I have been practicing Yoga for sometime now. I have changed my instructors a couple of times, not by choice but by chance. Although each of my instructor has a different perspective of Yoga, the process for me has been a good one.
Over the past few years, I have realized that:
1.Yoga is an ongoing journey. There is no destination. With yoga, you are always learning, perfecting breathwork, perfecting asanas, adding more asanas to make the routine more challenging.
2.Yoga works on both the body and the mind. Well, the word yoga does mean ‘union’. And by practicing yoga, it creates a sense of balance on the mind and the body.
3.The mind gives up before the body. Yes, its true. There are times I felt I cannot do a certain asana even before I try it, but the body continues to surprise me. Sometimes, the mind tends to want to give up even before the session begins.
4.Yoga is unique for each of us. For some, it is simply about the asanas (postures), for others, it leads them to a spiritual path and for many more, it simply is about becoming more flexible. There is no right or wrong reason to do yoga.
5.Breath work is important. Yoga focuses on not just breathing in or breathing out but also the pauses in between the breath.
6.It takes time to become flexible, develop strength and balance to perform certain asanas. Be patient.
7.Shavasana or the Corpse pose is as important as any asana and takes a lot of effort to practice.
8.I can sit for a little longer in meditation.
9.Pranayama / breathing exercises can instantly boost your energy and calm the mind.
- Relax and breathe. Sometimes, when we get into a posture, we create a lot of tension by stiffening shoulders, neck and face and clenching teeth. But by relaxing into the posture and breathing, it becomes easier to do the asana. This is the most important thing I feel I have come to understand. Just like everything else in life, no matter what comes your way – Breathe and relax.
Photo by Alexy Almond: https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-woman-standing-with-one-leg-3758056/