If you’re attending a yoga class, it is likely that some people seem to be performing a yoga asana better or more effortlessly than others. It is natural to want to be able to do all those yoga postures perfectly. It is also natural to want to be among the best in your group or to be ‘better’ than others. This is a natural human instinct – to try and improve and excel. But here’s what I advise you to do to become a better yogi…
Don’t chase the yoga posture
I have often seen that when some students cannot seem to touch their hands to toes or to the ground they get frustrated. Some even feel embarrassed or feel that they are not doing as well as the others and that they need to make the effort to improve. People may feel this way about not being able to do the Plow Pose or Halasan properly; being unable to touch the toes to the ground behind the head. Let me tell you there is no need to feel frustrated or embarrassed or inadequate in any way.
Not only is every person’s body type different, so is everyone’s level of fitness, flexibility and range of motion. One’s age, lifestyle, previous illnesses etc., will, to a significant extent determine what one can and cannot do. So, every yogi needs to understand that she or he is their own benchmark, no one else. So called progress can be measured not against others but against one’s own previous self.
I have also seen that students can get very excited when they are able to touch their hands to their toes or when they do touch their feet to the ground behind the head in Halasan. Here as well, I would urge yoga students to change their thought process a little bit. Don’t chase the aasan. Instead, let the aasan come to you.
Let the yoga posture come to you
As I always advise my students, concentrate fully on the asanas and the pranayama that you do in class. Don’t bother about what the others are doing and don’t even bother about what ‘progress’ you are making in terms of doing it ‘perfectly’. Trying to imitate others or trying to go beyond the current capabilities of the body can result in damage and yoga related injuries. So don’t push yourself into what doesn’t feel natural and don’t try to imitate the trendy social media yogis either. Most importantly, don’t punish your body.
Rather than trying to do Uttanasana or the Standing Forward Bend Pose, or gain greater mastery in Halasan, aim to open the spine and the lumbar region systematically and slowly. When you are able to do this properly, your hands and feet will automatically touch the ground. There is just no way they wouldn’t. But in this case the focus should be on the back and lumbar region, not on the hands and feet.
Focus on the process and not only this supposed ‘progress’. Just a slight change in attitude will help you tremendously and you will be surprised at how much you can achieve – seemingly without trying!