Many people have a lot of anxiety surrounding doing yoga for the first time. so I figured it would be a good idea to address the most embarrassing things that might happen in a yoga class.
the lady next to you who’s half your size and a million times your age can do a thousand more push-ups than you and stand on her head for hours
don’t stress. take your time and do the best you can. at least you know that if you keep at it, you’ll be a machine when you live to be a hundred… and that you will live to be a hundred.
you’re sweating bullets and can’t catch your breath and everybody else is perfectly relaxed
take it slow. while yoga is [in part] a physical practice, it’s totally a spiritual experience. the internal sensation is more important than the outward appearance. the energetic body can undergo profound transformations with little exertion of the physical body. if you spend half the class resting in Child’s Pose, but you leave feeling tranquil and energized, you’ve made a major accomplishment and you should feel proud.
you lose your balance
thank god you have four limbs. if balancing on one leg just isn’t happening, put the other foot down too.
you lose your balance and fall over
when we feel ourselves falling down, it’s natural to make sharp desperate attempts to stop it from happening. sudden movements actually throw your balance off even more. the best thing you can do is make gentle adjustments and eventually maybe surrender to and become harmonious with gravity—no matter how hard you fight, it will always win anyway. if falling is inevitable, accept it, and concentrate on allowing for a safe landing for you and your neighbors!
you have no idea what the teacher just told you to do
how the heck were you supposed to know that adho mukha svanasana means down dog?! take a second. take a breath. and hopefully you’ll get an English translation soon. if all else fails, there’s nothing wrong with cheating off your neighbor.
you thought you knew what the teacher told you to do, but you look up and everybody else is doing something else
chances are nobody’s paying attention to you anyway. so don’t trip. just enjoy the moment you’re in and join the rest of the class on the next go-round.
you know exactly what the teacher told you to do, and it’s impossible
don’t beat yourself up. it’s called a “practice” for a reason… do what you can in the moment, and be happy with whatever that is at the time. if you keep your mind open to the possibility of growth and progress, that’s what your body will manifest.
you feel self conscious about your body
every body is different. there is no perfect yoga body. there is no perfect pose. concentrate on what sensations you’re experiencing as opposed to how high you can life your leg or how deep you can bend your back or that little tummy pudge getting squished up in a spinal twist. whatever you have is fine the way it is.
you just feel awkward
get used to it. because it will happen. a lot. the idea of practicing yoga is doing things with your body that you don’t normally do, in order to balance out the things that you normally do. so you will feel a little awkward, by design. just find your most natural and comfortable expression of the postures, and have the Courage to let your Heart shine.
and the scariest of all:
you fart
somebody always does. and one day it might be you. the good thing is that with everybody all Zened out and disoriented from inversions, they probably won’t even notice. and if they do, they’ll have no idea where it came from. this is a great opportunity to practice employing the fundamental yogic mantra: “notice without judgment.” in the very next instant the moment has passed and is no longer relevant. be present.
so, there it is. when you’re asked, “what’s the worst that could happen?” now you know. and you know what to do if it does. the best piece of advice I have is
HAVE FUN!
the lady next to you who’s half your size and a million times your age can do a thousand more push-ups than you and stand on her head for hoursdon’t stress. take your time and do the best you can. at least you know that if you keep at it, you’ll be a machine when you live to be a hundred… and that you will live to be a hundred.
you’re sweating bullets and can’t catch your breath and everybody else is perfectly relaxed
take it slow. while yoga is [in part] a physical practice, it’s totally a spiritual experience. the internal sensation is more important than the outward appearance. the energetic body can undergo profound transformations with little exertion of the physical body. if you spend half the class resting in Child’s Pose, but you leave feeling tranquil and energized, you’ve made a major accomplishment and you should feel proud.
you lose your balance
thank god you have four limbs. if balancing on one leg just isn’t happening, put the other foot down too.
you lose your balance and fall over
when we feel ourselves falling down, it’s natural to make sharp desperate attempts to stop it from happening. sudden movements actually throw your balance off even more. the best thing you can do is make gentle adjustments and eventually maybe surrender to and become harmonious with gravity—no matter how hard you fight, it will always win anyway. if falling is inevitable, accept it, and concentrate on allowing for a safe landing for you and your neighbors!
you have no idea what the teacher just told you to do
how the heck were you supposed to know that adho mukha svanasana means down dog?! take a second. take a breath. and hopefully you’ll get an English translation soon. if all else fails, there’s nothing wrong with cheating off your neighbor.
you thought you knew what the teacher told you to do, but you look up and everybody else is doing something else
chances are nobody’s paying attention to you anyway. so don’t trip. just enjoy the moment you’re in and join the rest of the class on the next go-round.
you know exactly what the teacher told you to do, and it’s impossible
don’t beat yourself up. it’s called a “practice” for a reason… do what you can in the moment, and be happy with whatever that is at the time. if you keep your mind open to the possibility of growth and progress, that’s what your body will manifest.
you feel self conscious about your body
every body is different. there is no perfect yoga body. there is no perfect pose. concentrate on what sensations you’re experiencing as opposed to how high you can life your leg or how deep you can bend your back or that little tummy pudge getting squished up in a spinal twist. whatever you have is fine the way it is.
you just feel awkward
get used to it. because it will happen. a lot. the idea of practicing yoga is doing things with your body that you don’t normally do, in order to balance out the things that you normally do. so you will feel a little awkward, by design. just find your most natural and comfortable expression of the postures, and have the Courage to let your Heart shine.
and the scariest of all:
you fart
somebody always does. and one day it might be you. the good thing is that with everybody all Zened out and disoriented from inversions, they probably won’t even notice. and if they do, they’ll have no idea where it came from. this is a great opportunity to practice employing the fundamental yogic mantra: “notice without judgment.” in the very next instant the moment has passed and is no longer relevant. be present.
so, there it is. when you’re asked, “what’s the worst that could happen?” now you know. and you know what to do if it does. the best piece of advice I have is
HAVE FUN!
♥
Namaste
Namaste
A bit about our Author, Camille Brown: Hi there and welcome to my segment, The Daily Om. I'm a twenty-something lover of health, fitness, yoga, personal style, reiki, nature, travelling, and capturing those special moments in life that matter the most. My daily goal is to be the best I can, give all I know about yoga, holistic living, and just living your most authentic natural life. I will offer challenging asanas that will push your personal limits in order to achieve success on the mat and offer insight mantras to get your day started your day on a positive note. Remember, "A day without laughing is a day wasted."
Read more from her at http://
Read more from her at http://
I love it and will try a yoga class soon
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