"Do what scares you". That's what they say, right? A lot of people have reservations about yoga. They fear that they can't do it because they're not flexible enough, not strong enough, to active. They fear that to be a yogi you must be a kale-loving-hemp-seed-eating-hippie. And even those who can get over these initial fears, start to form new fears during practice. They are scared to try a new arm balance, they are scared they will topple over in headstand and crush the person next to them. They are scared to challenge themselves and get out of their comfort-zone.
Then we have the opposite side of things. Those who don't allow their fears to come out during yoga. They keep everything bottled up and when given the chance to truly have a release during their practice, they fear that their fear will be to much to handle. They fear opening up and letting their emotions show and be present. They fear that once they do, they won't be able to stop. They won't be able to control the emotion, the pain, the reality.
But that is what yoga is for. Not only can it be a killer work-out, a peaceful stretch, a mindful meditation. It is also there for you to overcome fear. Your practice call you to the mat, to let go off all the misconceptions you hold about the art itself. When you do that, it also allows you to dig into you own fears. To explore that emotion, to connect with you heart and find out what truly lies underneath.
You begin your practice with fear, but through your practice you release it. You overcome it. You find what you need from your practice that day and you fully embrace it. Letting that fear and frustration come out to the forefront while holding chair pose for an ungodly amount of breathes. Then you fold down and flow through a vinyasa, back to down-dog and you start to push that fear out. You start to acknowledge that it is there, that you have it, but that the only way to grow and overcome, is to let it go.
From fearing a certain pose, to fearing the decision you have to make when you go home. Your practice, the art of yoga, is there to help you. It can create fear, it can resolve fear, it can make you understand fear. By getting on your mat and standing tall, then fully embracing everything that is about to come at you, that will come to your mind and body. They emotion, the shaking legs, the power and strength that is needed. By embracing this, we embrace out fear and we begin to understand it. We begin to see what it truly means and what is truly causing it. Yoga allows you to use you body to explore and discover, to learn and challenge your emotion and full-being.
Yoga and fear go hand-in-hand. They work together to make you more fully aware and to realize that your fear is not the end. You can overcome your fear no matter what it is. You use yoga to find it, acknowledge it, learn from it, and find a means to an end.
The power of the practice is to find the fear, challenge the fear, and inspire yourself to keep going and never give up.
**Yesterday at the end of my practice, I was practicing my forearm stands, scorpion, and charging scorpion. I have feared headstand through all my years of yoga and could just never do it. But I decided to challenge that fear since it was only myself keeping me form it. I am able to hold forearm stand indefinitely so I must be able to do headstand. I gathered up my courage and from forearm, lowered my head to the ground and got in to headstand for the first time! I even got into the lotus pose variation! Last night I conquered my fear of headstand. That moment has given me the courage and strength to get through the rest of the week without fear, without holding back.**
So tell me:
+ How has you practice helped you overcome fear?
+ I know that really any form of dedicated fitness can help with fear and emotion. If your a runner, lifter, biker. How have you embraced your "art" and allowed it to help you overcome?
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Little Wandering Wren
I love my yoga! I am not nearly at the same level as you but I had been trying for months to get my legs on the floor behind my head which seemed impossible, I was fearful for my back. Then one day my legs touched the floor and it was so exciting! I loved your post thank you!
Strength and Sunshine
You go girl! Keep challenging yourself to go further 🙂 You will be amazed at what you can do and handle both physically and mentally!
catfoodisgoodforyou
I love this! So true - I was thinking about fear recently, and how we need it every now and then to make a break through. I can totally relate to how yoga pushes the fear barrier! I'm still avoiding practising crow pose like the plague, but this post might be the motivation I need to face my fear. Thank you!
Strength and Sunshine
Thanks love! It is always what I need to overcome some fear or just work though emotions going on in my head.
Get on that mat and give crow a try! I think it is one of the easiest arm balances to try, it was the first I ever did! Just keep you arms bent and elbows close, knees up your arm as for as you can and lightly transfer your weight into you hands, engaging your core! Then work on straightening those arms!
fruitaliniyogi
Well written. Yoga absolutely helps me to move past my fears, that is one of the main reasons I crave my practice! For me, I was afraid of everything, the way I spoke in front of people, the way I felt in my body, I was afraid to go after my dreams and goals. Yoga definitely helped me experience new sensations that helped to build my confidence and lowered my stress levels, which helped me to feel balanced and capable of going out of my comfort zones. It's so much more than people think and the expectations people have can really hold them back. That's what happens the more popular it becomes, but the right people will find their path. Found you on SITS.
Strength and Sunshine
Wow, you took the words right out of my mouth! You are so right. Yoga has also helped me move past fears and struggles I have had on and off the mat. Mostly it has allowed me to go deeper into my life (if that makes sense)! I hope that the true meaning and practice of yoga holds strong and that it finds those who need it and will accept it.
Millie
i totally understand how fear and yoga work together. I do yoga all the time and I have really learned that if you are afraid, then you can just breathe through it and relax. Yoga is meditation for the mind, body, and spirit and I use it in my spiritual life especially.
Droppin by from SITS
Strength and Sunshine
Exactly! It is all about learning how to deal with the fear through the movement of the body and breathe!
Erica Ligenza
This is so encouraging. I love practicing yoga, but I've always feared different aerial poses because I'm afraid of seriously hurting myself, or just NOT being able to. But, now I'm determined! I'm about to hop on YouTube and get to balancing. Mastering new yoga poses is the best feeling! Thanks for the inspiration.
lovelovelove,
Erica
cominguprosestheblog.com.
