Developing a Yoga Practice - Step 1

At a training programme in Iceland in August, I was described by the trainer, Baron Baptiste (look him up, he's tremendous!) as being a "developed practitioner". I started practising yoga seventeen years ago, and it has taken that time and a huge investment of time and purpose to become what might be described as being developed. What goes into developing a yoga practice? In this series of posts, I shall discuss elements that have contributed to my development and how you can apply those steps yourself to develop a yoga practice of your own.

Step 1 - Drop What You Know

I was encouraged for about two years to start practising yoga before I actually entered a studio and got on a mat. My then wife had started practising and was very keen and practised regularly and wanted me to join in. I knew next to nothing about yoga but what I perceived that I did know was that yoga was her thing and running was my thing.

It was not until I had developed some tightness injuries from running that I started to buy into the idea that yoga, and the stretching involved, might relieve some of the tightness so that I might be free of pain and run better and more enjoyably.

Having harboured the idea that yoga was not for me I had to get over that and embrace the idea that yoga had something to offer me. I had to drop what I thought I knew. That is Step 1 in developing a yoga practice for you too. Drop what you know. Dispel preconceptions. Be open to the possibility that yoga has much to offer you.

You are Ignorant Until You Try...

When someone "disses" yoga, you should ask them how many years' experience of yoga practice they have behind them. How many different styles have they tried? How many different teachers have they worked with? How many different studios or environments have they tried yoga in?

Often, the people who claim yoga is rubbish or is not for them have virtually no experience or, in fact, none at all. They are speaking from a place of ignorance. The simple truth is that you are ignorant until you try practicing yoga. Even once you have done a class you are still ignorant because there are a very wide range of practices available and trying one gives you no idea about the myriad others available. One teacher may be very different in manner, style and methodology from another. Some yoga teachers really dismay me with the way they teach and being in some other teachers' classes is not particularly rewarding but I love yoga and am absolutely committed to it.

The expression "you are ignorant until you try" can be extended to, until you have tried lots. The style of practice I teach, for instance is demanding. There are about 50 to 55 poses in the sequence. Learning the sequence takes time. The poses and transitions are challenging. They require strength. They require dynamic movement of one's whole body. They challenge balance. Some, confronted with all this, decide after one try that the practice is not for them. It seems that they tell themselves, if they cannot do the practice easily, then the practice is not for them.

I tell students to do ten classes and give themselves a chance of adapting to the practice. Alas, there are those who are not inclined to try again. They may speak ill of the practice and say that yoga is no good. If they only tried once, they are still ignorant. They have not given the practice a chance.

You Do Not Have to be Good at Yoga.

Many students approach yoga s if it is some sort of competition. i can understand that. Everything else in life seems to be a competition. We compete for good grades in school and university. we compete in sports and debates, and dance competitions. We compete for a partner. We compete for jobs. Everything seems to be a competition. Yet, when you walk into a yoga studio, there is no need to compete, and it can be a trap to fall into a competitive mindset.

As soon as I saw what people were doing in class, I wanted to emulate them - no, I wanted to outdo them. I had a competitive attitude. In my case, I had sufficient ability that I could function amongst the more capable students in the classes. Perhaps that helped me stay in the practice. However, the longer I have been involved with yoga, the more I have seen students who are extremely able and proficient at the poses. I have trained yoga teachers and some of those who I have trained have been much more capable at the poses than am I.

That does not mean I have nothing to teach them nor does it mean that my practice is in any way unsatisfactory. Regardless of your ability, the practice works. You do not have to be good at yoga because, however humble your practice may be, yoga is good for you.

Conclusion.

The first step for you in developing a yoga practice is to get past the mental barriers of assuming that yoga is not for you when there is a practice, a teacher and a community for you. Further, drop your ignorance of what yoga is and be open to all that it has to offer you - there is an abundance of riches in the practice waiting for you to tap into. Finally, dispense with the notion that you need to be "good" at the poses. Do your best. Gain inspiration from others but ultimately be content within yourself without trying to surpass others' accomplishments and without ruling yourself out of the practice from some perception that you are not good enough.

Yoga is amazing and will give to you for your whole life. Step 1 in developing a yoga practice? Be open to it.