How does one become a great yoga student?
Yoga students, whether you are attending your first class, going as a regular class or are seasoned veterans – you can continuously maximize your learning experience through the critical element of practice.
In fact, your expectations of a great yoga teacher should be matched with defining expectations of how you’re going to show up as a yoga student.
What can you do to get the most of your time during each yoga class? After practicing yoga myself for almost 60 years, I’ve come away with several tried and true tips on how you can achieve the best from the time you invest in your yoga practice.
Being a great yoga student isn’t about being the most advanced in aasana. It’s about being engaged in your yoga practice so you can get the most out of it – and learn the most you can from each experience.
10 habits that all great Yoga students share are :
1. Define your goals
A critical step many yoga students forget to do. Significantly, while long term goals can be fuzzy and medium term goals flexible, the situation that you are in must have a definite outcome. Importantly, though these goals may not all be achieved and will change over time, they are still an important part of the process. Yes, you can have the goal of “simply being in the present.”
What I’m advocating is engagement, action, and ownership of your yoga practice and this starts with establishing goals. Then, let personal accountability be your superpower.
2. Great Yoga students are consistent
Forming habits takes time. Practice delayed gratification and become a habit guru. Why? Because great things take time to mature. I’m talking about small things like consistently showing up in yoga class, on time and ready to practice.
Consistently putting in the work (in and out of the yoga studio) will benefit you as a yoga student in the long-run.
3. Be comfortable
Shed the need to satisfy the expectations of others. Instead, move your mat around, wear comfortable clothing instead of worrying about fashion. Analyze how you’re empowering yourself to get the most out of your experience as a yoga student.
Are you just checking yoga off your to-do list or are you expending energy into really learning and growing as a yoga student? Balance comfort with exploring your edge. Growth happens when we move outside our comfort zone.
4. Yoga student and teacher relationship determines effective outcomes
I can’t stress enough, the value of sharing your vision, goals, fears and friendship with a yoga teacher. They thrive when you do. The best yoga teachers point you in the right direction and enable you to experience your own insights.
5. Practice safety
Safety is ever more critical now since many yoga classes are extremely fitness oriented. According to the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS), the number of yoga-related injuries treated in emergency rooms has increased dramatically.
If you’re a new yoga student, ask your teacher if you are doing the poses correctly and don’t be afraid to ask for modifications if needed. Let your yoga teacher know if you have an injury or any health-related concerns that they should be aware of.
6. Focus on less – or one thing at a time
Yoga students practice concentration or single point focus as a goal.
Eliminate physical, psychosomatic and cognitive clutter. Be observant. Become hyper-sensitive to what is happening in your yoga class – how you feel, more than how you think. Self-awareness will translate into a increased depth of consciousness.
This is key for both your yoga practice and your overall growth as a yoga student.
7. Leave your ego at the door
When ego is transcended, limits, filters and baggage are lost. Breathe and remember that to cultivate a beginner’s mind, you need to be empty within and that each moment is an opportunity to practice presence authentically and get in touch with your vulnerability.
Also, if you remain present, you’ll be open to learn and gain more from your yoga practice. Remember – as yoga students we are always continuing to learn and grow.
8. Be a positive and vocal yoga student
Importantly, there is no such thing as success or failure. Also, these ambitions and fears exist in our head and inhibit learning as well as growth. So, immerse yourself in positive energy and people, teachers will respond to you in new ways. If you need extra support or guidance, your teacher won’t know unless you tell them. Remember, there is no need to suffer in silence.
In fact, remember that you’re not alone. Undoubtedly, almost all yoga practitioners are feeling their way into the Self and all are nervous as they explore the uncharted territory within. Share your experiences, learn from others and gain as a yoga student.
9. Be flexible
Importantly, be open to trying new things. Remember, your ability to embrace change will determine your ability to manage change harmoniously. For instance, if you tried a yoga class and hated it, ask yourself why. What could have been better, and can you capture what you want from a different yoga teacher, class or studio?
10. Enjoy the present moment
The last thing you want is stress in your yoga practice – so don’t bring it. In fact, one of the many beautiful aspects of yoga is the ability to merge opposing experiences into harmony. Importantly, recognise that one can have goals, yet rest in the experience that you have everything you need already. The ability to act without expectations, remaining grounded in the awareness no matter what the situation is Yoga.
Importantly, recognise the difference between response and reaction. Remember, silence is a response, because it requires incredible self-control.
We’re hardwired to strive. As yoga students, we’re in class with a goal in mind. Only in savasana are we instructed to just be, instead of do something.
Adopt these habits to gain the most benefit out of your yoga practice. Remember, a great yoga student recognises real from temporary and is dispassionate in all situations. So, practice balance, presence and work with an open response format.
This ancient system of living will give a lifetime of joy as an eternal student, so drop into that space with a focus of getting what you need, every day.