Most people practice yoga for purely physical benefits, but you may be missing out on more. Here are 5 yoga mistakes most beginners make when starting out.
Whether as a newbie or experienced yogi, your goal is always to get the maximum benefit from every practice. It may come as a surprise that you might be making one of these five mistakes, consequently reducing the benefits you get from every yoga routine.
Speak During Postures
Yoga is not only an exercise but a way of meditating, speaking in between postures or while holding the pose is like talking while meditating.
Yoga is not just about postures; if it were, we would say, you are stretching.
Focus and breath are essential components of yoga; if you speak while doing a pose, you disturb the breath and mental focus and lose some of the benefits of the practice.
It would be helpful to think of yoga as the same way you would think of mediation if someone constantly interrupts you while meditating, you will not rip the benefits of the practice, similarly speaking during yoga breaks the flow. You miss out on the meditative benefits of the practice.
Mirrors/Listening to music
There is no room for a mirror during yoga. Mirrors push your attention outward instead of inward; the same goes for music.
You benefit most from yoga when you focus on your breath and body during poses. If you look at a mirror, your attention goes outward.
Thoughts of comparison and judgment will swoop in and break the focus.
Listening to music while practicing yoga also diverts attention outward hence making you lose some of the benefits of yoga.
In short, Keep the music and mirrors for the gym when it comes to yoga, show up and be fully present; otherwise, you are better off picking a different activity.
Drinking-Water
Drinking water before and after yoga is okay because it enables you to cleanse toxins from the system, but it is best if possible for you not to take breaks in between the practice to drink water.
I have read a few books on yoga that suggest that drinking water interferes with postures such as the shoulder stand.
If you are in good health, drink water 30 minutes before yoga practice. Remember to listen to your body, it is a better guide than a blogger on the internet.
Overall, taking breaks to drink water disrupts focus and attention, reducing the meditative benefits you get from yoga.
Take a Bathroom Break
Apart from the physical benefits of yoga, it has been shown to increase cognitive function and the increased focus and concertation in people who practice regularly. The mindfulness, attention, and focus aspects of the practice can be credited for these benefits.
Taking bathroom breaks during the yoga flow reduces these benefits.
Eat Before the practice
Yoga is most effective on an empty stomach or at least 4 hours after your last meal. If you are not able to wait four hours, two hours is the next best.
Practicing yoga on a full stomach can cause bloating, gurgling, embarrassing gas, and stomachache. Additionally, avoid foods such as meat that take longer in the digestive system on the days you have yoga.
Food that your body can quickly digest, such as fruits and vegetables, leave you feeling lighter; therefore, in better able to master the postures.
Get Caffeinated
Whenever possible, avoid taking caffeine before practicing yoga. Caffeine products are dehydrating; if you drink coffee before your yoga routine on the days you feel dull, you will notice that you will get thirsty during the practice.
Caffeine also stimulates the nervous system, sometimes causing anxiety and jitters, which can interfere with the flow and effectiveness of your yoga routine.
You can opt for rooibos tea instead of coffee. It is rich in antioxidants and will leave you feeling energized without the jitters.
Have you made any of these yoga mistakes? Let me know in the comment section.
Leave a Reply