Some Thoughts on Your Yoga Practice
- Yoga is not a competitive sport! Try to abandon the competitive mindset that permeates so much of modern life – and this includes being competitive with yourself, or the self you think you "should" be. How you approach your yoga is crucial to how you will feel when you leave class.
- Practice compassion toward yourself. Treat yourself with as much compassion as you would treat the person you love most. Rest whenever you would like – you never need to "keep up" with the rest of the class. Rest is one of the most important poses in yoga! As you progress, you will work toward finding your own balance of effort and surrender.
- The physical poses are a means to an end, not the end itself. The idea is to feel good – physically, mentally, and spiritually. The poses are merely a path to help you achieve this. In other words, it's not about using your body to get into the poses. It's about using the poses to get into your body.
- Your yoga teacher is there to help you practice in a way that is safe and enjoyable and that will offer you the most benefit. All our teachers are highly trained and knowledgeable and love to talk about yoga (really, really love to talk about yoga!), so please ask any and all questions you may have.
- It is important to remember to approach your practice with kindness toward yourself and a good sense of humor. Taking time to practice yoga is not only a gift to yourself, it is a gift to everyone you encounter in your life!
More information for yoga beginners can be found on these pages: