5 Things I Wish I Knew Before My First Yoga Class
Your ability to do a pose doesn’t make you more or less of a yoga practitioner.
Asana is only one of many tools that yoga shares with us. Yoga is a practice of liberation, of connecting with our innate wholeness, and dispelling the myth that we are broken beings in need of fixing.
You don’t need to be flexible, strong, skinny, or non-disabled to practice yoga. If you have a body and you're breathing, you can practice yoga.
Practice makes practice, not perfect.
A yoga practice is not something to be perfected, and terms like "the full expression of the pose" don't belong in yoga spaces.
There are so many different ways to practice a pose, so find what feels best in your body. Maybe you bend your knees, widen or shorten your stance, or use props. There's always something new to discover on the mat.
Props are power tools that can enhance your yoga practice.
Using a prop does not mean you're cheating at yoga. Props help provide stability, create space, explore alignment in your body, release effort, and make energetic connections. Use them as much as you'd like.
Just because a yoga teacher cues a pose, doesn’t mean you have to take it.
Listen to your body and don't push beyond your limits. If something doesn't feel good, then you don't have to take it. Explore another option, rest, drink some water, etc.
You're practicing yoga by honoring where you're at and taking what you need.
You are your best teacher.
A yoga teacher has no idea how something feels in your body. Be mindful of any physical sensations, and let your teacher know if something feels weird or painful. Honor how you feel and advocate for what you need.
If you’d like to create a sustainable yoga practice that meets you where you are and is focused on your goals and intentions, consider booking a private yoga session.