I can't tell you how many times I've been asked what I do for a living and received the response, "Oh, I can't do yoga, I'm not flexible enough.'
Here's the thing. Yoga is not about the contorted body shapes you might see on Instagram where people are bending themselves into positions worthy of a Cirque De Soleil performer. It's not about standing on your head for hours, doing the splits or even touching your toes without needing to bend your knees. Yoga is about connecting mind, body and breath. It's about acceptance, non-comparison, non-judgement. We, as yoga teachers, want you to move mindfully, breathe fully and meet yourself wherever you are with compassion.
All that yoga requires is that you have a body and perhaps a bit of an open mind. You don't need fancy equipment or expensive yoga gear. You don't need a bendy body or a slim body. You just need you. And perhaps a yoga mat and clothes that allow you to move freely.
Yoga comes in many different styles and teachers vary wildly too. I always say to people who are new to yoga, if you don't like the first class you take, try again with someone else. Not every teacher will suit every person and not every style resonates with every student. I teach classes that are hugely different to each other - the more mentally challenging, very still yin style to the physically challenging, dynamic vinyasa flow style and all the in between. If you don't get on with my yin class, you might like the more active class. If you don't like me, please try another teacher! But don't give up on yoga completely after one class, I beg you. There will be a teacher and a style out there for you and, when you find them, you will be so grateful to yourself for not dismissing yoga after an hour's class with the wrong teacher for you.
My biggest tip for yoga, is to close your eyes whenever you can, if it feels ok to do so. If it makes you feel uncomfortable to close your eyes completely, I highly recommend a lowered gaze. This has two benefits: closed eyes stop you from looking around the room and seeing what everyone else is doing, leading you into comparison (almost always unfavourable to yourself) and it also allows you to bring yourself inwards and really feel the body and breath.
Secondly, I'd recommend you release any expectations - of yoga, of the postures and of your own capabilities and limitations. Yoga isn't a performance or a sport. It's a mind-body experience, which isn't to say it can't be strengthening or increase your flexibility. It's just not about being the strongest or the most bendy - you can compete with your neighbour in a different class but try to leave the ego and your sense of pride outside of the yoga studio. Not always easy, trust me, I know! But the best yoga students aren't necessarily the ones who can do the splits or master an arm balance. They are, however, the ones who accept their body for what it can and can't do on any given day. They're the ones who take a child's pose when everyone else is doing a balance because they know that's what their body needs from them that day. They're the ones who gracefully accept the limitations of their bodies and give themselves what they need instead of striving for more and pushing themselves physically.
Thirdly, allow yourself to enjoy it! Even if you struggle to do all the postures and have to take twenty child's poses, celebrate the fact that you turned up to a class and gave it a go. Don't expect to flow with everyone else and keep up with the sequences, particularly if you're in a more dynamic class. Focus on a slow breath in and out of the nose and move so it feels good in your body. Yoga teachers will offer a variety of options and modifications - take them! Know that your anatomy is probably very different to the person in front of you - different shaped hip sockets, different arm to leg ratios, different body proportions, etc. All these things and more can be why some people can easily touch their toes without bending their knees and others can just about reach their knees and that's as far as they go.
Ultimately, find a teacher you like. Focus on your breath. Try not to compare yourself to other people and approach your first class with an open mind. Everyone can do yoga, it's just finding the right class for you!
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