Ways to practice yoga off the mat

Have you heard this before in class? Yes, you have. I say it all the time. I say that so my students feel happy about what they are able to do. I don’t want them to focus on what they can’t do just yet (i.e inversions, backbends, etc).

Off the mat, we tend to beat ourselves up. Being negative and hard on yourself doesn’t do you any good. If you want to achieve a goal, the things that do work are a positive mentality, and an honest effort. So be happy with the gifts and talents you do have thus far and if you are working to improve your skills, then by all means go for it! But, please do so from a benevolent and warmhearted place.

In a yoga class, while attempting a tough pose, it is common that the teacher will adjust the asana to fit your body in such a way that your breathing is even. You end up benefiting more from the asana this way!

It’s like “Err…uhh…that looks hard..uhh yeaa…no..I can’t..oh my God..look at this person…she is so good..err uhh yea…that’s not me….”

We are scared and think we are going to hurt ourselves or that we are not ready for it. Sometimes, you might genuinely not be ready for a pose, but often enough, it’s our minds that hold us back, not our bodies. But, a wise yoga teacher once told me “I do not care if you do the pose and are able to hold it. I won’t judge you. Neither will your mat-mates. All I want you is for you to try with an open heart. You might surprise yourself.” I took her advice. I went for it. My crow pose was not perfect at all, but I just felt better that I tried!

In life, there are moments when we don’t attempt certain things because of fear and/or doubt. Are we good, strong, and capable enough? What if we fail and fall? But, you have to approach things every once a while with a childlike-like abandon. You just never know until you try! You are good, smart, strong and capable just as you are. You can do it.

To meditate means to observe – Thich Nhat Hanh

Similarly, when you are doing a body-scan of sorts in yoga, do your best to not mentally yell at your hamstrings for being tight, or at your shoulders for not bearing your weight in planks: just observe. Help, support, and encourage your body as needed.

Now, imagine this: In your day to day life, how would it feel to be just present and in the moment? How would it feel to be aware of all that is going on around you, but not reacting to it? Wouldn’t that be so damn peaceful and stress-free? It’s not an easy thing to achieve at all, but it’s something we can all immensely benefit from.

Mindfulness is the observing of things as they are, without laying or adding any projections or expectations onto what is happening  – Frank Jude Boccio

Yoga teaches us this. The present moment is what you make of it.

When you pause to speak, you respond less and listen more. When you breathe fully, you react less and contemplate more. When you take time to observe, you judge less and understand more. These mental practices will lead us to be more compassionate, thoughtful and calm versions of ourselves.