In the past few years of diving into yoga, time and time again when asking others to join me or try it- the number one excuse people give for not trying yoga is "I'm not flexible."
Although usually I smile, and simply explain- you don't need to be, what I really want to say is "Then maybe yoga isn't for you."
Because in order to try yoga, a millimeter of you needs to be flexible, OK not in the physical way but in some way you need to be flexible.
Your ego will need a little flexibility...
In yoga, you're not always going to look good. Some poses may come easy, but there are times you will look awkward or out of sync.
There are times when the person next to you is going to get a pose, and you aren't.
In yoga, you won't always be balanced. You may fall over, you might fall on your face. Your arms and legs may flail.
You'll have to be flexible because- your balance is often different from day to day- depending on your day.
Even when you've done yoga for awhile, you won't always be right. The way your mind "thinks" you should look in a pose, or the way your ego convinces you that you are able to do a more challenging posture- may not be the right way for your body.
The nice thing is the person flailing or falling next to you appreciates the authenticity of the body. The person next to you is learning to balance, adjust and play also. And all though they may enjoy your company, their practice is not about you.
And after awhile, you learn to appreciate your new found "flexibility." You will stay on your mat. You'll find success in postures. You enjoy not beating yourself up for your body's fluctuations, you may even find them to be helpful and part of the practice. You start realizing that your perceived imperfections are just that - perceived.
And that the fear of "looking good" is often what keeps you from starting something in the first place.
You begin to experience the freedom that comes with your new "flexibility." The freedom to try new things, to connect with others, to play fearlessly.
And sometimes what you find is not what you expect. What is around the corner for you in yoga is sometimes unpredictable, and may be unpredictably wonderful.
You may end up being somewhat flexible (physically).
You may even end up being able to touch your toes. But by then, you won't care.
Because it won't be as important to you as your new insight, your new growing flexibility with yourself and others.
Not flexible? A perfect reason to try yoga.
Although usually I smile, and simply explain- you don't need to be, what I really want to say is "Then maybe yoga isn't for you."
Because in order to try yoga, a millimeter of you needs to be flexible, OK not in the physical way but in some way you need to be flexible.
Your ego will need a little flexibility...
In yoga, you're not always going to look good. Some poses may come easy, but there are times you will look awkward or out of sync.
There are times when the person next to you is going to get a pose, and you aren't.
In yoga, you won't always be balanced. You may fall over, you might fall on your face. Your arms and legs may flail.
You'll have to be flexible because- your balance is often different from day to day- depending on your day.
Even when you've done yoga for awhile, you won't always be right. The way your mind "thinks" you should look in a pose, or the way your ego convinces you that you are able to do a more challenging posture- may not be the right way for your body.
The nice thing is the person flailing or falling next to you appreciates the authenticity of the body. The person next to you is learning to balance, adjust and play also. And all though they may enjoy your company, their practice is not about you.
And after awhile, you learn to appreciate your new found "flexibility." You will stay on your mat. You'll find success in postures. You enjoy not beating yourself up for your body's fluctuations, you may even find them to be helpful and part of the practice. You start realizing that your perceived imperfections are just that - perceived.
And that the fear of "looking good" is often what keeps you from starting something in the first place.
You begin to experience the freedom that comes with your new "flexibility." The freedom to try new things, to connect with others, to play fearlessly.
And sometimes what you find is not what you expect. What is around the corner for you in yoga is sometimes unpredictable, and may be unpredictably wonderful.
You may end up being somewhat flexible (physically).
You may even end up being able to touch your toes. But by then, you won't care.
Because it won't be as important to you as your new insight, your new growing flexibility with yourself and others.
Not flexible? A perfect reason to try yoga.
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