The people who teach yoga have a lot of things they want students to know before enrolling in their classes. However, they don’t always mention those things. It’s possible that you’ve just just met, it’s possible that they don’t want you to feel like you’re being judged, or it’s possible that both of those things are true.
Our Guru is going to share with you the top five things that every yoga instructor wants you to know so that when you step onto your mat, you can do so with a feeling of self-assurance and be fully prepared to enjoy your practice.
It’s not about getting your toes to the floor.
The degree of a person’s flexibility, strength, and mobility will vary from person to person based on a number of factors, one of which is the amount of time and amount of practice they put in.
However, the ‘objective’ of yoga is not required to transform in an aesthetic sense. Rather, the purpose of yoga is to provide you with the time and space to be still, to make contact with your breath, and to establish bodily awareness.
Yoga is not about being able to touch your toes or doing a handstand; rather, it is a journey to find a connection within your own body and mind.
If you’re sweaty, it’s none of our business.
In the course of the lesson, you may find that an instructor approaches you personally to provide you with individualized, hands-on instruction. It’s possible that the fact that you’re sweating will make you feel self-conscious. However, when you are tense, your body responds by reacting, which can turn an otherwise pleasant event, such as receiving assistance, into something that is slightly unpleasant.
Don’t worry about it though, because the teachers couldn’t care less. They have gotten used to it. They are eager to be of assistance, and if you have agreed to allow them to do so, you should take use of their knowledge and experience as it relates to your practice at this very time.
Likewise, we have a hard time with our practice.
If you look at your yoga teacher, you could get the impression that they are gods who can move through positions with ease. But it is not the case at all.
The difficulty of your practice will continue to increase both physically and mentally regardless of how far you get, therefore the effort will never go away. It is a trip that never comes to an end, and there are always new realms to investigate.
Different persons will appear different in different poses.
Body compositions, bone structures, and forms are all unique to each individual person. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that different people will appear to have very diverse results while trying out various yoga positions.
Fortunately, there is no single “correct” way to “look” when you are holding a yoga pose. It doesn’t have to ‘look’ like something you’d see on Instagram as long as you’re working within your body’s capabilities and adhering to the guidelines that an expert has given you.
Let rid of the idea that you have to appear a specific way and instead concentrate on how the feedback and instruction the teacher is giving you makes you feel.
Under no circumstances should you force yourself to continue working.
In the off chance that it isn’t obvious, we’ll say it again: NEVER, EVER WORK THROUGH PAIN. You are the only person who can truly understand how a certain yoga practice makes your body feel. You alone know how far you are capable of going, how far you can push yourself, and when it is time to call it quits.
Even if a teacher is prompting something in a specific way, if it does not seem right, there is a good chance that it is not correct. Keep yourself safe, and remember to always have fun with your practice!