Fresh Eyes, Fresh Practice: Embrace the Beginner's Mind on Your Yoga Journey
When We First Start Out
In my blog post from a few weeks ago, I told the story of my first yoga class and the humbling experience of trying yoga for the first time.
I often think back to that time and recall the sense of wonder I once had at my newly started yoga practice.
Yoga and meditation were this magical new world, and I couldn't get enough of them.
Back then, I knew very little about the more profound parts of their philosophy, and my body and mind were not ready for the level of practice I was pushing them through.
But my curiosity was unshakable. I devoured dozens of books. I became obsessed with my practice.
This spark and curiosity led to me taking the practice seriously, and I made significant progress back then.
Why We Go Stale
Some 15 years later, I have a deeper connection with my practice. It's almost in my DNA.
But at the same time, it feels completely ordinary. It's a fixture of my daily life.
Because of this, It's easy for me to go through the motions (literally and figuratively). It's easy for me to 'phone in' my practice if I'm not careful.
And this ignorance of the mundane is the curse that happens when we stop practicing with a sense of Beginner's Mind.
Zen teacher Shunryu Suzuki Roshi shares this core philosophy in his classic book Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind. (If you haven't read this, go get it right now! It's essential reading)
He summarized the concept like this:
"In the beginner's mind, there are many possibilities, but in the expert's, there are few."
When we do something many times over the long term, we can lose our sense of interest in it. We stop looking at it with fresh eyes and instead fall into a certain sense of complacency.
But we can practice with the intention and philosophy of Beginner's Mind. In that case, it will open considerable doors in your practice. If you can carefully develop this skillfully, your practice will grow year after year.
It's easy to go on autopilot and miss the current experience.
When we are familiar with something, we tend to stop paying attention.
When I was new to yoga, I remember how every pose was exciting. I felt every muscle in my body. I wanted to learn them all!
I never knew what to expect in practice, so I paid close attention to every detail.
When we know something well, it is easy to fall into boredom. We can move through our practice without a sense of interest.
Effectively, we are fast-forwarding through the experience.
Tips For Cultivating a Beginner's Mind
Here are three tips for inviting a sense of Beginner's Mind into your practice, whether you are new or have been practicing for years.
1) Try to really feel the experience in each pose.
Notice ALL of the little details. What is the sensation under your feet? Where are your engaged, and where are you relaxed? Is your mind thinking of something else rather than being connected?
How are you relating to the pose at this moment? Are you present or distracted?
The more you invite a sense of interest, the more this sense of Beginner's Mind can naturally arise.
2) Imagine you were on vacation.
When we travel, we automatically fall into a sense of Beginner's Mind. This is because literally everything around us is new and different.
This is why a week of travel feels like an epic journey, while a week at home can fly by seemingly instantly.
Even when you are not traveling, you can try to look around like you have never been to this place before. You can even imagine that your house is a vacation home. And that the class you are taking is with a completely new teacher.
This skill is vital for keeping a sense of Beginner's Mind alive.
If you spend time cultivating this quality, it will naturally translate into your Yoga and Meditation practice.
3) Feel free to mix things up.
While I strongly advocate for simplicity and consistency in practice, it can also be great to try new things sometimes.
Try taking a class with a new teacher or at a new studio.
If you only practice Yin Yoga, try a Flow class, or vice versa.
Try walking or laying down meditation if you usually have a sitting practice.
Any variable can mix up your practice and invite that beginner's quality.
Conclusion
My first advice for any practitioner is to keep showing up day after day. Once that habit is established, maintaining a consistent sense of Beginner's Mind is the next most important step.
Never let your practice become stale. Keep learning and exploring.
There's no need to over-complicate this. If you really look at your experience, your curiosity will naturally blossom.
And I promise that if you commit to this over the long term, it will be one of the most rewarding shifts on your yoga journey.
If you'd like to practice with me right now, check out one of the dozens of free classes on my YouTube.
For live classes, either in-person or online - see my latest class schedule here.
To make the most optimal progress in your practice, contact me to schedule a one-on-one session.
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