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A beginner’s mind can enhance your yoga practice

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I recently to a swimming class that was marketed as a group lesson for intermediate level swimmers and when I arrived, was disappointed to find it was actually full of beginners. At first I thought I would be wasting my time there but guess what? I learned more in that session than I would have done in a class of experienced swimmers. Why? Because I decided I would adopt a beginner’s mind and see what the teacher could show me.  And she did. I learned some very important new techniques, plus the teacher made a special effort to offer me additional tips because she could see I would be able to incorporate them.

 

Having a beginner's mind means approaching all experiences with openness, curiosity, and without preconceptions. In a yoga practice, this concept is particularly important because it allows you to approach each session with fresh eyes, regardless of your experience level. It’s why someone that has been practicing yoga for many years will always be happy coming to an ‘all levels’ class. They won't care about whether it is ‘advanced’ because they will have the ability to get what they needed from the class.

 

Come to every yoga class with a beginner's mind
Come to every yoga class with a beginner's mind

A beginner's mind in a yoga practice offers us many benefits:

 

Enhanced learning – by fostering more open-mindedness, receptivity, and presence, which are crucial for continuous learning and growth.

 

Deeper awareness – by letting go of expectations and preconceived ideas you are better able to observe and reflect, leading to a deeper understanding of yourself and your own practice.

 

Breaking up routines - instead of going through familiar poses mechanically, practicing with a beginner's mind helps break routine and the chance to experience each movement afresh.

 

Discovering new insights - even the familiar poses can feel different when approached with a fresh perspective. If you think about it, there are hundreds of yoga postures and yet most yoga classes practices focus on around 40 core postures on rotation, because these are the ones that offer the biggest health benefits and are accessible to all. And yet whenever you repeat the practice it always feels different

 

Practicing with a beginner’s mind creates an opportunity to balance knowledge with an openness to learn. Without discarding previous knowledge, a beginner's mind means you can build on your experience while also remaining open to new discoveries. Just as I found in my swimming class.


Give this a try

My call to action for you when you next join a yoga class is to discover something new from an established practice. Maybe it’s exploring where you can feel your breath, sensing the ground more deeply in a standing pose, paying attention to your ‘Drishti’ or point of focus, or being very precise about your alignment. How does this change how the the practice feels?


Follow me on Instagram: @behappyyogakingston


 

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