Okay, I agree that the almost universal mental picture of yoga involves spandex clad women with closed eyes surrounded by clouds of soft fuzzy meditation. Does this image work for you?
From my teaching experience, I have found that many students that are entirely new to the discipline share this view. And this view can be true. The truth is: a yoga practice can vary widely. It can be a gentle, serene, sitting-on-the-floor type of practice. Or, it can be a rockin’, jumpin’, twistin’, and turnin’ type of workout with handstands and backbends. (Try doing that while making a connection to spirit!). It can really kick your asana.
Face it. 90 percent of yoga students in a beginning to intermediate class are women. That figure appears to change as classes become more advanced. Actually, in a class of more advanced yogis, the split may be closer to 50/50, depending on the region. But, in the beginning, it tends to be a group of gals.
It’s always great when one of the ladies decides to bring her husband to his first class. Invariably, it appears as though he has rearranged his daily routine to humor his beloved wife by doing some “easy stretching.” One husband even recently began class with the comment, “I’m going to have to go work out after this.” That workout probably took place 3 days later… after the soreness in his muscles subsided.
Yoga isn’t necessarily easy. In fact, it can be downright difficult. In class, we don’t run marathons, swim channels, press weights or bike the distance. In contrast, on one rather small mat, we move our bodies with control into intricate positions that sometimes require ridiculous amounts of strength and flexibility. However, we do it within a state of mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual balance. The breathing is easy, the face is serene, and the mind is clear (at least that’s the goal). Try multitasking all that (and more) and still try to nail Hanumanasana (scissor splits).
Regardless of their preconceptions, most new students leave their first yoga class with an entirely new appreciation and/or respect for the discipline.
It can be a cake walk, or it can be intense enough for you to eat a piece of cake afterwards without regrets. Just make sure of the class you are in before you set your mat down on the studio floor. 🙂
