Why it’s Important and How to Do it?
If you’ve been practicing yoga for a while, you may find it challenging to approach your practice with a beginner’s mind. After all, you may know it all or have seen it all before. However, wiping the slate clean and starting over can bring up feelings of disappointment or failure. But hitting the reset button is also a way to practice the Zen Buddhist concept of beginner’s mind, shoshin: fresh, open, and free from habit.
So, what is a beginner’s mind?
The concept of a beginner’s mind asks us to approach each pose, each moment, and each experience on our mat with an open and curious mind, free from preconceived notions or expectations. The idea is that when we let go of attachment to what we think we know, we create space for growth and learning. This beginner’s mind attitude is about cultivating an attitude of openness, vulnerability, and humility in our practice and our approach to life off the mat. To achieve this mindset, we must be willing to let go of old ideas and judgments and see things with fresh eyes.
In the practice of yoga, having a beginner’s mind is essential to making progress and experiencing growth. Without a beginner’s mind, yoga practice may become monotonous, and obstacles may arise. Maintaining a beginner’s mind keeps us receptive to new experiences, techniques, and perspectives, which can help us break through mental and physical barriers and deepen our yoga practice. It allows us to embrace the practice with humility and a willingness to learn and improve. When we practice yoga with a beginner’s mind, we approach each movement with curiosity, openness, and non-judgment. This allows us to explore the practice more fully, with a sense of wonder and awe.
So, how can we cultivate a beginner’s mind in our yoga practice?
Here are nine ways to do it:
Returning to the breath: Mindful breathing elevates yoga beyond mere exercise. Refining breath awareness will help you overcome obstacles and experience more “aha” moments.
Listen to your body:
By tuning into your body and simply noticing what it needs, you can begin to build a deeper level of awareness and connection with yourself.
Move from the center:The safest way to practice most asanas is by initiating, assessing, and adjusting from the spine (the body’s axis) to the extremities.
Take advantage of the easy poses:
Exploring the small details in the basic positions cultivates greater awareness and understanding of your body, mind, and heart.
Remember the details: Expanding your awareness will reveal pockets of “amnesia” and reinvigorate each asana.
Let go of judgment, expectations, and ego: By letting go of judgment, expectations, and ego, we remove the need to prove ourselves or please others.
Practice non-attachment: Letting go of attachment means releasing any preconceived notions of how a class should go or how we should feel after practicing.
Try something new: Trying a new pose or a different variation of a pose can help us approach our practice with fresh eyes.
Embrace the process:
Instead of focusing on the end goal, focus on the journey. Embracing the process can help us find joy in the practice of learning and discovery.
In conclusion, cultivating a beginner’s mind in yoga is essential to progressing and experiencing growth. By approaching each pose, moment, and experience with an open and curious mind, free from preconceived notions or expectations, we create space for growth.
