Susan Dawson-Cook
Looking in mirrors is discouraged in yoga classes. In fact, most yoga studios have only walls and windows so there’s no temptation to look. By relying on body cues instead of reflections, students tend to perform appropriate movements for their bodies and avoid imitating others.
Studying your reflection isn’t always constructive. One self-critical thought after another can pop into your head as you gaze at that reflective glass—about your body, hair or movements and how they compare to others. Destructive internal dialogue can sap the enjoyment out of any workout. By shifting thoughts away from comparison and criticism to a place of internal awareness of what’s happening in your body, exercise can become more relaxing and enjoyable in any group exercise class setting.
Concentrating on multiple tasks or experiences at once is difficult for your brain. If you’re thinking about what your hair looks like or how clumsy you look doing a move compared to your next door neighbor, it will be difficult to have much awareness of what’s really happening in your body.
The next time you participate in a class, attempt to execute the movements based on the instructions and the initial demonstration given by your class leader. Take your gaze away from the mirror and look inward. Bring your awareness to the muscles that are working to help you do that pushup or bicep curl. Think about how it feels to lengthen and stretch the backs of the thighs and lower back when you do a downward dog or a forward bend. Feel what your spine feels like when it is lengthened rather than hunched over. Does the activity give you joy, releasing stress or perhaps reminding you of a high school dance or making you feel empowered the way you once did on the soccer field? Tuning in to sensations in your muscles instead of limiting your perception to your eyes gives you a whole new perspective on exercise.
Body cues can warn if you are doing too much too soon or straining in a way that might cause injury. They also might tell you that you are ready to move up to a heavier weight or stretch further than you have before. When you draw your awareness inward, you will find that the sensations in your body provide you with a different and much more perceptive pair of eyes.
Susan is an author, AFAA certified personal trainer/instructor and 200-RYT Yoga Alliance certified instructor. She has worked for Vital Moves (850-4089) since 2006.