Why do We Struggle to Listen to Our Own Advice?

In my previous blog, I spoke about beginners’ yoga and how there are different styles of yoga that are suited to different people and there is no one-size fit’s all approach to the practice of yoga.

However, this concept is not only applied to beginners – it applies to everyone, no matter where you are in your practice.

As we age, we may start to practice a gentler style of yoga as our bodies begin to slow down, while some start off with a gentle practice and move onto more challenging styles. Although many yoga practitioners move through a variety of styles as they progress through their practice, others may find one style that they enjoy and stick with it for life. The beauty is that there is a yoga practice out there to suit your current set of needs as well as your current stage of life.

Following My Own Advice and Listening to my Body

I have to admit that I struggle to follow my own advice sometimes. This rule that there is a different style of yoga to suit every stage of life is something I forget. As a movement professional, it can be hard to accept change and to move in a way that is different to what I am used to or what I enjoy.

But, alas, after avoiding it for as long as possible, I got Covid which had a serious impact on my daily practice. For the first two weeks, I had predominant symptoms and I did not really do any yoga other than some gentle stretching on my back to alleviate some of the muscle aches I was experiencing. I went from moving every single day to being rather sedentary.

As I started to feel better, I tried getting back to my usual yoga practice, but Covid had other plans for me. Some minor complications made it quite challenging to move and breathe and as a result, I retreated back into a state of sedentary moping – an all or nothing approach.

Before all of this, I had a student who had Covid and my advice to her was to meet her body where it was and to try some restorative yoga classes instead, to focus on breath, soothing the nervous system, and getting her lymphatic system moving again. Somehow, I forgot to apply this advice to myself, until I heard it mirrored back to me by my physiotherapist who reminded me to let go of those heavy expectations I carry around for myself. I had to let go of what I thought was the only way to practice yoga to make space for the best way to practice yoga in that specific stage of my life. Light bulb moment!

A Shift in Perspective

Although I know how to teach restorative yoga, it’s not a part of my own practice or teacher offering. I am passionate about building strength which is reflective in the style of yoga that I teach in my studio. However, I have all the props used in restorative yoga which are also used as part of the strength building yoga that I love to teach.

Once I received the much-needed advice that I so happily offer to others, my perspective changed and, with it, so did my practice. For a while, I practiced yoga by spending time on the floor on my back, moving through a variety of gentle poses with the use of props, while focusing on deep breathing – a place I am usually comfortable going to. However, Covid made it hard for me to go there and instead I subconsciously focused on holding on and fighting for what I am used to: a strong, challenging practice.

Through letting go (why is that so hard?), I found myself softening little by little and surprisingly, I really enjoyed that gentle restorative practice I avoided with all my might. A few weeks in, I started moving into more challenging asanas – a down dog here, a plank there and, before I knew it, a practice that was resembling what I am so used to.

Yoga Mind Tricks

A mind trick is defined as: “A mental feat achieved as if by magic”.

Let me elaborate. When I was avoiding practicing any type of yoga, time seemed to drag by. It felt unbearable. But when I started doing something (instead of nothing at all), the time it took to get back to a stronger practice went relatively quickly. The trick of the mind is that by doing something I truly love, even if it looked completely different, made the time seem less agonizingly long. Doing something is better than doing nothing.

To be clear, I am not claiming that yoga is a cure for Covid or long Covid. What I am saying is that I learned my own lesson: there is a yoga practice that is relevant to every and any stage of life. I learned that I could do something I really love in a very different way and could still find pure enjoyment in it – all it took was a shift in mindset. I listened to my own advice.

All About Yoga – Yoga Classes in Cape Town

Right now, I am at the stage where I hope to include more restorative practices to my own movement practice. Though, I am also cognizant of the fact that this may, can and more than likely will continue to change.

What’s important for me to remember is that I do always have the space to come back to it when I need it. I hope I don’t forget that and, if I do, I know I have people who will remind me.

I offer online and in studio yoga classes in Cape Town which predominantly focus on building strength. To find out more about my offerings, please do get in touch with me.