Coming to the Mat with a Beginner's Mind

No matter how long you've been practicing yoga

I started practicing yoga in 1995 at age 23. If you do the math, I’ve been practicing yoga for longer than I haven’t. It’s been a major part of my life for almost 30 years and I have learned a lot in that time, both about yoga and about myself.

It would be easy for me to get on the mat and think I know everything, but I have found that closes me off to learning. And the truth is, it’s not possible to know everything, as life, and my practice, is constantly unfolding. Both my practice and teaching have evolved over the years and I have never stopped learning. I learn from my students, other teachers, and myself. My ability to do this comes from having a Beginner’s Mind.

What is “Beginner’s Mind?”

When you are a beginner, in anything that you try, you are a blank slate. Whether you are learning to paint, play golf, or grow mushrooms in your basement, you start with knowing little or nothing. Because you start from zero, you have the unlimited potential to learn more. The more you practice and the more you learn about the subject, the more comfortable you get with what you are doing, but understanding that you start from knowing nothing is key.

Having a Beginner’s Mind means that no matter how many years you’ve done something, you approach it like it’s the first time. Getting on the mat with a Beginner’s Mind, no matter how many Downward Dogs you’ve done, you approach your Down Dog as if you were just starting out, open to what it might teach or reveal to you.

Feel the connection of your palms with the floor. Spread your fingers and feel the entire surface of your palm melting into the mat. Explore the sensation of your calves and hamstrings as they stretch, the power that comes with spreading your shoulder blades apart, and the release in your neck as you drop your head.

It’s easy to go on autopilot in poses that you’ve done a million times, but the value of the Beginner’s Mind is that it keeps you present and humble. You let go of your ego and notice what is happening in your body and mind, right here, right now.

Where did Beginner’s Mind come from?

This is not a new concept, nor is it my concept. Beginner’s Mind comes from Zen Buddhism called “shoshin” which basically means having an open mind without any preconceived notions. Having an open mind drops you out of ego and allows you to learn something new, no matter how experienced you are.

Shunryu Suzuki brought this concept to the West in 1970 with his book “Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind” where he breaks down this concept even more. I wasn’t crazy about the book itself, it’s a bit dry, but he delves deeply into this idea, which is important when it comes to growth. Having a “know-it-all” approach will stunt your growth, whereas being open to new ideas and possibilities will enhance it.

In practice

When I do my own yoga practice, I pick a pose to start in and see where my body takes me. No matter how many times I start in the same pose, I always end up somewhere different. I never assume to know what is coming next, I let my body lead my flow.

Exploring yoga in this way always gives me new information that I can then pass along to my students. My practice is always changing, as is my sequencing, and that is due, in large part, to having a Beginner’s Mind. Even my understanding of poses, that I have literally practiced thousands of times, reveal new information to me.

I learn about my body, my mind, and my relationship with both. There is real value in exploring yoga on the mat in your own body. The body holds a lot of wisdom and letting your body be your guide will reveal that to you.

If you are an actual beginner (fewer than 20 yoga classes in your lifetime), I recommend studying with a qualified teacher first so that you get a basic vocabulary of yoga poses in your body. Once that happens, play with what you know. Even if that is just Cat, Cow, and Child’s pose. Maybe it’s Mountain, Tree, and Airplane. Maybe you just breathe.

You don’t need to practice for an hour for it to be a valid practice. Sometimes 10 minutes is all you have and those 10 minutes can teach you a lot about yourself, your body, and your mind. What matters is that you are open to learning, being present in your body, and allowing your practice to be whatever it is.

Join me on the mat!

I teach Beginner Yoga online every Monday and Wednesday at Purple Room Yoga. I also offer all levels classes, stretching, meditation, and mindful core. You can see my full schedule here, and the extensive online Video Library here.

If you’ve never taken a yoga class before, you can read my free eBook, “Top 10 Things to Know Before Attending Your First Yoga Class.” If you are generally new to yoga, you might want to try out the Yoga Over 50 Starter Kit, which includes 2 eBooks (including the one above), a video on how to use props, a beginner yoga practice video, and a webinar about how yoga can help you stay active as you age.

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