Since the pandemic, I have had many of my past students return to my classes reporting that they have “lost their yoga.” They are often afraid to attend class again, fearing that they will not be able to perform many of the poses that they used to. Some see me and inform me that they “plan” on returning soon but don’t feel ready. They report that they are no longer flexible or strong, so they are waiting to improve first. They believe that since their body is not in the shape that it was pre-pandemic then they are not ready for their mat.
I have good news for you. You can ALWAYS return to your mat! Your yoga mat is a safe place for you to connect with your body. It doesn’t matter what shape it is in. Your yoga mat will never judge you. It is there to support you and help you improve. A yoga class is the same. I assure you that the yoga instructor will also never judge you and is there to support you and help you improve. As far as the other students in the class, if they are judging you then they are not doing a very good job at practicing their own yoga.
You never truly “lose” your ability to practice yoga
“The true purpose of yoga is to discover that aspect of your being that can never be lost”.
Deepak Chopra
We have all had times in our lives where we “lost” our yoga. Even I sometimes must remind myself to return to my mat. Lately I have been very focused on other areas of my wellbeing and career. I have been consumed with finalizing my book, providing new workouts for my personal training clients, teaching other group fitness classes, getting my personal workouts in, planning a wedding, caring for an ailing dog and other more demanding tasks in my life. Yoga can be very easy to push aside and plan for another day. We often feel “too stressed”, or “too busy” to fit yoga into our life. The ironic thing is that this is when we need yoga the most.
Your yoga mat will always be there waiting for you to return. Yoga will provide you with a sense of calm and help you restore your body and mind so that you will be more successful in all these other areas of your life. It doesn’t matter how good you are at it. Reconnecting with your body is all that is necessary. Once you take some time to complete your yoga practice you may find that completing all your other tasks are much more enjoyable.
It is easy to return
The first step in returning to your mat is to stop judging yourself for leaving it. We have all lost our way at times. You are not any different than anyone else trying to figure out how to return. Get your mat out of the closet, brush it off and sit on it for a while. Begin to remember how great you felt after completing your yoga practice and completely believe that you can feel this way again.
Don’t put your mat away! Leave it out where you will see it every day. Let it be a constant reminder that it is there waiting for you and will support you when you need it.
Begin your practice. I highly recommend attending a yoga class with other people. Having a personal practice by yourself is a great routine to get into but attending a class with other likeminded people will give you the motivation to keep your practice strong. There is nothing greater than the energy of all the other people in the class connecting to yoga and each other in a way that’s indescribable. Afterall, the word yoga literally means “yoke, or union.” So, I encourage you to find this union with your own body and the other people in your class that are also trying to find their yoga.
