yoga is here for you now
Yoga is here for you now. You don’t need to be more fit, flexible or knowledgeable before you start. You don’t need fancy leggings, or even a sticky mat. Your body and your breath are enough. Promise.
yoga body (n.): a body practicing yoga
I read a study during my first teacher training that said the average time between when someone first considers going to a yoga class and when they actually do it is 2 years. Participants in the study expressed worry that they would make a fool of themselves, that they wouldn’t fit in, that they weren’t in good enough shape or flexible enough for yoga. If you’ve thought some of these things yourself, please know: you’re not alone; you’re already ready; and thinking this way is not your fault.
It makes me absolutely crazy, what we have done to yoga’s image as it has been popularized and commercialized over the last 40 years. Yoga is sold as aspirational, instead of accessible; something to achieve in a 30-day challenge instead of a lifelong practice we undertake every day with intention. Can I fix that with one blog post? No. But who’s to say I can’t try?? So, to borrow a little language from the marketers…
how to yoga in 4 (5) easy steps
step 1. show up
step 2. breathe
step 3. connect/root
step 4. move (or don’t)
(step 5. repeat, every day)
step 1. show up (on purpose)
setting intention is really about taking a moment to be where you are on purpose. what are you up to? what are you here for? let the movement be about that (this applies to everything you do, by the way, on the mat or off).
step 2. breathe
probably you’re already doing it, but check to be sure. then, get curious. if you softened a little, if you gave some weight to the earth, if you supported your hips with a block or a pillow, would your breath have more space? the quickest way to align yourself in a pose or a seat is to make sure you can breathe.
step 3. connect/root
notice where you’re supported - sometimes just noticing there *is* support here for you is enough. maybe you imagine yourself as a tree, roots growing down into the earth, branches reaching up through the crown of your head into the heavens… the point is, you are both connected and expansive; supported and free to move.
step 4. move (or not)
āsana, yoga poses, are only one form of yoga practice, and even within that form, there are a variety of radically different approaches from which to choose! do what works for you, and do it with 1-3, above, in mind. stay present; that’s the yoga. daily practice could look like sun salutations (surya namaskar); seated stretches, breathing, and focus; a walking meditation / mindful walk; or meditating/chanting in stillness...
step 5. repeat
consistency is key, especially at the beginning. choose one simple, sustainable practice and do it every day for three weeks (if you are a menstruating person, it can be helpful to start with the three weeks following your period). not every other day, not three times a week; every. day. that way, it’s never a question. it’s just a part of your day, as natural and necessary as brushing your teeth. (this is also why it’s important to start small). after three weeks, check in. decide if you want to add another element or increase the time. it might be helplful to keep a practice journal to jot notes about how you feel or what you notice.
if you recognize a shift in your needs, be it seasonal or situational, give yourself permission (or even an imperative) to adjust accordingly. you can read about how my own morning practice, which I’ve slowly and consistently developed over the last decade, changes with the seasons here.
So that’s it. That’s ‘how to yoga,’ ‘how to get a yoga body,’ ‘1 simple change for more energy every day,’ and whatever else the list-icles are promising these days. You just have to start. And when you need a helping hand, a gentle reminder, a cheerleader, a teacher, a guide - well, we’re here for all of that. We’re here for you and your practice, in all its forms. Collective liberation is the goal. 💓
Let us know how it’s going, down below. Let’s learn from each other.