No matter what you can do, yoga is for you too!

When I finished my yoga teacher training and invited friends to my first yoga classes, I often heard sentences like “I'm not flexible enough for yoga” or “Yoga is not for me”. Although I tried to explain to them that yoga practice is for everyone, a few of them still didn't show up to my classes.

Their view, however, I could understand. When I started yoga, I often felt the same way. After all, who doesn't know this situation of arriving at a yoga class, looking around and choosing the spot at the furthest corner in order to stand out as little as possible in class?! Or who doesn't know the feeling of not daring to use yoga props such as blocks or straps during class because no one else is using them and you don't want to attract attention, do you? So better leave the tools aside.

Keep distance from the thought „I am not (good, flexible, ...) enough for yoga“

Over time and with more yoga experience in my bag, I quickly realized that contrary to what media images often would have us believe, it is not a prerequisite to be hyper-flexible and have a certain body shape to practice yoga. It is possible to personalize and adapt one's yoga practice to accommodate different abilities and physical capabilities, thus allowing the practice to feel good and right for your own unique body. This is not only important, but essential to sticking to the practice of yoga and growing with it. It also helps you avoid unnecessary injury or long-term harm.

Take the time and find your own yoga practice

Finding adaptations to yoga poses that work for your own body requires experimentation. By doing yoga at home, you have the opportunity to flexibly integrate yoga into your daily life, to learn about your own body and limitations, and to move in a mindful way. Take the time you have available and don't put too much pressure on yourself. Your practice doesn't have to be 90 minutes to be effective. Start slowly with a set number of poses and gradually add other asanas to your practice. other asanas. This way you can progressively increase your practice while keeping the motivation to implement a sustainable yoga practice at home.

Create a comfortable atmosphere at home and listen to your body

— B.K.S. Iyengar

My recommendation for you is: Choose your favorite playlist and practice a few asanas. These can be planned in advance or you can be inspired in the moment "and go with the flow". Listen to your body and notice how it reacts to the postures. Use any type of Tools, like bolsters, yoga blocks, straps, blanket, wall, etc. to support your practice. Open up to yourself, connect with parts of you and discover those that you have hidden or avoided for longer than you would like. Enjoy your practice and the time you've taken for yourself to do something good for your body, mind and spirit.

Stay open to other options - yoga means constant learning

Furthermore, it is of course good to visit yoga studios and take part in yoga classes if you can. Being among yogis, exchanging ideas and practicing together creates a sense of community and can positively strengthen us in our practice. Important: in a public class; keep focusing on yourself and your own needs. Leave aside any kind of comparison with other yogis and enjoy what you are and what you can already do.

In addition, take the opportunity at public yoga classes to ask questions about proper alignment in a posture as well as assistive tools and variations of asanas. In addition, books as well as yoga videos that cover yoga for all body shapes are very helpful and supportive for your own yoga practice.

I wish you a lot of fun on your yoga trip :)