A few things to keep in mind when beginning a regular Yoga practise.
Yoga is for everyone. Anyone anywhere can practise Yoga. You don’t have to look a certain way or even have to be flexible. Yoga means union; which means to bring union to the self & to the body. The purpose of the physical practice is to bring stillness to the mind – which can take a long time. If you are new to Yoga, don’t be intimidated. Take your time, listen to your body, give yourself plenty of breaks & space to ease your way in.
Breathe. The breath is the most important element within the practice of yoga. You can always tell an advanced yogi more so by the quality of their breath than the quality of their moves. The breath is therefore fundamental. With every conscious breath, you are assisting your body to replenish, heal & revitalise, aiding important functions like circulation & lymphatic drainage. Our practice also activates the parasympathetic nervous system which helps our bodies & minds to destress & also detoxify stress chemicals in the body like cortisol.
No one is looking at you. Pay attention to your body & your breathing, the practice of yoga is an individual practise & not a competition, don’t be afraid to be the “new person”.
Keep showing up. The first class can be challenging, but it will get easier, it shows when you make the effort to show up & care for yourself consistently. Your body will become stronger & you will be happier for it.
Be aware. Yoga is a contemplative practice, which teaches us to become more conscious of what goes on within our bodies & minds. When we first begin, this awareness can feel very loud, our minds can feel heavy, full of thoughts which won’t slow down, this is all normal. You will become more aware of your strengths & weaknesses. Rather than fight the weaknesses, witness & be aware of them & instead, move your awareness towards the breath. The breath will anchor you & keep you grounded.
Have fun & don’t take yourself too seriously. You’re likely to stumble & fall, you might get the moves wrong & you may not be able to do all the poses perfectly, but this is all an integral part of the practice. This stumbling & falling will teach you to fail & to fail often, with grace & grit. It will teach you to fall & to get back up again, to always keep going, no matter how hard things get, which is one of the most important lessons to learn. It is all part of the journey, so remember to smile & enjoy it!
If you have any questions about starting Yoga, or you would like some advice on where or how to begin, please don’t hesitate to ask!
I look forward to seeing you shine on the mat!
Lots of love,
Mish
– Barbara Sher
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