No matter how hard I’ve tried in the past, I’ve always struggled to find the focus necessary to really get into a yoga session. Don’t get me wrong – I’ve attended plenty of yoga classes and done some on my own at home, too – but while I’m capable of completing the poses and flows, I always feel like my mind is elsewhere.

That’s normal, of course. Yoga may involve both body and mind, but it doesn’t require perfection – just a willingness to take part in the practice with some kind of intention. However, your ability to focus can influence how much you take away from the practice, so I’m always on the hunt for new ways to help myself feel more present on the mat.

What I never expected was to find that focus in a pair of ankle weights. When I came across the concept of ankle-weighted yoga a few weeks ago, I was more interested in the potential strength benefits doing a practice with extra weight could offer. However, once I got on the mat, I quickly realised how beneficial that weight could be – and not just for my muscles.  

Ankle-weighted yoga is exactly what it says on the tin: yoga, with the addition of ankle weights. You can complete your own flow with weights if you’re used to practising on your own, but there are plenty of workouts available online if you need some inspiration.

Ankle weights are also easy to come by, too. There are plenty of available online, but I got my set from Sorbet Wellness, who sell them in two colourways (I opted for pistachio).

Once my weights had arrived, the last step of my preparation was finding the flow I was going to follow along with. I chose a 20-minute YouTube routine by yoga instructor Heather Elise (embedded below). All that was left was to get started. 

I was a little concerned about how challenging ankle-weighted yoga would be, but the weights didn’t make too much of a difference. Don’t get me wrong: I could feel the extra weight (especially during a series of bird dogs), but it wasn’t like I was fighting against gravity to keep my foot off the ground. 

Instead, it just felt like a prompt to really engage all my muscles – a reminder to tighten my glutes and get my core working.

My body felt like it was working harder, too. I definitely developed more of a sweat than I’m used to during yoga, and my legs felt a little bit more fatigued by the end. 

For the most part, however, the weights just required me to focus more on what I was doing – and this really helped me to get out of my head and into my body.

Instead of worrying about my to-do list or thinking about what I was going to have for dinner, I was forced to pay attention to the pressure of the weights and what form I needed to maintain to do the poses properly.

The flow lasted 20 minutes, but it certainly didn’t feel like it. By the end, both my body and mind felt better for the practice – and it set me up for a productive day. 

While I can only speak from a personal perspective, I think ankle-weighted yoga is a great option if you’re looking for a way to mix up your usual practice.

It’s not as intense as it sounds, and it offers the opportunity to work your muscles and pay increased attention to what’s going on in your body, which is something many of us struggle with in the age of smartphones and social media.

If one thing’s for sure, I’ll definitely be adding more ankle-weighted yoga into my workout routine – if only to enjoy a weekly moment of focus and bodily awareness. 

Images: Lauren Geall