New to Yoga? Stop Comparing Yourself to Others

Instead Define Your Own Path

I’ve seen so many times how my students compare their own practice to mine. I work with mostly with private clients who are often beginners. As a result, I do a lot of demonstrations. Refrains like, “I’m not as flexible as you,” or “I wish I were more flexible,” are common. I can sense an almost exasperation in the air of imminent defeat, as we practice standing forward fold and they can’t quite touch their toes.

Its important in these moments to put things in perspective. I too sometimes wish that I was a little more flexible when I’m scrolling through Instagram or trying to keep up with my own teachers. But really what does their flexibility have anything to do with my body? If one day I decided, “well, I can’t do a handstand scorpion so I might as well give it all up,” how would that benefit me? How is my teacher’s ability to do a certain pose create any value in my own body?