Why not try Yoga?

9 July

I know the story, because it was my story.

Battling with anxiety, stress, fear, overthinking and overwhelm for most of your life, it is natural to try to find the remedy. To find something that works. I was offered the drugs and the ‘sit on an expensive chair and talk’ session. I wasn’t interested. My doctor near begged me to try. I was persistent in my no. I have always been sure that those recommended bandaids help, but for me it just wasn’t an aligned solution.

I have read that many self-help books, and you know what? They don’t work either. All that journey created for me was more overwhelm. A constant sense of ‘I am doing something wrong’, ‘I should’ve done this’ or ‘I should’ve done that’. And the worst thought of all, ‘I shouldn’t have done that’. Those books gave me a constant feeling of failure.

Perhaps I read too many in a too short space of time. But honestly I more feel like the problem was too many people with too many different opinions with WAY too many magic tools, tips and tricks. It didn’t help that the majority of these authors were rich, famous and posing in this ‘perfect life’. I don’t want to learn from some perfect cookie cutter human, I want to learn from a messing human who has gone through the darkest of woods and lived to tell the tale.

One of the most prevalent searches that popped up online when I searched for an ‘anxiety cure’ was Yoga. I ignored it mostly. I did try it a few times but Yoga is just stretching and as nice as that is, it doesn’t help my anxiety. I tried practicing in a Yoga Studio where I was surrounded by more perfect looking people wearing aesthetic Yoga clothes that made me feel like rubbish. I tried practicing online and realised I had just welcomed another perfect model into my house to teach me how to stretch.

I am a dancer, I know how to stretch.

So I ignored Yoga.

And what a shame that is. I can’t tell you what made me keep giving Yoga a chance after my negative experiences with it. Whatever the reason for my persistence was, I owe it my life.

Why do people try Yoga and stop? Considering Yoga is a practice for ALL and was designed as a remedy to help us quieten the noise generated from an untrained mind, why on earth would anyone walk away from that?

After a decade practicing and six years of teaching Yoga, I can say I know the reason.

People advertising and teaching Yoga, typically have no idea what they are talking about. They have bare minimum training and haven’t actually practised true Yoga themselves.

When you learn from a teacher that has dedicated themselves to Yoga. Someone who has walked the path themselves. Someone who has studied not only the movement of Yoga but the history and the philosophy of Yoga. THAT is someone you need to expose yourself to.

Because when you do, you’ll learn that Yoga is a practice of stilling the mind.

You know what happens when you learn to bring your mind into stillness?

Peace. Still water on the surface of a lake. The anxiety, stress, fear, overthinking and overwhelm all GONE.

Clarity is found.

Peace is remembered.

I’ve learnt this lesson so I feel like you can trust me (I have done it the hard way).

Don’t waste your time reading all the new age books, learning from perfect coaches with fake credentials and Yoga teachers that don’t know anything about Yoga beyond downward facing dog.