you roll up your mat. You’ll also be able to hold on to your intentions set for your practice and review them as you develop your yoga experience.

How to Start Yoga Journaling?

There are no hard and fast rules to yoga journaling. Most practitioners would say that one day, they simply decided to write down their thoughts following their practice and stuck with it.

Think about your post-yoga routine. Perhaps you’re leaving Uptown Yoga to meet with a friend for a coffee? Why not schedule your meeting ten minutes later and record your thoughts and emotions following your practice as you settle in with your beverage?

You can journal as much or as little as you like. In fact, you may notice that the words are pouring out of you on some days, while just a few sentences will feel like a chore on others.

As you develop a journaling routine, you’re likely to find it easier to write with intention and be honest with yourself. Journaling allows you to keep track of how your practice develops, and many people find that it makes it easier to see just how far you’ve come.

It’s not unusual for thoughts to clear and emotions to become more manageable as you write them down. As a result, you benefit from greater self-awareness, which can lead to increased mental focus and clarity.

Should You Journal Before or After Practicing Yoga?

We said there are no hard and fast rules to combining yoga and journaling, but most people prefer to journal after a yoga class or after their own practice.

When you come off your mat, your practice is still very present in your mind. However, as soon as you return to daily chores or family life, you may start forgetting the greatest and the most challenging moments of the past hour or so. Journaling allows you to hold on to them.

Journaling doesn’t need to be an all-consuming chore. Set aside a few minutes during the day, ideally right after your practice, and start enjoying greater clarity and a stronger connection between your yoga practice and your life.

You may also find that you’re feeling inspired by reviewing your thoughts before your next practice.

Can You Combine Any Style of Yoga and Journaling?

You can combine any yoga class with journaling, but you may find that practices aimed at promoting self-awareness and stress relief work better than more physical styles of yoga.

Yin yoga and slow flow classes are some of the best options for integrating yoga and journaling. If you’re unsure where to start, consider creating a few prompts that help ease you into a routine.

Those prompts could include recording your intention for today’s practice and how you felt at the end of the session compared to the beginning. Perhaps you noticed elements that were particularly challenging, whether they’re asanas or elements like breathwork and meditation.

As your connection to your practice grows, you’ll notice that your commitment is also increasing and you discover new sides of yoga.

Your Next Step

It doesn’t really matter whether you choose to buy a beautifully bound journal or start recording your thoughts on the back of a napkin.

Book an Uptown Yoga class of your choice today and start recording your thoughts and emotions afterwards. You could even make a voice note, but most journalers find that the physical act of writing is critical to experiencing clarity as a reward.

Would you like to have some help with journaling prompts? Don’t hesitate to ask our team. We’re always happy to help you get more out of your practice.