How do you approach new or advanced asanas? Too often, people feel discouraged and focus on feelings of failure when faced with challenging yoga poses. Some even give up the practice because they find certain poses too difficult. The problem is the focus on failure to perform a perfect asana, when the problem may actually be failing to enjoy the journey.
If you are just starting out and learning the asanas or have been practicing for a while and are moving on to more challenging poses, it is important to remember that the philosophy of yoga is non competitive. That means not competing with those around you in class or with yourself by putting too much pressure on perfect alignment every time or feeling like a failure if you fall out of half moon pose for the third class in a row.
Mistakes are part of the learning process. This is true in all areas of life, whether work, school, relationships or shoulderstand. When I taught Kindergarten, we had a little poem that taught the kids that “mistakes are good, they help us grow, they teach us what we need to know.” This is as true on the mat as it is in the Kindergarten classroom.
Focusing on your own perceived failure to perform the asanas perfectly is counter to the philosophy of yoga and can actually hinder and sabotage your practice. This can be a tough thing to remember, especially in the modern, highly competitive western world.
Rather than focusing on failure, take the time to enjoy the journey. Measure your progress, rather than your limits. For example, if you stay in half moon pose, shoulderstand or any other challenging pose for five more seconds than last week, that is progress. When you master asanas that are preparatory poses for more challenging asanas, that is also progress.
When you focus on the journey and the little successes along the way, you will get more out of your practice. You will also be more likely to enjoy your time on the mat, which will keep you coming back to class. Eventually, you will master that challenging pose and be glad you continued your practice.