Maybe trying a yoga class has been on your resolutions list before but until now you’ve convinced yourself it’s not for you.
Let me suggest why 2025 could be the year you change your mind…
I’d try yoga but… I’ve tried it before and I didn’t like the teacher/ class/ style.
This is very normal. There are lots of different styles of yoga and it can take a few tries to find one that suits your body’s needs. The style I teach is heavily influenced by Somatic Movement Practice and my work as a Somatic Therapist. It’s slow and progressive, and encourages perceiving the body in movement from the inside out. We use the support of the breath, physical sensation, energy, emotion & imagination as our guide. Don’t be fooled though, we build strength and stamina along the way.
As for teachers, we all have our different strengths, weaknesses and training. Some do lots of visual demonstrations, some teach via dictation while they roam the class; some offer hands on adjustments, some avoid touch. Most of us are lovely, but some (as in all professions) are assholes, and can put people off for years. I am not everyone’s cup of tea, I’ve had a couple of walk outs in my 10 years of teaching. I have an off beat humour and cuss occasionally in class. But I hope to always be welcoming, affirmative & thorough in my teaching.
I’d try yoga but… I’m too heavy/ don’t like how my body looks.
Yoga has an image of being for slender bendy people, which is something I’d like to take a sledge hammer to. Yoga is for everybody and every Body. The physical postures can be modified to suit all body shapes, sizes and abilities, and a good teacher will always encourage you toward finding ways to feel comfortable in your movements and make the practice your own. This goes for those of us who are heavier than we’d like to be, those of us with injuries and chronic pain, and those of us who have just lost our sense of self.
I’d try yoga but… I don’t have anything to wear.
Wear your pyjamas! Wear something comfortable that you can move freely in, that doesn’t restrict your breath or force you to suck in your stomach. The Active Wear industry as we know it has only existed for a generation, and before that people wore whatever was comfortable and safe for their chosen activity. You don’t need hundreds of pounds of pastel lycra to enjoy a good stretch.
I’d try yoga but… I’m scared if I got down on the mat I wouldn’t get back up again/ my knees won’t let me.
I hear this a lot. One solution is to try a seated movement class and discover creative ways of moving while the body is fully supported. You can build mobility, flexibility and strength without having to get down on the floor.
Exploring movement slowly while listening to the body embodies respect for ourselves and our experience. Practicing something new can build confidence through self discovery and self mastery. Yes, we move our body through certain ranges of motion into funny shapes, but more importantly, we encourage steadiness and ease in movement, better breathing, and curiosity toward the fluctuations of the mind (mindfulness).
I’d try yoga but… what if I trump in class?
Honestly, we all do at some point. I like to think I’ve mastered the secret silent yoga teacher fluff, but occasionally it isn’t so 😉 Bodies are going to do what bodies do, and the less embarrassment we have about that the better.