Yoga is, at its core, a process of self inquiry, and contrary to popular belief, there’s no such thing as a ‘perfect pose’. In Iyengar Yoga, there is a base-level assumption that growth and self development is always possible, and the asanas are our powerful aids along that journey.
A Beginner’s Mind is Ripe for Learning
A little while back, I ran a beginners course at my studio. It had been a while since I had run one of these courses and I was struck by how keen the students were. They were fully engaged, hungry to learn, and fascinated by the subject matter. It was like they took each instruction and literally tried it on. Sometimes it ‘fit’, and sometimes it didn’t and when it didn’t, I could see them trying to work through it. They may have misunderstood an instruction, or maybe they understood the instruction but couldn’t quite translate the action into their body. Either way, they were fully engaged in the process of their own embodiment and were doing real yoga.
As a teacher it’s a joy to teach students who have committed to the process and are open to whatever learning comes their way. Preconceived notions of what is ‘right’ or ‘better’ don’t loom large or interfere with their personal development.
