The beginning of a yoga journey is a lovely and memorable period. You start to uncover and comprehend your numerous layers so you may find your own rhythm and dance to it. In theory, it’s preferable to approach this period of time with open arms, an open mind, and an open heart, but as grownups, we occasionally forget the joy of being a beginner. Here is what I would say to every new yogi if I could sit down and have a conversation with them.
1. You don’t get to be a beginner forever
This is your opportunity to enjoy being a complete rookie! Your time at the beginner stage is limited because the more you practice, the more experience you acquire. I am aware that if I could start my yoga journey over, I would have been much more present and at ease with myself.
2. Stop to Compare yourself with other people in the room.
Each of us is drawn to yoga for a different reason. When you practice, you are on your mat, in your own experience, and in your body. Comparing yourself to others and evaluating your expression of a stance is different from looking up to see if you’re in the appropriate pose. Instead, pay attention to the instructor, examine your posture, locate your breath, and then immerse yourself in your own experience.
3. The most crucial element of yoga is your breath.
You’ve lost the yoga if you exerted too much effort to achieve a pose and your breathing is limited. It’s best to take a step back, re-establish a steady breath flow, and then move forward with that awareness and connection.
4. Posing in a pretzel is not a sign of an experienced yogi.
If being flexible were the only thing that mattered, then kids would be considered expert yogis! I can assure you that in yoga, the degree of flexibility does not reflect your level of expertise. Yes, mastering a difficult pose can take years of focused practice, but if the mind wanders, the breath becomes ragged, or the ego takes over to bring you there, the yoga is lost. Yoga is about finding inner unity, which can occur in any position, from cross-legged sitting to the Scorpion pose.
5. The physical body has a large capacity to retain emotional energy.
The physical body is an excellent place to hold emotional tension, especially in the hips and shoulders. It can occasionally feel really disconcerting to start releasing and opening up such areas. It’s okay if you feel down, irate, restless, or like crying after class. Don’t repress such emotions; instead, allow them to exist before letting them go to make room for love and light.
6. Backbends can really open the heart.
Since we spend the majority of our waking hours moving forward while we walk, drive, sit at workplaces, eat, and watch TV, back-bending poses in yoga can initially feel weird. When we bend back, it might make us feel exposed and vulnerable since when we lean forward, the heart space is also energetically protected. By examining the poses as a technique to widen the heart, I was able to overcome a significant reluctance to backbends. As a result, a tonne of love that originated within me entered my life and utterly transformed it.
7. Embrace who you are.
Fact. Rock it because you’re the only person on the earth who gets to be you! Yoga is an adventure that teaches you more about your body, heart, and mind. Discover who you are and have the guts to be your real, magnificent, one-of-a-kind self in front of the world.
8. Yoga is 99% practice and 1% theory.
Yoga is 1% theory and 99% practice, as the great Pattabhi Jois famously said. That means to spread out the mat, practice, and then spread it out once more the following day. Regular practice will have a hugely significant impact on your life, even if it is only for a short period of time.
9. You should always schedule time for Savasana.
People frequently miss Savasana because they believe it is only a quick moment of relaxation at the conclusion of class, but it is actually a very significant pose. Your physical body and nervous system may unwind, revive, and recall all the magnificence you experienced while performing various asanas over the last 60 minutes or so. You would be omitting such a crucial step in the yoga practice if you skipped Savasana. So, even if it’s just for a few minutes, take a break after practice.
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