So there are many different forms of yoga, and many different ways to practice. With all of this variety, how do we know that we’re flowing at our highest potential? Here are some tips and tricks I have picked up along my yoga journey. These range from the simple to the more complex lessons I learned after teacher training.
1.Listen to your body:
So this the probably one of the most important ques that teachers keep in their tool belt. We can sound like a broken record, but that’s only because it’s worth saying over and over. Every time you arrive on the mat it’s imperative to be aware of your body’s physical and emotional state. Doing this will allow you to fully enjoy your time on the mat doing what your body is capable of in that moment in time.
2. Let go of the ego
This ties in well with the previous rule of listening to the body. When we become aware of our bodies limits and needs the next step is to push ego gently to the side. You may have been able to hold a pose twice as long or glide into a stretch more freely the week before, but that doesn’t mean your slipping. Taking note of if you’ve been sickly, or if some activity has made you feel stiff/sore, and then giving your body what it needs (and not necessarily what you want) is imperative to getting the most out of your experience.
3. Breath is more important than the pose
In a yoga flow it’s so easy to concentrate on the physical postures your body creates (or the asana). While this is a very important part of the practice, there is one much more powerful key to the flow, and that is the breath. The breath is what guides the movement, and we have to come to the thought that where we send the breath, is where our energy travels. Energy is what guides us both internally and externally, so let’s use this tool lovely yogis.
4. Yoga is more than exercise
Of course yoga has many physical benefits; more flexibility,cardio endurance and strength, but when we use it to draw inward we can take our practice to the next level. Making it a spiritual or soulful experience is what it’s always been about since it’s creation over 6,500 years ago. It helps us understand where our bodies and minds are at in this moment.
5. Props are not a step back
So one of the most common misconceptions in not only yoga, but any workout is that props are a concession. I have to say that I myself subscribed to this in the beginning of my yoga journey, but nothing can be further from the truth. Using a strap as an extension of the arms, blocks as an extension of the floor and even a wall can make a world of difference when gliding into poses. While using props you will notice how you can work yourself into a posture that your body finds more difficult, and there’s nothing wrong with that goodness.
6. Proper form, but not a look alike
While you venture into your asana practice it’s imperative to understand proper form; this creates protection or the joints and muscles. While this protection provides a sturdy base for us to flow, it’s also important to know that no body is the same. Every foot will want to land a little differently, the hips in one will the tight and loose in another, and this gives us the opportunity to listen to our bodies and make adjustments.
7. Find the style(s) that speak to you
There are so many different styles to choose from, so finding the one that lands perfectly with your body and it’s needs will make your practice so much more enjoyable. This can also change day to day as well. One day a restorative flow is what ya need, and the next you may be feeling frisky and explore a power vinyasa.
8. Go back to the beginning
So if you find yourself in a deep personal practice, sometimes it can be beneficial to work your way back home, to the very beginning. After becoming an instructor I steered more towards a more powerful practice (due to that ego), but once I stepped into a Yoga For Beginners class my eyes were opened. All at once my love for yoga that I had at the very beginning came flooding back. It was almost a life changing experience to create poses step by step once more. Very soulful stuff my friends.
9. If you’re a teacher, attend classes for yourself regularly
Instructing is a very beautiful and fulfilling thing. I never thought I would love going into work and feel so amazing sharing myself with others, but while it has it’s awesome parts, it can slowly start to change your personal practice. Taking so much time to plan your outlines and think of your student’s needs can become all consuming if you let it. I have found that attending studio classes for myself is the cure to this dilemma. placing yourself in the role of the student gives me the same soulful feeling that attending beginner classes can achieve.
10. Find Support
This thing we call yoga is designed to align and de-stress the body and mind, but it can also be stressful if you are a beginner or even an advanced yogi trying to get more out of your practice. This is where the yogi community comes in to lift you up and keep you motivated. I have never experienced so much love and warmth than in this group of health seekers. The cool thing is that we all have a different journeys and are looking for something a little bit different from our personal practices, so soaking up other’s stories and experiences brings us all together.