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Congratulations on trying your first yoga class. You will experience all the wonderful things you were expecting but also some things you weren't. This article discusses common things that students are not prepared for.
Even Classes that are not marked as "Hot" are hot Many yoga studios believe that muscles that are warm are more pliable and they stretch more efficiently. Many students find that their tightness goes away quicker in heat and it is more comfortable to move. Regular yoga classes are usually around 75-85 degrees. Hot classes can be upwards of 100 degrees.Depending on the type of class you take you may find that:
Discomfort(confusion, frustration, anger,etc)
Yoga is a feel good activity but it does involve moving the body, using the breath and channeling the mind in ways that you are not used too. It may take several sessions before you get used to it and until then you may be tired, grumpy, confused, lost, frustrated, angry etc. Part of yoga is controlling the mind and learning how to be calm when under stress. If the yoga class was easy, you would not have the opportunity to practice this. As you continue to practice, the tasks get easier and you learn how to use your mind to control the experience.
Yoga can also bring up suppressed emotions from traumas that were not totally dealt with. Some people get a little teary eyed during certain poses or exercises.
People Touching You
Besides the lovey dovey people who enjoy giving hugs, many yoga teachers use touch to correct alignment and to guide students into postures. Adjustments and assists, when safely administered, help you to grow your practice quickly. If you feel uncomfortable with touch or the touch is unpleasant, You can always tell them no thank you in a quiet polite voice.
Half Naked People
This happens mainly in Hot Yoga or Bikram classes. It is extremely hot and some people like to wear as little as publically possible.
Strange Noises
Yoga postures are great for bringing things up. That can include gas, crying, burping, crazy congested breathing, gurgly sweat sounds, farts, sighs that sound like orgasms and many other noises
Spiritual Activity or Lack Thereof
Some yoga teachers are into chanting, reading of inspirational scriptures and other spiritual
pursuits while others go more towards the physical side of yoga. The only way to figure out which side a teacher is on is to attend their classes. It can be hard to tell by just the type of yoga alone. If someone does a spiritual practice that you don't like, you don't have to participate in that part of the class. If you want more information on it, ask the teacher after class.
Crazy Music Or No Music At All
Yoga teachers use sound to facilitate the mood. You can hear anything from Heavy Metal to soft instrumentals. Some yoga styles see music as a distraction so they don't use it at all.
A Learning Curve
No one gets everything the first time. If you have trouble following, it does not
necessarily you need an easier class. It can take several classes before you feel like you know what you are doing. Hang in there! If you do feel like you need another class, talk to the teacher. They will usually be honest with you and let you know if they think you should give it more time or try something different.
You May Have to Go To Several Classes or Studios Before You Find the Right Yoga For You
There are many different styles of yoga. Even within the same style, each teacher has a different take on it. Don't dismiss yoga after taking one class. Keep trying different classes until you find one that fits your needs.
Dharma Mitra's book, 908 Asanas, is essential for any yoga students library. It features 908 poses ranging from simple to advanced in unique and challenging variations. The book is a beautiful work of art and also a great reference guide for asanas and their names. It has been instrumental to my practice and has inspired me to try new and different poses.
Dharma Mitra completed the book in 1984 as an offering to his Guru. Dharma Mitra began studying yoga in 1958 and is often seen as the teacher's teacher. He was born in the late 1930's and is still teaching today. Click on the link below.
I wanted to present this to all you yoga nuts who read anything you can get your hands on about yoga. I have not read it yet so we can read it together. Thank you Bob Weisenberg for sending this link this morning.
Click on the book above or this link Yoga in America
Feel free to leave your comments as you read!
Ashtanga is an 8 limbed path of yoga that includes a very dynamic, beautiful, healing, meditative and physically demanding practice. Part of learning the yoga is memorization of the poses. Below are websites that offer pose guides that can be printed and referenced when learning Ashtanga.
http://www.ashtangayoga.info/download/
Has First, Second and a little Third Series.
http://www.ashtanga-yoga.eu/asanas%20engl.htm
Has primary series and the opening and closing mantras. Has Primary, Second, Some Third http://www.sarawhitney.net/yoga/ashtangaseries.html If you know of any more, leave it in the comment section!
Ashtanga Yoga Palace
Sara Whitney Yoga
Ah-do Muk-a Svan-as-an-uh
Adho-Downward
Mukha-Facing
Svana-Dog
Appropriate for healthy beginners
Ques For a Safe Down Dog
Modifications
Additional
Challenge
You own a $80 Manduka Mat
You have paid more then $30 For a tank top or "yoga" pants
You have Jai Uttal, Krisna Das or any other type of Kirtan Singer on your I-pod and it is not under "yoga music"
You actually know what a Kirtan is
Your key chain has swipe tags for a yoga studio
Every one at the studio knows you by name
You can name all the yoga studios within a 45 minute radius
You own more then one yoga mat
You keep a yoga mat in your car
You keep a yoga mat at the studio
You own the Yoga Sutras
You own 5 or more yoga books
You know poses in Sanskrit
You practice it more then 4 days a week
You practice it at home..gasp!
It is what you do for fun
You have taken a yoga workshop that was over $200
You have traveled out of town
The power to change the world lies within each and every one of us. When we merge that power together, we cannot be defeated. Yet, every day this power goes unappreciated. Everyday, I watch people live lives that are not to their liking and they feel powerless to do anything about it.
We vote with our actions and with our thoughts. Everything that you put energy into multiplies. Everything that you don't focus on, goes away. When we continue to live a life that doesn't suit us, it gathers energy and perpetuates. If one person focuses on change, good things will happen but where multiple minds gather, the impossible becomes possible. Creating change is simple. Whatever you want to see more of, support it. Whatever you want to see disappear, retract your involvement.
