Suggestions for Practicing Yoga

Yoga Blog on Practicing Yoga

When you are in a pose, it should feel comfortable and pleasant. Boring is fine. Pleasure is even better. Discomfort is not an option. If a pose is unpleasant, and you persist, you are no longer practicing yoga. You have crossed over into the world of self abuse. Ease up and relax and do not worry about the outward form of the pose. Modify your position in such a way that it is easy and comfortable, and then go just a little deeper. Be patient, and allow yoga to do its magic over a period of months and years.

If you experience any of the following signs, you are trying too hard.

• Shaky muscles, or loss of control to any degree
• loss of balance
• impaired circulation of blood
• undue stress on any joint
• discomfort or pain
• fear or anxiety
• Tension in face, eyes, ears, neck, or any other part of body not needed to hold pose
• Irregular, strained, or jerky breathing

When practicing Yoga, if you experience any of these warning signs you are trying too hard. In this event, you are doing more harm than good and you should immediately ease back until the symptoms subside. Ahimsa (Nonviolence) must be practiced in regards to our own bodies as well as in relation to others. Try breathing into the area of your body being hardest worked in any pose. As you breathe out, turn your awareness inward. Yoga is a feeling, a state of mind, not simply the physical pose.

Personal progress should never be considered. Do not compare yourself to others. Do not even compare yourself to your own past performances. Avoid expectations. Comparisons and expectations are unnecessary and dangerous distractions. It is best not to think in terms of how far you are stretching, or twisting, or how long you are holding; simply be aware of your present capacity, and explore the boundaries of your present limitations.

Focus all of your energy into learning to enjoy the Asana itself so that you practice Yoga for the joy of practicing Yoga, and not for some imagined goal, whether it be health, relaxation, or whatever, they are all distractions that inhibit the practice of Yoga and thus interfere with their own fulfillment. Let them go! Surrender to each pose in turn. Concentrate on relaxing the muscles holding you back, not tightening those pulling you further into the pose. Move slowly, allowing the body time to adjust and stretch. If it feels good hold it, explore it, get as much out of it as possible, and then move on.

Always take a moment to consciously release the last pose before moving onto the next pose. If this cannot be done with a diaphragmatic breath, try a complete breath. If you are still holding tension from the last pose move into a resting pose until your body has forgotten and released the previous pose. If a pose feels awkward or painful circumvent it… move onto something else, use alternative poses to strengthen or loosen the area giving you problems and then later come back to the troublesome pose and try again. If you are still having problems let me know and we can discuss alternative strategies.

BEWARE! It is possible to mimic the outward shell of a pose, without learning the inward communion with your own body that turns the pose into a joyous celebration of life.

Listen to your body and follow its lead. Enjoy, explore, modify and create your own poses. Your body knows better than anyone what it needs and what works for it at any given moment. Always keep your sights on cultivating the spirit of Yoga within yourself, not on trying to perfect a pose.