Competition and Yoga
What’s wrong with a little healthy competition and yoga? I would be certain that not a single one of us reading this has been to a yoga class where we haven’t felt our ego get a little competitive, am I right?
A million times as a student, I sat on my mat and the thoughts would churn. “What the hell? How does she even get into that position? My body would never do that! I wish I had those abs. OMG she isn’t even wearing makeup.” And on and on. If you have been a yoga student you know what I’m saying.
Then my thoughts once I became a yoga teacher, entering another teachers class, to take a yoga class as a student: “Oh I love that phrase, don’t forget that phrase. I wish I had a notebook to write that down. OMG if he says that word one more time… That was a great sequence, don’t forget that sequence. She is such an incredible teacher, I wish I could word things like that. He hasn’t fumbles his words once. Oh Lord look at that student over there, he is going to hurt himself, is the teacher going to correct that? ” And on and on. If you are a yoga teacher, you know what I’m talking about. The citta vrtta or mind chatter takes effort to turn off. The comparisons, the envy, the judgements because it has been ingrained in our culture to be competitive and it takes effort and awareness to release these generational teachings from our systems.
From experience, and still guilty of letting competition stand in my way from time to time, I offer this advice:
My Advice for Keeping Competition and Yoga Separate
- Remember that your body may be built in a way that a particular pose just isn’t physically possible. This is normal and totally okay.
- Being overly flexible isn’t necessarily a good thing. It takes a lot of deep stretches for flexible people to feel anything, that can be frustrating for them and lead to injury. It’s ok to feel that stretch even if you are barely in the pose.
- Find a class or instructor that teaches to your skill level. And even if you consider yourself skilled, it pays to take classes with teachers that slow you down and break down poses in ways that make you think and contemplate. Try private yoga therapy classes to begin so you can learn how to practice safely in your body.
- Everyday is different, as will be your practice. All of my public and virtual classes are different. Try them here.
- Close your eyes as much as you can in your practice and turn your attention inward. That’s where you should be anyway. Yoga is about awareness and you can’t be aware of what’s happening within you if you are looking outside of yourself.
- Consider your intentions. Why are you doing this pose? Because you were told to? Because if feels good? Because you want to relieve this pain? Because it brings you peace? Because you want to grow? Because your ego is forcing you to? Because everyone else is doing it?
- Consider the mantra “I am here.” Redirect your attention back to yourself when you notice your thoughts wander onto someone else’s mat.
There is no competition in one-on-one yoga therapy that is custom fit to your needs, abilities and goals. Schedule a free consult with me today here! https://waterfallyogallc.com/contact-me/
Timing or cost not right at the moment? Try these on demand courses in yoga therapy here.
