Think you’re not Flexible enough for Yoga….?

My Yoga Journey

Ive been a yoga teacher for around 15 years now. When I started going to a class it wasn’t so much for the health or spiritual benefits, more of an escape. At 24 I was an almost single mother of three young children. I was in a negative relationship and my self esteem was on the floor. I suffered from chronic illness, getting fevers and chest infections every few weeks. I struggled to cope. My chief motive for going to class we to escape the house for a few hours. Even though I was bendy I found the sessions physically challenging, I lacked strength and my muscles would ache for days afterwards. Sometimes the practice would bring emotions bubbling to the surface and I would find myself sobbing quietly during relaxation. As time went on I found the practice started to teach me things about myself. Yes my body became stronger and my chest infections disappeared but it was the mental resilience that I learnt on the mat that was of the greatest value to me in my life. I learned to stand tall.

Today my practice is about both mental equilibrium and creating balance in my body from all the cycling that I do. If I feel good in my body I generally feel good in my self. Some days I need a strong practice and other days I take a more restorative approach. Sometimes I fall over in Tree pose…other days I am as steady as a mountain. This doesn’t make me any better or worse than anyone else. I am just doing my practice.

A Students Journey

One student has really stuck in my mind over the years simply for the transformation I saw in him over just a few months. Lets call him Jim. Jim arrived in class one day, he was probably mid fifties, slightly unshaven, hair covering half his face, his skin was pale and I got the feeling that he wasn’t very comfortable in his own skin. His body was a wreck, stiff as a board with various aches, pains and limitations. He sweated and struggled through the first class. I did everything I could to make him feel comfortable with where he was and to make sure he didn’t push himself too far. I hoped he wouldn’t be put off, never to come back. He turned up again the following week and the next, and slowly things started to change. The first thing I noticed was that he had cut his hair and had a shave. He started to wear nicer clothes and his skin tone brightened. Colour appeared in his cheeks and there was a spring in his step. Along with this his body had started to respond to the yoga and began to give a little. He still had to work and sweat but there was a sense of freedom starting to show. One day after class I couldn’t help but comment on how different he seemed. He glowed and confirmed that he also couldn’t believe the change that had happened in him in such a short time all through coming to a yoga class.

Thats the magic of yoga. Its not in doing impressive poses. Its about the journey that it takes you on as a whole person. So if you find yourself in a class where the teacher is mocking you for not being able to do something, get out of there and find yourself a better teacher. And next time you hear someone say “I’m not flexible enough to do yoga” make sure you put them right!

Just keep practicing!