On Social Media or Yoga Magazine you will admire the stylish Yogis, with perfect body, perfect outfit and happy, making it look so easy.
I don’t need to put my leg behind my head to fall in love with yoga, it’s a feeling that has changed my perspective towards life. Maybe I would never be able to balance on my head or balance on my chin which is ok. What matters more I am practicing daily and going deeper and deeper into the pose, no matter how it looks to others.
When I started practicing yoga in a studio filled with fellow yogis, as the class begun within five minutes I realised everybody in the room is better than me, in bending, twisting or holding the pose that maybe as simple as just lifting your hand straight up. Every forward bend was welcomed by a cramp in my stomach, Chair pose was welcomed by a sharp pain in my knees, my hips hamstrings shoulders everything was tight. By the end of the class I was confident that something is wrong with Yoga because outside the studio my body was fine. But I had booked three sessions (also paid). In the second session it was life changing I was so focused to get the pose right, had no idea how the hour flew by. This is what Yoga gave me when I am on the Mat I forget everything because I think everyday I am learning something new and by repeating the poses getting closer to perfection.
When I started to get comfortable could stay in the pose with support of props, sometimes even leaning to the wall, and when I look around to see other yogis, it was Happy Realisation moment, fellow yogis are trying to figure out what pose am I doing and then followed by the look and after class I was the topic of discussion, what is this girl doing, coming from a Country where Yoga was originated and don’t have a clue. This is almost like not knowing your own culture. I have experienced it many times in some cases they have come upfront and questioned about it. But I practice yoga everyday with my perfectly imperfect body, people might judge you but you don’t judge yourself. We all have limitations but it’s ok.
Yoga gives you strength, flexibIlity, balance and many more benefits but sometimes it makes you Egoistic and narcissist I wish they all can change into altruistic.
“Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self.” — The Bhagavad Gita
Yoga is not about doing a crazy upside down pose maybe balancing on one arm and then looking down on others what they can do. Once you have achieved a pose let it change things inside you, heal you, help you forget everything in the world and just stay present in the pose and not judge other people.
Maybe I am not perfect at all the yoga poses but every pose changes something in me, when I give my 100% on the Mat, I am more stronger and balanced out of the Mat. You don’t do Yoga will do you.
Yoga has helped me forget something very painful from my past, acceptance for the present and move towards my own path of healing emotional and physical.
I admire advanced practitioners, but these advance poses are not for the majority. With the Simple poses also you can experience major transformations, even with the limitations of your body. I experience it everyday with myself and with my students.
My Yoga Journey has not been smooth but taught me balance and acceptance. With the innate force and passion to go deeper and push myself, I don’t care what my starting point was or what will be the ending point I am just giving my best physically and mentally.
I am not perfect at all the poses, I accept my body limitations, without judging or comparing myself simply accepting it and working everyday very hard to progress.
I believe and teach my students that yoga is not about what it looks like, rather how it feels. Proper alignment is important, but thinking two bodies could look the same is unrealistic.
Yoga is not about how others see you in the pose its your personal journey your ability to connect with your breath and guide you towards healing and very personal journey to the internal wisdom of your heart.
Aways remember “A flower does not think of competing to the flower next to it. It just blooms.”
Don’t let your practice get affected by Ego Yoga or Yoga Narcissism!
Be Mindful if you are getting your Ego in yoga poses or judging others.
“It’s not about being good at something. It’s about being good to yourself and to others.”
