There’s no shortage of reasons to not practice yoga. Yoga educators have heard all of the excuses before. In fact, I’ve tried many of them out myself!
“I’m not flexible.”
“I don’t have time.”
“I’m not a 20-year old skinny white chick who looks like they’re headed to a Lululemon photo shoot.”
Amiright?! The thing is… none of these stories we tell ourselves are the reasons that keep us from trying yoga for the first time. Not really. The real reason, deep down at the root of it, is everyone’s least favorite V word… vulnerability. We’re in pain, we’re anxious, we’re depressed, we’re stressed out, we don’t know how we got to this point, we don’t think we’ll be accepted as we are, we don’t want to put ourselves in a vulnerable position. Well, I’m here to tell you, you are perfect as you are in this moment. Self-acceptance starts right here, right now. Not when the time is right, and the circumstances are ideal. As the Buddha says “You yourself, as much as anybody in this entire universe, deserve your love and affection.” You are not your body, you are not the suffering of the mind, or any of the other reasons you think yoga is not for you. You are so much more than that!
My best piece of advice to you is to meet yourself exactly as you are, and one way for everyBODY to do that on the mat is by using props. I’ll be honest, the use of props hasn’t always been popular in yoga studios. Whether it’s due to lineage attachments, preconceived ideals, or negative thinking patterns, for a long time we allowed our narratives around “not enoughness” to follow us onto the yoga mat. However, in my experience, the use of props often indicates a deeper awareness of self and the yoga practice as a whole. Props like blocks, blankets, and straps—even chairs—can be used by all practitioners to help support and empower your breath, your physical body, your nervous system, and so much more! No one ever said yoga asana had to look a certain way, fit a certain criteria, or be performed by a certain body type… so why do we fall into the trap of allowing highly exclusive imagery to stop us from participating? By choosing to give full acceptance to your physical vehicle, and offer the support it needs in class without judgment, a ripple effect is created that helps keep us out of negative thinking patterns and into more positive neural pathways. Yoga is intended to help cultivate a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world around us through presence in every moment, not just the comfortable ones.
To see some of Rebelution Yoga’s favorite props, check out our “Shop & Apothocary” page at www.rebelutionyoga.com! Still not convinced you’re ready to book an in-studio yoga class? That’s okay too! RY&T has helped many people just like you create their own personal wellness plan to reach that goal. Check out our “Private Yoga & Therapeutics” page, and set up a private session with one of our experienced professionals today! No more excuses. It’s time to treat yourself with the love and compassion you deserve.
Love always, Heather Sky