1. I am not flexible.
2. I am not active.
3. I am overweight.
4. Isn't yoga a cult, or something?
5. Others will be better than me/look better than me/think mean things in their heads.
6. My mind doesn't stop like that.
7. I have no time!
8. Yoga is only for skinny, elastic-y girls.
9. Yoga is expensive.
10. I'm scared.
...etc.
Do any of these ring a bell? When I have conversations with other non-yoga-doers, any number of these topics will come up. I get it. Portrayed in the media out there, yoga can be intimidating and scary for beginners.
"How do they even get their leg up that high? I'd dislocate a limb!"
There are a billion excuses why not to try anything new. It can be scary and risky, you might feel silly or vulnerable, it will take you out of your homeland of comfy and out into the realm of being (gasp!) wrong, or not the best. I don't deny that these are serious emotions that can impede progress. But, I ask you, if you just had your mind and your gut so fiercely sure of a decision, would you go after it?
If you truly wanted to make a change in your life, relationships, health, and mindset, would you? Would you take that leap of faith and make the call, ask the questions, step into the yoga studio, book that appointment, and open yourself up to growth and change? Would you make the time and budget for such a change? Would you downsize and weed your life of that which you don't need?
Our lives are filled with distractions to take us away from reflecting inwards and asking ourselves what we truly want out of life. Our minds give us any number of excuses for why we should hold back on the things we want to do. Yoga can be a step in the direction of practicing going after what you crave, practicing taking the risks, and who knows?
Maybe you'll fall flat on your face a couple of times. Maybe you'll be wrong and feel silly and vulnerable. And what will you do after this happens? Maybe you'll learn something new about yourself and your tenacity. People do incredible things every day. You can do incredible things every day, too--even though they start small.
