A few months ago, I went to a weekend workshop led by Jason Crandell, one of my long-time teachers. I had been feeling pretty bad about my yoga practice because (as I’m sure I’ve mentioned on this blog) I work nearly every minute of every day and I don’t make it to yoga studios nearly as often as I’d like. In the workshop, Jason talked a lot about developing a personal practice and he mentioned that right now it just doesn’t work for him to go to a yoga studio. He gets more out of practicing at home because it gives him the freedom to take his time and experiment with the things that he finds interesting and helpful, and he goes to a teacher a few times a year when he feels he needs to. It makes perfect sense.
Of course, it made me feel better about my practice to know that one of the yoga teachers I respect most in the world doesn’t attend regular yoga classes. My home practice, no matter how irregular, at least gives me the opportunity to go inward, which is what the practice is all about. It’s liberating to feel like when I go long stretches without setting foot in a studio, I don’t have to feel guilty or disappointment with myself! This is what I love about yoga. It’s good stuff.
But I will always love a good yoga class. I want to go to class when I can … not because I need to or because I can’t get what I need out of a home practice, but because it just feel right to me.
Here are 10 reasons I make every effort to go to yoga classes whenever I can …
1. I like it.
2. I still have a TON to learn.
3. It inspires me–gets my creative juices flowing.
4. It’s fun to meet new people, especially other yoga students!
5. I benefit from the positive energy of the collective group.
6. It makes me practice poses I know I’d never work on on my own.
7. Classes challenge me to hold poses longer, work a little harder, and push my limits. It’s in classes that I’m capable of more than I ever thought possible.
8. A different perspective gives me new things to work on later.
9. Two words: Yoga Buzz.
10. Sometimes it’s nice to let someone else guide you through the practice so you have to think less and really feel the present moment.
Why do you go to yoga classes?
I go because I love my teachers. I love to practice with them and learn from them. I love to have them give me new poses that I can take home and work on, and I love to be around other people who love yoga.
When I get to class I spend more time feeling the asana rather than thinking the asana. I also enjoy observing others taking class and feeling the joy they get out of it.
xoxo
I have to agree with everything in the article but with your ten reasons as well.
I love my home practise because I can hold the poses for what I feel the correct time is, so often in class I'll be in pigeon just really getting into it when its time to move on.
On the other hand the yoga teacher is the coach. There are so many poses I would be doing incorrectly without the guidance I get in classes from the teacher. An example here is how simple headstand became when I got my shoulders on my back (something that's hard to see when doing it – it takes a YT)
@Frenzy,
I totally agree with the yoga teacher as coach concept.. I think what I failed to mention about the home-practice-only idea is that once you get to a certain place in your practice where you understand how to safely practice the poses, a group class might not really help you that much. It takes a closer, more intimate relationship with a teacher to help you hone the tiny little subtle shifts to make a difference in your practice. Either I'm not there yet.. or I never will be.. Because it feels damn good to go to a nice, long yoga class. I'm not sure why.. but the Savasanas are just a little sweeter. 🙂
@Laine and Meredith! Yes! Those are great points, too!
To experience PRAYER IN MOTION! Love the yoga buzz too. I go to get inspired by my teacher, by my fellow practioners, & myself!
I'm in the middle of a summer intensive 300+ hour yoga teacher training program so I'm taking classes 24/7. However, I've always loved taking classes. I prefer practicing in a group setting. I love the vibe, the energy, the music and someone else leading me. I feel I have to switch things up and create a home practice. A teacher once told me that one downdog is a practice. Baby steps.
I go to yoga class to experience the tranquility in myself. Just do the asana and concentrate to my breath…..
I go to yoga classes because I can still learn something (and I've found a wonderful teacher!). I also go because of the energy created by sharing the practice with a community. Sometimes someone in class may be going through a difficult time and it is good to send them some energy, or to dedicate a practice as a group to someone maybe in a far off place who needs it (i.e. Haiti, Japan, etc.)
I rarely make it to classes too, but I love when I do! It really does get my creative juices flowing- both for my home practice and for my class. It's also helpful to hear different words and descriptions for getting into a pose and what aspect that particular teacher is highlighting. Sometimes I can go deeper in a class setting and sometimes at home it's more like exercise. The point being, I don't think it matters where you are, you can always "go deeper" into your practice. In a class I think it may just happen less often because it is difficult to eliminate the distraction of other students and the teacher. At home it's the dishes and laundry- always something to overcome!
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