The popularity of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, Power Yoga, and Hot Yoga are at an all time high. These styles use vigorous and powerful sequences to impart health to the body as well as the mind. They bring peace and well being to practitioners helping them to be a better person and live a more fulfilled life. Because they provide such a great physical workout, many people approach them like a gym aerobics class and rely on brut strength and will power to move them through the practice resulting in an overly aggressive yoga practice that looses steam really fast and is not sustainable. Practicing without incorporating the more subtle concepts of yoga such as breath,non-harming, focus and non attachment, opens the door for stress, injury, ill health and an uneasy mind. Essentially you cultivate all the traits that you were trying to use yoga to cure.
Look at the list below and see where you fit in. Are you on the road to burn out or enlightenment?
Gym Mentality Yoga Mentality
Barely Breathe Deeply Breathe
In the mind throughout practice Practice takes you out of the mind
Obsessed with attaining poses Enjoys learning new poses
Labels practices "bad" or "good" Sees all practices as good
Compares themselves to others Focused on themselves
Always seeking more intensity Time & place for everything
Sweat is generated from external heat Sweat is generated from internal heat
Snaps into poses Moves with breath into poses
Only uses mirror for alignment Knows how poses feel in the body
Stares at themselves in mirror Uses Dristhi(gaze points)
Mat has to be in same place or miffed Cool with whatever spot they can get
Does advanced poses to show off Poses for their benefits and fun
Judges others practices Non judgemental
Has to be in the studio in crowd Has friends but not about popularity
Compares current practice to previous Practices from the present moment
Pushes through pain Pays attention to pain
Breaks are a sign of weakness Breaks when needed
Constantly seeking short cuts Slow and steady wins the race
Worships those with "advanced" practices Every body's human
Searching for Yoga body for vanity Understands the effect of weight on health
Expects teachers to look a certain way Value teacher for what they teach
Sequencing should be for intensity Sequence focused on well being
Leave class feeling broke down Leave class feeling energized
Has a post yoga recovery ritual Feel good when you leave
Has to dress a certain way May like clothes but not there to be seen
Hates anything spiritual Open to other aspects of yoga
Depends on their teacher Understand their own body
Can't stand silence Loves it
Can't be still Strives to be still
Wants something for free Understands the value of yoga
Pushes into poses Breathes into poses
Only sees yoga as a workout Total Body wellness system
Chooses studios based on popularity Chooses based on what they have to offer
Pushes through poses using muscles Moves from the core and breath
Video of the day: Yoga as a spiritual practice
