Am I "doing" Yoga Right?
Find Confidence and Fall in love with Your Home Yoga Practice
Welcome back to another inspiring issue of Root&Rise! My mission is to help you discover the joy of practicing yoga in the comfort of your own home. I am committed to providing you with weekly newsletters that are free forever.
In the future, I will introduce an option to become a paid subscriber with exciting additions like audio versions of the newsletter (as many of you requested) and a monthly book study, with more surprises in store!
Join me on this incredible journey of self discovery and transformation!
My Story
For over two decades, i’ve embraced the practice of yoga in the cozy, comfort of my home. While I have explored studios, taught classes and cherished those experiences, nothing compares to the intimate connection I find at home.
Today I’m sharing how I fell in love with home yoga and overcame self doubt to feel empowered in my practice.
I hope my story will encourage you, no matter where you are along your path.
The Beginning
I first experienced yoga with a “Fundamentals of Yoga” DVD set I found at a garage sale.
I was 19 and hoping to lose weight, so I bought the DVDs and gave yoga a try. I didn’t use the DVDs very many times, but they sparked my curiosity enough to set me on a lifelong path of yoga.
Over the next few years I explored yoga in a variety of mediums. I checked out books by Rodney Yee from the library and bought every version of “The Yoga Deck”, pouring through the cards and exploring the poses featured on each one.
I slowly began to connect more and more with the practice - and the idea - of yoga, but I didn’t practice consistently until I got pregnant.
Early in my pregnancy, I ordered the “Crunch : Yoga Mamma” DVD and practiced along with it every day before work. I had a fast paced waitressing job and yoga kept me healthy enough to keep working until three weeks before my due date.
This time period solidified my love of yoga and cemented it into my regular routine.
“Am I doing it Right?”
My yoga journey continued to evolve over the years.
Fast forward a decade and I was still practicing yoga before heading to my waitressing job, except now the classes were on YouTube with Adriene Mishler as my yoga guide.
One day, my boss asked me to train a new waitress. I liked her immediately. She was a fitness model from New Mexico and - to my extreme delight - I quickly discovered that she liked yoga too.
During this time, I was grappling with an achy shoulder. We discussed whether misaligned poses, or too many planks might be causing the discomfort.
Curious about my yoga practice, she asked “Where do you practice?”
When I told her I practiced at home, she replied “Oh, well then you’re definitely doing yoga wrong.”
That simple sentence affected me deeply. It immediately made me feel small and inadequate. Despite my willingness to share my love of yoga, I secretly felt insecure about practicing at home. Her dismissiveness struck a nerve.
It didn’t help that she was exactly the type of person you would imagine glistening with sweat, in a high-class yoga studio, as she performed perfect sun salutations.
I, on the other hand, was a mom in my mid thirties who favored gentle yoga sequences and carried a little extra weight around my middle. I wasn’t glamorous or bikini ready like my coworker. I was just a housewife, rolling out my mat and practicing yoga in my tiny living room.
Thankfully, I didn’t give up on my home yoga practice. I no longer work as a waitress and I haven’t seen my coworker for years, but I still roll out my yoga mat in that same tiny living room every day.
Every Body is a Yoga Body
Looking back, I wish I had known that I represented the majority of yoga practitioners: normal people, trying to feel a little better in their bodies and humbly practicing yoga in their bedrooms, living rooms and backyards.
My confidence has since grown and i’ve learned that i’m my own best teacher. I practice by feeling what works for my body, not trying to fit into some preconceived idea of what a pose, or a practice, should look like.
Getting to the Heart of Yoga
If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re “doing yoga right” because you’ve never been to a yoga class, or you don’t look like stereotypical yogi, fret not.
Yoga isn’t about how you look, where you practice or who you practice with.
Yoga happens when you tune in to your breath and connect with your body. Yoga is the presence you bring to the mat.
You have an inner knowing. You know what works for your body. You can do Yoga at home. All you have to do is show up.
Put it into Practice
This week, I am delighted to share a variety of classes that show how inclusive Yoga really is. There are countless ways to practice and a myriad of teachers showing us how to do it.
Simple Chair Yoga Practice with Jessica Barudin
28 Minutes / Beginner Friendly
Chair practices are wonderful for students with limited mobility, older practitioners, or anyone easing into yoga. This particular class is simple, gentle and refreshing.
** Jessica uses blocks in this video. If you don’t have blocks, you can use something of similar size. I’ve used books many times over the years. They work beautifully!
Gentle Yoga For Bigger Bodies
26 Minutes / Beginner Friendliest!
If you have ever felt that your weight was a barrier to entry for Yoga, this class is for you. You will feel seen, safe and deeply served.
20 Minute Root Chakra Yoga | Get Grounded with Black Yogi Nico Marie
24 Minutes / All Levels
This well rounded class has a permanent spot on my regular class rotation. I love that Nico begins with a few moments of stillness and ends with affirmations in Savasana.
I am eager to hear from you! Let me know in the comments if you tried any of these classes and what you thought of them. I’d also love to hear about your yoga journey. Do you practice at home? Have you ever felt insecure about it? How do you overcome those feelings of insecurity?
Wishing you a great week ahead. I’ll be back next Sunday to talk about the importance of building a solid foundation for your practice. It’s a juicy topic that will serve every type of student. I can’t wait to get into it with you!
See you then!