The Beauty of Being a Beginner

Challenge pose master Kathryn Budig offers some sage advice for beginning yogis craving more advanced asana.

JAN 13, 2016

Challenge pose master Kathryn Budig offers some sage advice for beginning yogis craving more advanced asana.

A new yogi will inevitably experience at least one and likely many, many, many more moments of despair upon discovering the kind of seemingly death-defying yoga postures that would leave the average Joe unable to walk for weeks. In my experience, yoga beginners have two very specific responses to witnessing such postures, which often occur simultaneously.

Starting a new craft can be daunting. It’s like being dropped off in a foreign country without a translator. That being said, the only way to improve your skills is with practice. Just because something feels impossible now doesn’t mean it can’t be a normal action for you in the future. Know that every person, regardless of how beautiful their practice may seem, has started with the same thought—I’ll never be able to do that. How did they move past it? They applied themselves, practiced hard, and continued to show up knowing that the potential burns inside of them.See also 15 Beginner Poses for a Fresh Perspective

On the flipside of despair is the immediate response of needing a pose NOW. Witnessing advanced asana often kickstarts an almost chemical reaction of desire and need to achieve—NOW. Why the rush? Maybe it’s a desire for approval, a nod to the ever-greedy ego, or an over-achieving personality. I can say this because I’ve been there myself. If something looks amazing, I want to do it. Oh, and ideally sooner than later!See also Back to Basics: Upward-Facing Dog Breakdown

Beginner Reaction #1: Defeat and disbelief.

Starting a new craft can be daunting. It’s like being dropped off in a foreign country without a translator. That being said, the only way to improve your skills is with practice. Just because something feels impossible now doesn’t mean it can’t be a normal action for you in the future.

Know that every person, regardless of how beautiful their practice may seem, has started with the same thought—I’ll never be able to do that. How did they move past it? They applied themselves, practiced hard, and continued to show up knowing that the potential burns inside of them.

【◎曼陀羅藏◎】

2018年11月21日星期三