How many times have you seen a photo of some one doing that headstand or arm balance and you were like “Nooo way, this is totally not for me.”? Me – lots of the times. Even though you might think you don’t really care, you mind your business and etc., it does stays in the back of your head and eventually might come out in a form of “Nah, this was not my thing aaanyways”. So let me tell you something:
fot. Natalka Dovha
Yoga is not a sport neither it is a competition (unless you choose so, but then it’s a complete different story). It is a treatment, a therapy for uniting your body and mind while integrating the breath. It’s always about searching for unity within, meeting yourself again and again, observing the body, your thoughts, your emotions, your feelings. Isn’t it beautiful? Imagine how many times during the day our mind goes away from our body, when we are nervous, rushed, pissed off or sad – here yoga is your tool to come back to your natural state of mind and let go all those layers of your daily schedule. But wait a minute, did we forget about those fancy poses somewhere on our way? Not really. See, they are just not there.
The thing about yoga is that its simple and complex at the same time. It’s all about checking with body, referring to your mind, improving, remembering to breathe – yes, this is a challenge! And when the challenge comes this is where you have the variation poses. For every yoga position there is at least one alternative/variation. They were developed since roots of yoga practices and are made exactly for enabling yogi to work with your body through mind.
I was practicing yoga for 4 years before I had my first head stand. Every time I was trying it in the back of my head I’ve had lots of concerns like: “I’m not sure if I’m doing it right”, “She did it a different way”, “What if I fall?”, “I should do it because its been a while since I’m practicing” and so much more. And you know what? Only after I managed to trash those thoughts away, or how the yogis say observe and let them go, I found myself holding my legs up.
Yoga IS a lot of work. Even though it may not seem so from the first glance, but it really is, and at the moment you step on the mat you will realise it, I promise. Try to notice whenever you are like “OK not my thing BYE” – this is exactly the time to admit that you thought it’ll be easier and give it another try.
Indeed, you might not become lifetime devoted yogi, just like someone might not be a judo fighter, scientist or a housewife. But despite everything what might discourage on the way, you should give it a chance and try it out. Just bare in mind, its all about patience and devotion. Yeah, you’ll be there one day with the leg behind your had (or not). But only if you need it.
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