Yoga guides us to seek validation and meaning from within ourselves by focusing on building wisdom and gaining clarity through life’s every moment. There are various reasons why new practitioners come to yoga including physical fitness, stress relief, health, and flexibility. For many people, their reasons often change after practicing yoga for some time. People tend to find self-actualization, spiritual clarity, and a state of self-fulfilling when practicing yoga.
Yoga can help boost self-confidence and self-esteem by offering chances to practice self-love and self-compassion. However, comparison and self-disapproval are two of the most common reasons why people don’t feel confident when they first try yoga. We often worry that other practitioners are laughing at us or that we look foolish trying the poses and this kind of negativity can often keep us from focusing on our internal strengths and stop us from feeling truly confident.
In order to help, here are our 6 ways to feel more confident when practicing yoga.
1. Focus on Positive Self-Talk
The way we talk to ourselves can greatly affect how we feel as our choice of language often shapes the way we see the world and reinforces how we feel about ourselves. Self-confidence and self-esteem are directly affected by whether we choose to empower and validate ourselves or internalize people’s words negatively. Focus on giving yourself positive self-talk when you practice yoga instead of questioning your body image or the way you do yoga poses.
2. Wear Comfortable Yoga Apparel
When you feel comfortable in what you are wearing, it is much easier to feel confident in what you are doing. As yoga practice is gaining more and more popularity, there are various choices of yoga apparel that you can choose to feel more comfortable and unrestricted during yoga sessions. The experts at Evolvefitwear.com explain that as challenging as a downward dog or a balance pose can be, wearing uncomfortable yoga clothes can further add to the difficulty. The best yoga apparel will depend on your personal fashion and yoga style. Three qualities that you should be looking for are comfort, breathability, and stretchability. Yoga mats are very important too, you can find the ones from purefulyoga.com
3. Stay Mindful When Practicing
Mindfulness is one of the most important aspects of yoga. During your practice, focus all of your attention on your inner self by paying attention to your thoughts, the way you breathe, and the way your body feels. As soon as you realize that you are not being mindful, don’t worry; that realization is mindfulness. Remember that acknowledgment of self-capability and recognition of improvements can greatly contribute to your self-confidence.
4. Begin Your Yoga Journey Gently
Whether you have just started to practice yoga or you have been out of practice for a long while, it is highly recommended that you ease yourself into your practice with basic moves and sequences when you first come to the mat. Simple moves and light practice sessions can help you gradually build physical strength and mental capacity over time, which will help you to feel more confident. Remember that attitude is one of the most highly valued aspects of yoga practice, so come to your mat with an open mind and positive self-talk to accept your body and improve yourself one day at the time.
5. Embrace Your Yogi Community
People who practice yoga tend to be friendly, welcoming, and non-judgemental. In many yoga classes, both men and women of all ages, shapes, and experience levels are welcome. In order to increase your comfort and confidence, you should consider signing up for yoga classes with a friend or a group of people or make an effort to meet new friends in your class. you should consider signing up for yoga classes with a group of people–invite your friends by giving them a yoga gift voucher, or better yet, make an effort to meet new friends in your class. Being part of a yoga community can greatly boost your energy and confidence as you share common experiences during your practice and so you are able to support each other. Most importantly, try to avoid comparing yourself to people in your yoga group regarding how good your form is or with regard to how you perceive their bodies and your own
6. Remember That Progress Takes Time
Yoga is a practice that needs patience and consistency. Remember that each time you practice, you are making progress and improving yourself both physically and emotionally. Yoga is not a competition in which advanced and difficult yoga poses are the goals, yoga is about spending quality time on the mat and leaving the mat feeling more healthy and calm. Focus on your inner self and avoid looking at yoga sessions as a competition with your fellow yogis.
Remember that everyone is special in their own way and we all have our individual strengths. Each time you come to your yoga mat, practice yoga mindfully and focus your attention on internal values only. Remember your purpose when practicing yoga and cultivate inner strength in both your body and mind.