Hurdles to Change
Fear of the unknown
Examples: What will happen if I get out of this relationship? If I change careers, will I make the same money?
When we totally transform, our life often becomes unrecognizable. We go through a period of minor chaos and discomfort and then we step into uncharted territory.During this period, we have to know in our heart that the final result will be better then where we are today. Stay encouraged during this process by reading inspirational books, making a collage of pictures that depict where you want to be, surround yourself with supportive friends and positive activities.
The unknown is really what makes our life fun. People go on vacations to experience something different. If you knew how a movie was going to end, you wouldn't want to go see it. When it applies to our own life, we get scared. It really takes a mental shift to take that fright to excitement.
Complacency i.e. Convenience
Examples: Even though you are appalled at the pesticides in the food supply, you shop at your local chain grocer because they are closer. You feel the overtime at work is ridiculous but they pay well so you just let it go.
Because this one is so subtle, it is tremendously powerful. Everyone wants to be comfortable.Who wants to go out of their way if they don't have to? Who really wants to feel unpleasant? Sometimes lending our support requires stepping out a little further then we want to but the good feelings and results we see in the end are worth it.
This is commonly used when a person feels they are going up against something big.That is when we need the power of the group.That doesn't mean that a bunch of people sit around and make a group decision. Think about how many people go to Wal-Mart every day. They all didn't plan it together. They individually made a decision to go that had a collective impact on the store's success. If enough people believed that they were powerful enough to enact change, their individual decisions would culminate into change.
I leave you with these beautiful famous words by Marianne Williamson:
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.
Truth: It depends on the style of yoga.
Yoga classes can be totally non-physical and consist of reading sutras, chanting, breathing or service to others. Yoga can also be purely physical and as strenuous as a gym workout. In order to find the right one for you, you have to figure out what you are looking to gain from the class. Talk to your friends and go online to find information about different yoga styles. Then do a search online for studios in your area and try out different classes. Talk to the teachers after the classes and get recommendations from them also. I actually started doing Ashtanga Yoga because an Iyengar Yoga teacher felt it would be better for me and he was right.
Myth 2: I have to be flexible
Truth: You gain flexibility as you practice, Duh!
Yoga builds flexibility and strength. Whatever you don't have when you start, if you are consistent, you will get it later.
Myth 3: Yoga is just for flexibility
Truth: You gain strength and flexibility
This goes back to choosing the right yoga. If you want to gain strength, you have to chose a yoga that is geared towards that and you have to do it more often
Myth 4:You can't build a good looking physique just doing yoga alone
Truth: Some people only practice yoga and have amazing muscle tone
I know people with 6 pack abs who do just yoga. Again, it is about the type you do and the consistency.
Myth 5: You have to be a certain age and a certain level of health to do yoga
Truth: Anyone can do it
This goes back to choosing the right type of yoga and the right teacher.
Myth 6: Yoga is a Religion
Truth: It's not
Though a lot of the yoga we practice today has it's roots in eastern mysticism, the message of yoga is universal and is based on principals that apply to all people. However, some teachers do bring more of their personal beliefs into their teaching so choose a teacher and a style that gels with you.
Myth 7: Yoga is Contortionism
Truth: It's not
Yoga is a system that links mind and body. Contortionist are just trying to get into the deepest craziest posture they can. They want to push their bodies and it is just for looks.
Myth 8: Yoga is an Exercise
Truth: It is a Mind/Body Holistic System
Through the study of yoga, you learn how to master the mind as well as the body. It is a system that teaches you how to overcome the ego, be healthy, live stress free and how to to treat and serve others. The ultimate goal is to live in a state of supreme oneness where all sense of separation vanishes. This is called Samadhi.
Myth 9: Real Yoga is _____(fill in the blank)
Truth: For the True Seeker, all roads lead to the same destination
In the yoga community, there is an argument about what constitutes real yoga. I used to take sides on this issue but I have come to realize that if a person is truly seeking something, they will find it. There is a popular saying "when the student is ready, the teacher will come". Whatever someone is ready for at that moment, they will find that information. When they outgrow that or are ready for a change, something else will be presented.
Its happened to all of us. We are going about our day, minding our own business, and someone just feels the need to say or do something that is plain ol' mean. Spiteful. Hateful. Just unnecessary. What do you do? In yoga, you always hear about love and compassion and all the other sappy stuff we throw around but what about disregard? Yep, it is in the Sutras.
By cultivating attitudes of friendliness toward the happy, compassion for the unhappy, delight in the virtuous, and DISREGARD toward the wicked, the mind stuff retains its undisturbed calmness.- Book 1 Sutra 33 Yoga Sutras of Patanjali as translated by Swami Satchidinanda.
According to the Sutra's, wicked people are not even worth our time and no energy should go towards them. That also means that you don't resist them either. Resistance energy is different then the energy of change. Change energy has nothing to do with proving who or what is right or wrong, it doesn't seek to harm or vilify. It is not about vengeance or proving a point. That is resistance energy.
Change energy is the natural order of the universe. It is about balance and contrast. The seasons don't change to spite you. Day doesn't turn to night in vengeance. Death doesn't take over Life because it has something to prove.
Even in disregard, you can have change. In court cases, people often say, "disregard the last remark and strike it from the record". That doesn't mean that the case is over. The lawyer just has to seek another way to make his point. Even though the other side may feel smug that they have stopped the lawyer in his tracks, the savvy person knows that change is always constant and there will always be another opportunity for something different. So even though disregard sounds bad, it is just the act of seeking another way to find your peace. It is non attachment at it's best.
