I’ve worked at a yoga company for 6 years, and finally went to my very first yoga class about 2 years ago. We have free classes daily, access to whatever product a girl could dream of and it is encouraged to attend. It took me 4 years to just try it something that literally would have required me to walk across the parking lot to our gym over luch break. Now I’m hooked- I go to at least 2 classes a week, sometimes 3. What changed, you ask?
Why is yoga so intimidating? For a confident person such as myself, I feel like it says a lot for me to not feel comfortable going to class for so long. For something that , I wish there was a way to snap my fingers and remove the hesitation from everyone’s minds, because yoga is so life changing and can be practiced at so many levels. When I really think about it, I think there’s a lot of different reasons people have a fear of trying yoga, and it’s usually a combination of some, if not all of them.
I’m afraid I’m going to look stupid.
There is a LOT going on at once during a yoga class- focusing on breath, what limb to move, what direction to face…….and let’s be honest, most of us aren’t familiar with Sanskrit, so when the teacher tells us to get into Supta Padangusthasana, we probably have to fight the urge to run towards the door. At the end of the first class it’s normal to feel completely incompetent and never want to come back because you don’t even know what just happened. The thing we need to remember is yoga is a practice- not a sport. All good things come in time, and the thing that is so awesome about yoga is you get so much out of it in so many different ways as you grow towards being able to achieve that instaworthy shot. If someone that works at a yoga company can have the nerve to go into a yoga class where almost everyone in it has finished teacher training and can do the standing splits, you can do it too!
Everyone’s staring at how terrible I am.
I go to an advanced yoga class once a week now and I SUCK. Like full blown, tipping over most of the time terrible. But hey, what can I say? I love a challenge and the workout I get out of it is top notch. I just do my own thing, but I’d be a liar if I told you that I didn’t get kind of embarrassed on the days that I can’t even hold a tree pose while everyone around me is up leveling. Honestly, no one cares. And if they do, screw ’em. You aren’t there to impress people, and I’m pretty sure that the yoga teacher will think you are a badass for coming to class and trying so hard! We don’t grow unless we try. And some things take a really long time and a lot of work to achieve. And that’s ok!
I don’t see why it’s different from anything else I’m already doing to exercise.
This is the one that I told myself most of the time. How can yoga be that different? It’s not worth making a fool of myself or taking away from my gym time. Yoga is SO DIFFERENT. It’s like getting my exercise and going to therapy all at the same time, which in a sense makes it the most perfect exercise choice for people who do not have a ton of time. I can walk into class on the verge of tears from stress, and leave 50 minutes later feeling like the world is my oyster (plus have had a serious calorie burn). I’d also like to point out I am loving the noticeable difference in the shape of my body. You can get all kinds of fit doing all kinds of things, but the term “yoga body” exists for a reason.
But I’m not into that crunchy woo woo stuff.
Girl, ME EITHER. I don’t believe setting an intention can get me a new car, I don’t think wearing a specific crystal is going to heal my cancer and I don’t own a salt lamp. That being said, yoga has helped open my mind to how my mindset can adjust my attitude and outlook, which in turn can change my life on a daily basis. A morning mantra isn’t going to make you go full blown woo- it’s going to allow for you to give you a pep talk before you start your day and remind you of what to focus on. I think we ALL need a reset; whether we work, stay at home or do a blend of both. A yoga practice, no matter where or who it is with is a great way to achieve this.
I guess what I’m trying to say here is if you haven’t tried yoga, please try it. And if you’ve tried it once and felt like a total goob, try it again with a different teacher, or a different class. If you are too intimidated to try a class with others, I would highly recommend checking out Yoga with Adriene. It’s free, and the content is great for all levels and needs. And if you want to start a practice with your mini you must try Cosmic Kids Yoga. Thea loves it! And it’s free, which is just how I like it.
Living the High Life 