When you’re trying yoga or Pilates for the first time, you might think that everybody’s eyes are on you, and they’re just ready to judge you for not pulling off a certain pose. The truth is that everyone is too busy concentrating on their own poses and moves that they won’t have the time OR the attention to check out what you’re doing.
“But surely someone is looking at me and judging,” you argue.
Maybe? But even if so, don’t let that get to you, and don’t let it get in the way of you being able to practice consistently. You’re not out to impress anyone, you’re there to work on yourself. Even your teacher isn’t judging you. Plus, you’re not being graded, so it doesn’t matter if you execute a pose perfectly; what matters is that you’re there and you’re doing your best.
You can get out of your own head by (ironically) focusing on yourself and what you’re doing. Feel how spine is lengthening, or how your muscles are engaged. Most importantly, follow your breath; it’s the basic building block of your practice after all.
“But what do I do if I make a mistake?” you ask.
Just jump back in. Whether you’re new to yoga or Pilates or you’ve been practicing a long time, you’re bound to make a mistake every now and then. Correct your form, or you can even ask your teacher for a little extra help. And you don’t need to say “sorry” out loud if you slip up. This space is all about you learning, not just the poses, but also to be kind to yourself.
“But I don’t look as stylish as all the other yoga or Pilates girlies,” you say.
Social media has us all thinking that you have to look and dress a certain way to do certain things. There are definitely tons of great workout outfits for yoga and Pilates, but you honestly don’t have to dress the way you see yoga and Pilates people do on social media. You get to choose the outfits that are comfortable for you, and you don’t have to worry about what anyone else must be saying or thinking about your clothes. Besides, yoga and Pilates practitioners are generally a super supportive bunch, plus you’re all there to work on yourselves—your strength, flexibility, patience, and more. Judging is not part of the becoming-a-better-person process.
You might think that the only way to stop being self-conscious is to become a total expert in yoga or Pilates, but that would be missing the point of the practice. You’re there to learn new things about the practice and about yourself in every class, and you’ve got to be patient and accepting of the fact that not every class is going to be perfect and that you’re not going to be 100% flawless most of the time. (It’s a lot like life, when you think about it.) And that’s just fine. The important thing is to keep learning and trying.
Photo by RDNE Stock project: https://www.pexels.com/photo/women-meditating-in-the-park-5837081