All I have is a yoga mat, with the address of a class I’m supposed to be at,
Breathe in, breathe out, they say, it helps keep the devils of the mind at bay,
With trust and surrender I go along, knowing in the least that I will become strong,
Practice and it will come, is what I hear the instructor constantly hum,
I leave the class feeling light, with a message to keep my mind occupied,
Flexibility is not the goal but what do you learn, is the bigger concern,
Patience, peace and compassion I hope you did earn.
This is a short poem about what a beginner’s journey into the practice of yoga might look like.
Initially, every one joins yoga to become more flexible, calm, strong etc. I joined yoga class for similar reasons too! It’s completely acceptable to do yoga only for it’s physical benefits.
But for those who wish to go deeper, yoga offers you a chance to know your strengths, weaknesses, personality etc from very close quarters. It teaches you valuable lessons that you can carry forward in your every day life and activities as well.
Just remember, these lessons and learnings don’t come easily, they take time and practice. So if you’re looking for quick results, yoga may not be for you.
Here are a few lessons I’ve learnt from the mat:
When in Doubt, Balance It Out:
Maintaining a sense of balance is crucial at every stage of life. It is taught to us as infants when we learn to walk and even as adults when we try to manage our professional and personal lives. The key to being happy is to try and find balance in everything we do.
A small tip to achieve it:
The way to balance is to engage in silence , your body, breath and mind,
It takes a little while but do not forget to smile, a happier you it will leave behind!
P U S H – Persist Until Something Happens:
For a long time, performing certain yoga asanas seemed like a distant dream to me. I’d look at others in amazement and wonder if I’d ever get there. But something inside me told me to keep trying. And that’s what I did. Honestly, it’s the only thing I could do – try!
So well, I kept persisting, till one day I managed to do the asanas I’d always wanted to do.
Once I achieved that small goal, I began aiming for bigger ones knowing that if I continue to persist, something will happen.
The same applies to life as well.. Persist and keep persisting till one day, somehow, something will happen and you will surprise yourself.
Good Vibes Only:
A room full of people with a common interest in a subject are bound to send out some good vibes. At least this is what happens in a room full of yoga enthusiasts.
They’re all doing their asanas in a corner, making attempts, falling down and getting up to try again. They share their ‘yoga pose struggles and achievements’ with the others and never hesitate to help if someone is struggling.
Each person comes to their mat for different reasons, but in a class setup, all automatically become one. One, in trying to understand the asanas and the demands of it.
The end result of this unity and community – only good vibes and no jibes!
Self-Awareness:
Self-awareness here refers to ‘body awareness’. The last time we really studied about our anatomy was back in school in the biology class. Back then, it only mattered to memorize the names of muscles, bones, joints etc and get a good grade. As children, we didn’t really pay attention to the details.
But this aspect changes once you start practicing yoga. In an asana class, you will typically hear the names of various muscles and joints of your body you ignored and even took for granted. These parts of your anatomy begin to become important and necessary in your practice. This heightened sense of self-awareness develops a sense of admiration for all the human body does and encourages the practitioner to understand himself/herself better.
Be Present with your presence:
How many of us can confidently say we are ‘present’ at all times? None, right?
That’s because we’re either dwelling on the past or wondering about the future. Don’t fret.
It’s the nature of the mind to keep wandering about with thoughts. Training the mind to be focused on one thought or moment requires a lot of practice.
Here is where yoga comes to the rescue. The practice teaches you to focus on one thing at a time and be fully aware of your entire body when you do asanas.
With regular practice this mindset slowly starts to set in and before you know it, being present with your presence is your new win!
I hope these lessons inspire you to get on your mat and practice!
Credits: Namita Kamdar
