The most important thing to remember during a practice is that it is an exploration. Each posture is an experiment and the results vary. Go slowly and listen to your body. Work toward acceptance and active engagement. Learn to determine whether you are pushing yourself too hard or lightly challenging yourself and need to try a little more. The postures require sthira and sukha – steadiness and comfort. In a society that pushes us to do more, offers constant external stimulation and focus on results, yoga postures are about being at peace internally with whatever you do.
And remember to breathe. When you are breathing in harmony with your movements, you are paying attention in a deep way. Your job is not to do more in the poses but to modify them so you can continue to breathe in a comfortable, harmonious way. Mindful awareness of the breath and body not only prevent injury but are also what the heart of what yoga is all about.
Consider the yoga studio as a room of small accomplishments; what you do in the yoga room becomes practice for what you do in life. One benefit of yoga can be that we put controlled stress on ourselves in a safe environment and observe our reactions without attaching to them. We also get to experience what it is like to succeed, relax and feel good in our bodies. Your teacher is guiding the experience, but each individual will have their own unique experience. We can all learn how to respond to challenges in our lives, recognize and enjoy our strengths and get to know ourselves from the inside out.
