A girl walks into her first yoga class. She chooses a space toward the back of the room and unrolls her mat. All of her friends have been raving about the new studio,and she was excited to try it out for herself. As the instructor enters, she gets ready to begin. The first few basic poses are no problem for her. She is mildly athletic and begins to feel confident. Unfortunately, the instructor begins to add other poses that require more flexibility. She can’t remember the last time she was able to touch her toes. As she glances around the room, she doesn’t see anyone else having trouble. While she tries to develop telekinetic powers so that she’s able to move the floor closer to her fingertips, she notices that the class has moved on to another pose. By the time she’s switched he pose, it’s now time to move on again. She tries to keep up while wishing she had chosen a spot closer to the exit. This would prove to be her first and last yoga class.
Does this sound familiar? If so, it may help you to know that this type of situation happens to a large number of people. Yoga is often misleading because it appears to be all about spirituality combined with a little stretching. While this is somewhat true, it also involves an immense amount of dedication in order to improve. After witnessing firsthand the skill that is involved in becoming an expert, many simply give up. If you have tried yoga and feel like it may be out of your league, try changing your mindset and giving it another shot. Here are a few pieces of advice to consider before tossing away your yoga mat for good:
You’re Not as Bad as You Think
While it may be intimidating to see someone right next to you folding up like a pretzel, always keep in mind that everyone has to start somewhere. Even the most polished of yogis first had to learn downward-facing dog and tree poses. Before you get ahead of yourself, remember what yoga is at its core: yoga promotes healing and peace of mind, neither of which require you to become stressed or agitated. The girl next to you is focused on her breathing and the man in the front row is perfecting his poses – they are focusing inward. There is nothing to worry about aside from following the instructor to the best of your ability.
Just Breathe
It is no secret that some yoga poses are more difficult than others. If you are a beginner, there are bound to be a few poses that you are just not able to accomplish – and that’s okay! Even if you have taken your fair share of classes, certain positions are just harder to hold. If you ever come across a pose that you just cannot seem to master, just relax and breathe. Your breath is an essential part of yoga, and it will help you get in the right state of mind. If you just want to touch your toes or achieve a more complicated pose, do the best that you can and breathe through it. Every time you make an attempt, you bring yourself closer to your destination.
Practice at Home
You do not have to wait for your next class to practice. Working at home often gives people a leg up on what they hope to accomplish. After working by yourself, you prepare your body for what is to come. Practicing your poses daily will slowly improve your flexibility and help you advance at a faster rate than you would have otherwise. Both your body and your mind will feel the positive effects of a yoga routine that is performed daily rather than weekly. Though it may be cliché, “practice makes perfect” is a well-known phrase for a reason.
Different levels of yoga are available at Evolation Yoga Atlanta for every level of expertise. From beginners who aren’t familiar with what yoga means to the most advanced yogis who say “Namaste” instead of “Good-bye,” yoga is an all-inclusive practice that can be beneficial to anyone. If you find that you are struggling with poses and feel like giving up, all you need to do is take a deep breath, calm down and relax. Yoga can be an uplifting experience to anyone who embraces what it has to offer. Start from the beginning and work your way up – there is no need to be the best right away – yoga is a practice after all! Most of the fun of yoga comes along with the journey – explore your body, mind and soul with a regular yoga practice in Atlanta!