If done right, yoga can work wonders on a your physical, mental and emotional well-being, with stress on the word ‘right’. In this article we cover, 5 common mistakes made by women in the quest to learn yoga.
First Mistake
Wrong choice of form of Yoga practice. Take note, no two people have the same body constitution. In fact no two bones in a body are the same. Then how can one form of yoga be suitable for everyone?
Second Mistake
Yoga-related injuries happen when the yin part of the body is exercised in a yang way. ‘Suryanamaskar (sun salutation), for example, is a very yang form of exercise. Trying to do 60-100 salutations in one stretch can be extremely damaging to the spine, which is a very yin part, made up of bones and tissues. The yang is the muscular part of the body, while yin represents connective tissues, bones and ligaments.
Third Mistake
Walking into any Yoga Class. In many such situations, the instructor might not know the health condition of a person who is practicing under him/her.
In fact at times the practitioner is not aware of some hidden health condition. Just because it is free does not mean it is good for you. For example, a person suffering from glaucoma should not be doing inversions as it can increase the blood flow into the eyes.
Fourth Mistake
Comparing with Others. People have a tendency to compare their progress with that of others. The capacity of each individual is different, and it is important to keep that in mind. Forcing yourself to do something just because others are doing it is one of the biggest, yet most common, mistakes many beginners make. People who practice yoga at their own pace benefit in the long run.
Fifth Mistake
Learning yoga from home through tutorials available online. If there is no one to watch and correct you, there are chances that you will keep doing an asana the wrong way for a long time. Importance of guru-shishya (teacher-student relationship) is sacred in the discipline of yoga and cannot be ignored.
Yoga has the power to improve spiritual awareness, calm the mind and strengthen the body. Do not try to imitate poses, listen to your body signal. Avoid Yoga Mistakes & injury.