{"id":1447,"date":"2018-11-26T09:38:33","date_gmt":"2018-11-26T09:38:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/akshiyogashala.org\/?p=1447"},"modified":"2018-11-26T09:38:33","modified_gmt":"2018-11-26T09:38:33","slug":"comparing-to-others-in-yoga-class","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/akshiyogashala.org\/blog\/comparing-to-others-in-yoga-class\/","title":{"rendered":"How to stop comparing yourself to others in yoga class"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s happened to all of us – we are comparing yourself to others in yoga class. You show up on the yoga mat, you\u2019re sitting there waiting for class to start, and she<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0comes in. This ethereal creature who appears to be floating across the floor. She\u2019s got that \u201cyoga body\u201d \u2013 willowy, bendy \u2013 her hair is shining and in a carefully crafted messy bun. She\u2019s wearing pants that cost what you pay for a car payment. She gracefully unrolls her mat and starts stretching. She\u2019s more limber when she\u2019s not even warmed up than you are an hour \u00a0into a hot yoga class.<\/p>\n

All throughout the class, you\u2019re peeking under your armpit during down dog, comparing yourself to her.\u00a0Why am I sweating so much?<\/em> Can she see my cellulite through my pants? Can she tell I wore this top last night to sleep in? Is she thinking I\u2019m a lame ass for modifying this pose? I should be able to touch my heels to the floor. Why can\u2019t I hold plank as long as her? I\u2019ll never be able to do that because I\u2019m not as thin as her.<\/p>\n

Or maybe your mind chatter sounds something like this\u2026 Look at her stupid hairdo. I bet she spent an hour this morning trying to make it look that way. And who wears makeup to a yoga class anyway? I bet she\u2019s not even a real yogi \u2013 she just came because it\u2019s the trendy hipster thing to do. Indeed, look at her designer yoga clothes. I bet her rich husband bought those for her. She probably hasn\u2019t worked a day in her life.<\/em><\/p>\n

Idea to stop comparing yourself to others<\/h3>\n

Bottom line \u2013 when you start to compare yourself to someone else, stuff can get ugly, real quick. Either you\u2019re putting yourself down because you\u2019re comparing yourself to someone else, or you\u2019re putting them down to try to make yourself feel better. Problem is, it doesn\u2019t work. In addition, you leave the yoga class feeling awful. You don\u2019t get any of the benefits of the hour you just spent on the mat because you were preoccupied with this toxic internal dialogue. Mind chatter, especially comparing yourself to others, is a surefire way to ruin your yoga practice for the day. Here are some ideas I have to stop comparing yourself to others<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Return to the breath and try to stop comparing yourself to others in yoga class<\/h3>\n

As soon as you notice your mind start to race with all these thoughts, immediately come back to the breath. Close your eyes for a moment, and for 2-3 seconds, bring your awareness into your heart center. Deeply inhale, then completely exhale. Take two to three more breaths. If you have to give your mind something to do, think, \u201cInhale. Exhale.\u201d<\/p>\n

Be in your body<\/h3>\n

Now that your breath has broken the chain reaction of thoughts, take a moment to really be in your body. What sensations are you feeling? How do you feel in this pose? Do you feel a stretch? Are you relaxed? Are you sweating? Itchy? What sounds do you hear? What do you smell? Taste? Feel on your skin? Don\u2019t get derailed and make a judgment about the thought, like\u00a0I feel dewy from sweat coming up on my skin. Oh god, I\u2019m sweating, does the person next to me think I stink?<\/em>\u00a0Just state what you notice \u2013\u00a0I feel dewy from sweat coming up on my skin. I notice that my scalp feels a little prickly<\/em>.<\/p>\n

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Try to stay with your body and your breath throughout the class (throughout the day, also). Whenever you notice that you\u2019re in your head \u2013 in some past or future thought \u2013 come back to the breath. Come back to the body. A thousand times a day, you can do this!<\/p>\n

LET GO OF YOUR EXPECTATIONS<\/h3>\n

Notice yourself thinking about what you\u00a0should<\/em> be able to do? Stop that. Your yoga class is an awesome opportunity to just celebrate what\u2019s possible today. Each day offers us a different body to work with. Just allow yourself:<\/p>\n