Even as we get older and (supposedly) more mature, many of us still harbor some big insecurities when it comes to starting something new. That fear of looking silly has kept a lot of potential first-timers out of the yoga studio and, I’m sure, out of many, many other things.
I’ve been in a lot of yoga classes, and I’ve taught a lot of them, too. First you can take a few steps to prepare for your first class and ease the anxiety, knowing you’ll have the clothing and equipment you need. And this should ease it, too: the truth is, no one in the class is watching you do yoga.
They’ve been there.
Every person in there was once a first-time yoga practitioner. Most of them remember what they felt like when they did those poses for the first time. All of them still have poses they’ve never tried before and may have times when they have a hard time understanding what the teacher is explaining or a hard time getting their bodies to try something new. They’re all still students. Even the teacher.
They’ve got their eyes closed.
Or they’re trying to. Most of the time.
They’re busy with their own thing.
Even for those who are not self-conscious about being in class, they’re still focusing on their own bodies and their own practice. If someone is using a yoga class to mentally criticize you, he or she is missing the point. Several points.
Not to work you back up after I’ve spent several paragraphs calming you down, but let’s face it: that probably happens sometimes. No problem. You don’t have time for those people.
The teacher isn’t looking at your body: he’s looking at how your body moves.
When I became a fitness instructor, I started seeing bodies differently. They become like machines, and during classes I study them to see if they’re moving efficiently and safely. I want to see if your body is aligned in the pose and if there is anything you can do to strengthen or deepen it.
What makes you nervous about trying new things? How did it go when you overcame that fear and jumped in?