youryogaguide

A few years ago, a woman called me up inquiring about the yoga classes I taught. As I began to tell her about them, she interrupted me with the question, “But is it authentic yoga? I want authentic yoga.”

I thought it was an odd question, but I think I knew what she was after. She wanted to hear that I’d lived in a yoga ashram in India for years, studying yoga directly under the world masters. She wanted to know if I was the next best thing to doing something like that herself.

Instead, I told her the truth, as I believed it; I told her that the authenticity of yoga comes not from the style you practice or teach and its lineage, but from what feels authentic within yourself. If your yoga practice feels true and right and beautiful, that is authentic yoga.

I never did see her in class. But it was an interesting question because it gave insight into the mindset some people have about what is yoga and what is authentic. Was I any less of a yoga teacher and student because I had studied at a local studio instead of an ashram? I didn’t think so. I believed that I loved and was as devoted to my practice as the next guy.

Face it; there are only so many ways to practice Downward Facing Dog. A certain style of yoga might get you into the posture in a specific way, may focus on an aspect of the posture that another style of yoga doesn’t pay much attention to, but when all is said and done, your hands are flat on the floor, palms and fingers pressed flat to protect wrists; heels are pressing down toward the mat; shoulders may be rolled out and elbows suggested toward one another; hips are reaching toward the sky; naval is reaching slightly inward toward spine, knees may be slightly bent; breath is strong; you might peddle your feet alternately, lift a leg, open a hip.

Variations abound, but the more I explore different classes, styles, and teachers, the more I realize that they have far more in common than they don’t. The authenticity of your yoga practice doesn’t come from without–not from a teacher, not from a style or level–it comes from the experience you are having within as you practice.

I have been to classes led by highly trained and experienced teachers that felt fake to me. Something about the practice did not resonate with my soul. It wasn’t that the teachers were no good or the style of yoga questionable; it was that what works for me, what feels authentic to me, may be different from what feels right and authentic to someone else.

Don’t get so hung up on labels or presumed legitimacy. That is your ego talking. Your soul, or spirit, doesn’t care about such matters; it wants only to practice yoga. Try out different styles of yoga and teachers until you find one that resonates with you, and then forget about such things as whether it’s “authentic”. Practice until your spirit sings and your heart dances, even if it’s at a local gym. Practice until you know how Downward Facing Dog feels right in your own body rather than how someone tells you it should feel. Practice until you feel so joyful and blissed out that questions such as whether your yoga is “authentic” don’t matter anymore.

Remember the words by Swami Vivekanda: Your, yourselves, are the being that you seek. As long as you know what you know, see what you see, and feel what you feel, your practice is authentic. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

Namaste!

Have you always wanted to try yoga, but don’t know where to begin?  Getting started in yoga is like any other new venture; the getting there is the hardest part.  Questions are sure to abound:  Where should I take a class?  What should I wear?  What kind of yoga should I try?  What can I expect in a yoga class?  Or maybe you’ve convinced yourself that you’re not skinny enough, flexible enough or are too high strung to practice yoga.  Well, no more excuses.  It’s time to get off your butt and onto a yoga mat.

Depending on where you live, you might have several yoga studios to choose from.  If so, get on their websites to check them out.  Get a feel for which one might best suit your personality.  Call to find out which class is most appropriate for beginners.  If there are no yoga studios in your area, check out classes at your local parks and recreation center, the YWCA, evening high school adult programs or a nearby community college. 

Wear comfortable clothes that are suitable for exercise to your yoga class.  Sweatpants and T-shirts are fine, though in some of the poses, such as Downward Facing Dog, a loose T-shirt might ride up and expose your belly.  If you don’t want your belly exposed, a tighter fitting top is a good bet, as long as it covers you up and stays put.   You don’t want to spend the entire class pulling and hiking your top into place.  The same goes for your hair.  If it’s longer, you may want to pull it back in a ponytail so that it’s not falling in your eyes while you practice.

There are many styles and levels of yoga. Styles of yoga are  usually based on lineage and fundamental beliefs. For example, Kripalu style yoga focuses on sensations in the body and yoga as meditation in motion.  Kundalini yoga uses postures, meditation, breathwork, and chanting to awaken the Kundalini energy that lies dormant in the base of the spine.  Power yoga is a sweaty, physically challenging workout for people who want to build strength and stamina; its roots are in Ashtanga yoga.  The list goes on.  Read the class descriptions to get a feel of the different styles. Better yet, try out different styles until you find one that you love.

Levels of yoga classes have to do with your own level of experience.  A gentle or beginner class is best for newcomers, no matter what their fitness level.  Intermediate or advanced classes are best visited once you have mastered some of the basic postures. 

Once in class, what can you expect?  That depends on where it’s taken and who the teacher is.  Studios tend to invite more yogic philosophy and meditation into their classes.  Some invoke chanting, such as the chant OM.  Studios are generally comfortable, peaceful settings in which to practice yoga.  Gyms, fitness centers and parks and recreation centers tend to have atmospheres less conducive to yoga; though I began my yoga practice in a gym with a wonderful teacher who brought her own music and a little lamp, which she would cover with a scarf to create a more peaceful atmosphere. 

Class usually begins with a centering, to help you transition into your yoga practice.  Expect to do some basic yogic breathing, which helps de-stress and calm the mind.  Expect to do postures; some you will do on your belly, some on your back, and some standing.  You might even do a little bit of flowing Sun Salutations.  Balancing postures are usually included in each class. 

Overall, the class will probably be a mix of warm up postures, a little flow to get your heart rate going, some holdings of postures to build strength, and a winding down sequence. At the end of class you will lie on your back in Corpse Pose (called Savasana in Sanskrit, the language of yoga) and spend five to ten minutes lying in deep relaxation.  At the end of relaxation, the teacher may invite you to sit up, and may close the class by saying “Namaste” which is Sanskrit for “the light in me honors the light in you.”

A final word:  You don’t have to be skinny, flexible or calm to practice yoga.  In fact, if you’re the opposite of these things, a yoga class is the perfect place for you to be.  You gain flexibility, create a sense of calm and balance, and take good care of your body and health by practicing yoga.  Yoga really is the perfect exercise, for it incorporates all aspects of your being—body, mind, emotions, and spirit/energy, creating an overall sense of wholeness and well-being. 

May you have a positive, joyful experience in your first yoga class.

Namaste!