Many times, upon learning that I am a yoga teacher, a new acquaintance tells me, “I’d love to try yoga but I’m not flexible enough!” It’s a kind of Catch 22 response because how does one become more flexible if one does not practice flexibility?
Would it surprise you to learn that when I began practicing yoga I was by no means flexible; physically or otherwise?
Thinking back, I was more attracted to yoga for what it offered in managing the burnout I was feeling as a caregiver than a way to become flexible.
Yoga practice can draw us in for many reasons.
The beginnings of a yoga practice can be all about the physical body. In the West, that is generally how we start a yoga practice. In Kripalu Yoga lingo, we call it Stage 1, or ‘building/strengthening the container’ of the body.
We start where we start, flexible or not.
At the beginning of my practice, back in 1997, I showed up in a tee shirt and stretchy sweatpants. I didn’t “look” like a yogini and I didn’t “dress” like a yogini. I simply showed up and began learning to move in ways that could help dissipate tightness in my body and release stress from my mind.
In early 2013, a recurring groin injury flared up …and by flaring up, I mean I was limping! Embarrassing for a yoga instructor to be seen limping along, I thought. Many, many gentle yoga sessions later, I am healing and learning to be in my ‘new’ body.
I have been given the chance to revisit being new to yoga.
Experimenting, I’m learning that yoga poses that came easily before are now ‘off the menu’ or are ‘pending’ based on my current state of progress. Listening to my body and accepting its ability in the moment have been humbling and enlightening. Yoga is like that.
Yoga is a stress-reducing, energy-balancing, find-out-about-yourself practice anyone can begin at any time. As one can breathe, so one can practice yoga. Yoga practice is not hindered by or concerned with the degree of flexibility you possess or whether you’re wearing a snazzy yoga pants.
In my studio, yoga is for every body; every-shape, every-age, every-size, every-ability body.
If you are are new to yoga or “new again” to it, please consider joining me for the 4-week Beginner’s Yoga Course, starting Saturday, January 25th and running until February 15th. You can find out more here.