How can I make progress in my yoga practice?

I am writing this article because I feel like sharing with you few things I have learned through hard work, difficult moments and lots of struggles during my few years of life, as well as during the years I have practiced yoga.

Yoga has become so popular and more and more people find it to be of great help in order to manage our busy lifestyle. It is important to keep in mind that the intention that we have when we get on our mat is the most important. Check out my article about intention on the yoga mat.

If you approach yoga wanting to achieve something and prove yourself, well there will be no yoga into that. Simply because yoga is not about achieving, but patiently working towards becoming a strong and beautiful ( in a sense of inner-beauty) YOU.

Lately I avoid giving advice, but I do like to express my point of view and share from my experience with my students.

Few things and lessons that have helped me to make progress in my practice:

1. Learn from my teacher’s experience and things they share with me. It doesn’t mean that you have to take everything for granted ( in the end we are all human beings subject to being wrong and exploring), but try not to judge what you don’t understand and keep an open heart and mind. Your teacher is sharing a part of her/his heart with you. Have respect for that and learn. Personally it has taken me a hard and long time until I eventually understood that.
2. Explore. By remaining present in your practice (which is the state of advanced yoga) and being humble, you give yourself the opportunity to explore that asana and move forward.
3. Learn to be independent. Your teacher is your guide, but you are the only one that lives in that body and mind. You are the only one who can help yourself to make progress. As much as the teacher wants every student to make progress, the teacher cannot put the work for you.
4. Be consistent. Practicing one/ twice a week or once in a while can bring a sense of relaxation and help you release tension, but unfortunately you are not going to make big progress. Big changes happen over a long period of time when we put constant work into it.
5. Drop the expectations. Whether is “Today I’m going to feel amazing after the yoga class” or “Today I’m going to be able to do X asana”, please drop the expectations. When we are expecting something to happen, we are not enjoying the ride. We are not enjoying that very moment.  Do your best, let yourself surprised and remain present. Beautiful things will happen when you don’t expect them.

What works for me it might not work for you. And my journey will definitely be different from your journey while your journey will be different from another person’s journey. In the end we all want to be happy, but there are different roads to happiness and finding ourselves.

Namaste!

Lavinia

©Unfold Your Mat