YOGA IS NOT FOR ME

 

 

When I tell people that I am a yoga teacher they typically respond: "Wow, that's interesting!". After this, the spontaneous enthusiasm usually melts like ice in the sun when they add: "Oh but yoga is not for me" followed by their favourite reason why:

 

 

This is like saying "I can't do fitness because my muscles are weak", "I won't take up running because my condition is poor" or "I won't start playing tennis because I have no topspin backhand". When it comes to flexibility people are not used to start from where they are.

 

 

Yoga is about living now. Not yesterday, not tomorrow. There is only one moment in which you can do yoga: NOW. Whether the practice lasts for 15 seconds or for 1.5 hours. Each moment lived in full awareness is a precious gift to yourself and everyone around. 

 

 

My parents where my first students. They started practicing yoga at the age of 62. First with simple exercises; the more advanced ones followed later. Now they have their own practice and their enthusiasm grows and grows. There is no limit: Yoga is for all ages.

 

 

To the rational or 'nuchtere' (Dutch) people I say: Go find the personal stories of people and the growing body of scientific support on the health benefits of yoga.

 

 

And to the sceptical people I add: do not accept anything said by anyone as a truth. Let go of all dogmas. Be open and try things out for yourself.

 

For this is yoga: the art of freeing your mind.

 

 

Rogier van Eijk teaches vinyasa yoga at Yoga Moves