Guest Author - Nancy Welker
Many women I've coached and taught ask me about using Yoga for weight-loss and building muscle. Both can be accomplished with this modality and are some of the benefits. But it's not the main reason for beginning a Yoga practice.
Many Yoga studios become nothing more than places for trained students to get into a kind of competition with each other, and the beginners are oftentimes left standing on the sidelines, feeling uncomfortable. This is a far cry from what true Yoga means and it should never be taught in such a way nor should anyone practice Yoga with a kind of "killer attitude".
Your first, second, and one-thousandth visit to any Yoga studio should be peaceful and pleasant. You should be in an environment that teaches you regardless of your knowledge or physical ability. No one should ever make you feel like you are less than another student who is at a different level, and no one should ever make you feel like you wish you'd stayed home.
I've had literally hundreds of women contact me at one time or another and tell me that they'd love to practice Yoga but have had negative experiences. My answer to them is to go back to the studio where they felt they'd been offended and have a talk with the instructor. Anyone, male or female, worth their salt as the saying goes, will be open to such a discussion. You're students. We're teachers. Talking to you about a problem you're having is a normal part of what we do.
Yoga instructors are trained to learn and follow a strict code of ethics, as are any fitness professionals who are certified. This code relates to how we interact with our clients and that includes not only classroom instruction, but private discussions and anything we write about the subject as well.
Here are some tips for what you should do when you feel you've "failed" at Yoga:
First, don't give up. Anything you take up or even go back to after years will require time to get yourself back into the routine. Yoga challenges your body and when you rise to meet that challenge you'll be the winner. All it takes is staying with it.
Talk to your instructor. I said this above but can't say it enough. Most of you may not feel comfortable doing this, but you have a much better chance of solving the problem when you do. Sometimes, this one conversation can be the difference between quitting and not quitting.
Don't get competitive. Not with others and not with yourself either. Everyone is different and just because you're having difficulty today doesn't mean you'll have it in the future. Keep in mind that everyone who appears to be an amazingly skilled Yogi started out as a novice at one time as well.
You may need to change studios. If after talking things over with your instructor and giving classes a chance to feel right for you, you still don't feel like you fit in with the others, you may need to find another studio. Do some homework. Go online to find instructors in your area or ask friends for recommendations.
Private instruction can work miracles. This is true whether you're learning Yoga or learning to Cha-Cha; when you're having problems keeping up with the rest of the group, you may need to get at least a few weeks of private instruction to jumpstart your practice. This can be expensive, so you need to make sure you pay attention to what you're taught and practice what you've learned.
In closing, anyone who knows me knows my philosophy about Yoga. It's not an exercise session. It's a way of life. What you think, do, even eat and drink, are all part of how you welcome Yoga into your life. Treating yourself well is what it's all about. Treating others well is part of it too. And you should expect that same kind of courtesy given to you in classes.
Om Shanti
Links to articles I've written about the structure of Yogic teaching are listing below.
