5 Signs of an Advanced Yogi
When I started going deeper into my yoga practice, I began to wonder what it really meant to be an advanced yogi. I remember the frustration I had with certain poses that wouldn’t happen no matter how hard I tried. One day in a yoga class, I noticed someone transition directly from a wide-legged forward fold to a headstand. My reaction was, “Wow, this person is like a magical unicorn!” I could also hear the little voice of doubt inside my head saying that would never happen for me. Well, I was wrong. A few years later, I conquered that variation—I’d officially transformed into that magical unicorn. Did I feel any more enlightened? No. Did I feel like I’d raised the bar? Not really. Luckily for us, what determines an advanced yogi has nothing to do with yoga poses; shifting into a refined practice goes a few layers deeper, to the core essence of what it means to be a “real yogi”—whatever that means.
Yoga Teacher Spotlight: Susan
Susan (Sadhana) is one of the skilled yoga teachers that the Yogacara community feels honoured to have. This week, she has been featured in our yoga teacher spotlight in the hopes that you can get to know her and the connection she has to yoga. Do you have any favourite mantras/meditations/spiritual practices? I am fascinated with mantra, the Sanskrit language and the effects it has on not only those chanting, but all beings, plant and animal life in its proximity. Mantra is a daily practice that has become effortless and brings so much joy. It’s a very powerful tool to bring things back into balance and perspective. During extended poses when I am not cueing, I am often chanting silently, helping to raise the frequency of the room.
Tips For The Busy Yogi
Daily Yoga For a Tight Schedule Let’s be real here. Not all of us have the time to commit to a 60 minute – 75 minute asana practise every single day. You know what? That’s okay! In today’s world, many of us have 40-hour work weeks, household commitments, kids, chores and so on. Before we know it, we’ve tossed our yoga practice aside to revisit it tomorrow or whenever time allows. For anyone who’s a busy yogi, I understand the struggle of balancing a quality practice with the demands of the world around us. As someone who spends up to 15 hours per a day at work, and spends my free time taking advantage of the short, but sweet snowboarding season here in Whistler, I too consider myself a busy yogi.
New to Yoga? What You Should Know
If you are new to yoga, congratulations!
You’ve made your first big step as a yogi. Choosing to be on your mat is extremely empowering. Starting out on this path into the world of yoga can be exciting but also a little intimidating. You may have a ton of questions like “what classes should I take? How do I do this pose? Am I in the right place?” We’ll break down the important parts of a yoga practice so you’ll know what to expect even if you’re new to yoga.
Be patient
This tip is key. Have you ever heard someone say “I don’t like yoga” but they’ve only tried yoga once?
