You Can Still Enjoy Yoga Activities If You’re Not a “Yoga Person”
TEST DIFFERENT GUIDELINES
If there are any yoga teachers they prefer if you find a teacher you adore, whether it be for yoga or any other form of exercise, recommends Kristoffer. “Chances are, if you like their style, you’ll probably like their yoga teacher, too.”
LEAVE YOUR EXPECTATIONS BEHIND
For other people, the idea that they aren’t “excellent” at yoga can be a huge turnoff. Yoga instructor Bridget Barrett-Parker observes that “often, I find customers wanting to be faultless and smooth in their first lesson.” When I was starting to ski, my uncle used to tell me, “If you’re not falling, you’re not learning.” So just keep in mind that it’s a step in the process.
ADOPT A CURIOUS MINDSET
“Come into class with a sense of curiosity about what or how you will feel during the poses and how you will feel afterward,” suggests Maggie Barchine, a yoga teacher and yoga therapist. “Be curious about your body getting into a pose and welcome what you notice you’re feeling without judgment.”
LEAN IN TO YOUR RESISTANCE
If you still feel resistant to doing yoga, consider what that might mean. “Resistance is great; it means there’s something to learn,” notes Rae Davidson, a yoga teacher and coach. Where does it come from, and how can you overcome it. The answers might surprise you.
SET YOUR HEADSPACE RIGHT
Starting your practice in the appropriate frame of mind can help you set yourself up for a better experience, especially if you’re participating in a virtual yoga class at home. Yoga instructor Caroline Baumgartner advises beginning with a straightforward 5-minute breathing exercise prior to class to declutter your mind and bring yourself into the present. An illustration would be closing your eyes while sitting or reclining on your mat, placing your hands on your abdomen, and taking six breaths in and six breaths out.
APPLY THE PROPS
The use of yoga props like blocks, belts, and cushions is sometimes perceived as a weakness, although they may increase your enjoyment of the practice. As a yoga instructor named Liz Bolton explains, “Seriously, having a little extra gap between your torso and the ground can make a lot of poses more comfortable, while still hard, which can make the practice much more joyful.”
DESCRIBE THE ASPECTS OF PRIOR YOGA EXPERIENCES THAT YOU DIDN’T ENJOY
You can then decide what to consider when picking future instructors and classes. According to physical therapist and certified yoga instructor Maura Blackstone, DPT, “If you just try the same thing, odds are you won’t enjoy it this time either.”The 8 Best Hoka Running Shoes.
