Lessons from Yoga practice
A year after the fact, here’s what I’ve have learned from the experience. I’ve found that all of the lessons relevant to me both on and off the mat. They’re all emphasized by every professor I’ve met no matter how different they may be.
1. Make a plan to practice your intention
Whatever difficult and challenging classes may be, they will always start slow. Teachers ensure that they transition us seamlessly into the class in order to prevent injuries. Before we even begin warming our body we are warming up our minds. We’re asked to establish an intention for the practice. Do you want to be gentle towards ourselves, kind to ourselves? Do we wish this particular practice to be enjoyable or difficult. It is up to us to decide what we wish it to be.
I usually set the same purpose: Be patient and acceptable.
- Acceptance of the reality the fact that I recognize that my body has limitations that I must respect, not fight.
- Constant to not quit and push myself to the limits and increase them to my best ability
Infrequently, I’ll incorporate the importance of the self.
The reason I am so in love with this is because my motives exactly match what I need to be able to do in my everyday life, too.
2. Be present
One of my most cherished professors from Sydney frequently said”If you’re looking to lie to sleep in Savasana for all of the hour, as long as you’re breathing it’s yoga.
In this course, our instructor encourages us to focused on our breathing to remain in the moment instead of letting our minds wander off to thoughts of the next time we meet or the project we have to complete, or the rest of it. If this happens happen, we are instructed to pay attention and then bring the concentration on what we’re doing.
I’ve noticed that the temperature gets heated Vinyasa can be an effective exercise (I sweat like nowhere elsewhere! ) It helps with focus. The harder and more hot it gets and the more difficult it is to concentrate at my mat.
What is important is the present. Now. When I am able to concentrate on this, instead of thinking about yesterday’s events or what might take place tomorrow, I’m more calm and ready to continue forward. A mentor of mine once said to me:
If you’re focusing on the present and are fully present, you can’t be unhappy.
3. Pay attention to your body
This is a significant issue for me. In the past, I suffered two herniated discs in my lower back. The reason for this was that I carried heavy boxes , and didn’t take note of the pain signals that my body sent out. After two months of bed and nine very painful days, I believed I’d be living my entire life in the same position as an elderly 90-year-old.
After I was blessed enough to recover, I promised myself to do all possible to avoid harming myself in the future and, this time, pay attention to whatever my body is telling me.
Yoga is than a perfect match for this. The most consistent advice from teachers I’ve not heard before in any other physical exercise but that I consider extremely important is:
The way the posture is performed. If you’re feeling pain, don’t do it. It’s okay. If you’re usually able to perform the pose but your body is saying no this moment, don’t go there. It’s totally acceptable.
4. There’s always room for improvement
This is what makes the experience interesting. It’s amazing to observe the changes that occur within your body. One year later I’m able to place my legs into positions that I never would have thought that was possible. I used to stare with eyes and mouth wide to bizarre poses that the teacher would demonstrate in the hopes that I would never be able of doing this. However, gradually I’ve been noticing slight changes until I was in a position to master these specific postures.
Me flying in Crow pose! I look way too serious.
The great thing is that there are always more difficult postures and variations that you can try to master. The challenge never ceases.
Like the real world! I learn from this lesson to remind myself that I’m never finished growing. I am always able to get better. It’s never over.