Strength and Sunshine
Be safe and have a spot! But 100% go for it! I want to hear all about it 😉
cassidl
Thanks for the info and I google + shared your post
Strength and Sunshine
Thanks!
Miss Angie
I love this! What a wonderful post! I've never really gone and done Yoga for real. A little in the privacy of my home, but never a class-which I eventually want to do. I haven't because I've been afraid of how I look or messing up... Silly silly fear.
Strength and Sunshine
I don't go to a studio for my practice, I do it right at home! But no matter where you decide to practice, go for it all out!
Christine
Absolutely. I think that this is one of the reasons why I love yoga - it forces me to look at my fears and face them. It's not always pretty but I'm usually better for it. Congrats on getting into headstand!
Strength and Sunshine
It is definitely not always pretty! The day I got into headstand was probably the worst practice emotionally I had in a long time, but I used all that to do something great! 🙂
Patty @ Reach Your Peak
I am still overcoming some fears when it comes to running. for example, I know I have mental roadblocks. I am afraid of pushing the pace in races or workouts bc I'm like, well what if I can't maintain that pace? What if it gets too hard? I feel like If I could get that out of my head and push myself and ignore my brain I could potentially run faster!
Strength and Sunshine
We just have to keep trusting ourselves and digging to to find out if that is truly holding us back or there is something more. Really, what is the worst that can happen? We know we won't overcome if we do nothing!
Amanda Huggett Hofland
I’ve never thought of yoga this way! It really makes me want to try it. I do pilates, but yoga has seemed much more intimidating. Thanks for the push!
Strength and Sunshine
Girl, you have to give yoga a shot! If you like Pilates then you deginitly have to try it! You already have the strength for it and yoga will be such a great experience to learn and go deeper! 🙂
paulinasmiles16
I totally understand this. I used to do yoga a lot a few years ago and when I first started I was so scared that I would look stupid and wouldn't be able to hold or do some of the moves. However I dragged a friend along with me and we laughed at what we couldn't do together and also helped each other has we tried to learn new poses. Which is probably why I can't wait to start taking classes again.
Strength and Sunshine
Go for it! Yoga is so beautiful and so great for connecting with yourself and finding a balance in life!
paulinasmiles16
Yes I totally agree! I am gym shopping starting next week and one thing I am looking for in a new gym is the type of yoga classes they have because I miss it
fittyduck
I used to be afraid of running. Mainly because I was never able to run due to my asthma, like if I tried running it would literally kill me. I've gotten it to where I can run with worries of it flaring. While I've had a few attacks while running, I've discovered I'm pretty good when s&#t goes down. I've been able to get myself home and squared away better than I had thought.
While I still can't run a mile all the way due to a previous knee injury, I still get out there and run when I can.
Another fear I have is running more and walking less cause I'm still stuck in the walk run intervals. I'm trying to get away from those so that I'm doing more running and less walking when I go out. I hope I will be able to conquer that fear as well and transition to full out running with walking because I want to, not because I have to.
Strength and Sunshine
You sound like me! I have been wanting to get over my fear of running for a while now. I have had bad exercise induced asthma all my life and I have not run in many many years. But I really plan on overcoming that by the end of this year. I know I can if I start slow and take it each step at a time!
fittyduck
I say go for it! I'm not going to lie, I was terrified at several points because it was so hard to breathe when I first started out. However, I was able to learn my limits and just how far I could push myself before my asthma kicked in. Over time, it got better and I noticed my asthma was bothering me less and less during my training runs. It has now gotten to the point where at hardly bothers me at all now. I'm so glad that I did it! I think you'll be really happy if you decide to make the jump into it too. Best of luck!
Erica G
ABSOLUTELY! This is a beautiful post and so true. Just the other week I overcame my fear and tried crane again. I only held it a few seconds but it is a start. I will continue to challenge my fear!
Strength and Sunshine
That's all it takes! Do it once and you know you can do it again and then find another fear to take on, in or outside of you practice!
nourishbymelissa
You honestly write the most beautiful posts. Everything in this one is so true. Congratulations on your headstand...I to have feared headstand forever and while I was able to work my way into it with a teacher I've never had the courage to even try it again on my own...this post convinced me...I will let go of that fear and try getting into headstand on my own during my next practice. 🙂
Strength and Sunshine
Thank you love! And you go girl, you can do it! I want to hear all about bit when you do.
I have another practice tonight so I'll be doing them again at the end! Practice makes perfect and chops down fear!
Tina Muir
Love love love this Rebecca! It is SO true! I definitely feared yoga before I really gave it a chance, in those first few classes, especially as it was hot yoga, and pushed me close to a breaking point from the heat. I am so glad I stuck with it, and I am trying to overcome the fear, and take on the new poses when they encourage us to try.
As for my running, I have definitely learned to embrace the fear. My mind is screaming at me to stop, yet I have learned to keep pushing through it. I used to be fearful of races, but now I see it is just the reward for all the hard work, and all you have to do is put one foot in front of the other. I sometimes surprise myself when I see afterwards just how fast I was running!
Strength and Sunshine
That is great that you are getting more comfortable with yoga!
As for running, you seem fearless to me! You are such an amazing athlete and I know you must have learned so much from it. The things we love and fear, teach us the most!