A Radical Approach to the New Year

It’s January. The holidays are over, the decorations are packed away, and the year ahead feels like a blank slate. For many of us, this is the time to craft lists of resolutions: exercise more, eat better, save money, be more productive. The promise of a “new year, new me” is everywhere. But let’s pause for a moment. Why do we feel this pressure to start over? Why is there this collective need to reinvent ourselves, as if who we already are isn’t enough?

At Power Yoga Austria, we want to challenge the notion of New Year’s resolutions. Not because they’re inherently bad, but because they can often lead to burnout, self-criticism, and a sense of failure when life doesn’t go exactly as planned. So what if we approached January differently? What if we stepped into the new year with curiosity instead of pressure, with self-compassion instead of self-criticism?

The Problem with Resolutions

Resolutions often come from a place of “not enough.” We resolve to lose weight because we feel we aren’t thin enough. We commit to productivity hacks because we believe we aren’t achieving enough. We aim to be kinder, calmer, or more disciplined because we feel we aren’t good enough as we are. However, this mindset sets us up for disappointment. Life is unpredictable. Goals get derailed. And when they do, we’re left feeling worse than before. This isn’t to say goals are bad. Goals can be motivating and inspiring. But resolutions tied to our worth or sense of self rarely bring lasting change.

A Different Kind of January

What if this January, we let go of resolutions entirely? Instead of chasing after change, we could focus on what’s already working in our lives. Instead of measuring progress in milestones, we could celebrate the simple act of showing up. Yoga offers a beautiful parallel here. It teaches us to embrace where we are today—whether we feel strong and balanced or tired and shaky. Every time we come to the mat, we practice meeting ourselves without judgment. We learn to breathe through challenges, find stillness in movement, and accept the ebb and flow of our energy. This January, let’s take that same approach off the mat and into our daily lives.

What Might This Look Like?

• Focus on consistency, not perfection. It’s not about practicing yoga every day; it’s about practicing regularly enough that it becomes a part of your life.
• Honor small victories. Whether it’s taking five deep breaths in the morning, drinking water before your coffee, or making it to one yoga class a week—celebrate what you’re doing instead of worrying about what you’re not.
• Be present in the moment. Resolutions often pull us into the future, making us feel like happiness is always just out of reach. Presence reminds us that peace is available now, in this breath, in this moment.

Let Go to Move Forward

By letting go of rigid resolutions, we create space for something more authentic. We allow ourselves to move with intention rather than pressure. We cultivate habits that support us instead of striving for perfection. And most importantly, we begin to trust that who we are—right here, right now—is enough. So this January, let’s ditch the resolutions. Let’s choose presence over perfection, self-compassion over criticism, and the joy of simply showing up over the pressure to always be doing more.

We’ll meet you on the mat, just as you are,

Karin & Team