Yoga at OHM Schedule w/ Victor 9/23 - 9/29/2024: Same Poses/Perfection? ; NYC YOGA Mentorship

"Comparison is the thief of joy." —Theodore Roosevelt

The quote above is very relevant in association with our yoga practice. I'd like to add that "Perfectionism" is also the thief of joy. Neither comparing nor the word "perfect" have any place in any meditation or yoga practice.

Too often, students feel self-imposed or outwardly pressured to advance in their poses; social media & studio culture, our upbringing, all influence and can sabotage our healthy yoga lifestyle.

These pressures can lead to burnout, injury, and competitiveness—which is not the part of the construct of yoga. Nor is that a feature of any ancient scriptures or texts. That mode of practice creates suffering and can stunt our imagination and excitement for the practice as yoga practitioners.

Of course, progressing in the practice of asana is beautiful too - but only healthy when that progress includes peace, mindfulness, awareness and inner knowing.

This practice is one of joy. It’s meant to teach us to live up to our full potential. Not to be "perfect" or compare yourself to someone else, or to unhealthy standards not fitting your present.

It’s a journey that we choose to embark on. Life is already a wild ride... so arrive on your mat this Fall and allow your breath, your practice, and the deep roots of yoga support you to feel more grounded and connected to the beauty that is you.

WHY DO PRACTICE THE SAME SHAPES...?

Asana is the practice of physical postures. This is what we typically first get introduced to when starting a yoga practice. Most of us start by taking a single yoga class in which we do a lot of stretching, bending, and strengthening of the body. While our bodies are amazing tools and we should definitely use them as much as we can, moving the body into different postures may not be the ultimate goal of a yoga practice, especially for many who dive deeper into a yoga lifestyle. The postures are just a tool to calm the mind and to move into the inner essence of being.

Keeping it real..., yoga is more than just a physical practice. By opening up your body, you can eventually open up your mind, and the most fundamental goal of yoga is to quiet the mind. By constantly challenging yourself with different physical postures, you get the opportunity to explore and control all of your emotions. Asana has widespread benefits: improved health, strength, balance, and flexibility. But the deeper benefit that comes from a regular, daily practice is what keeps many doing this, day after day.

By working with your body, you become more aware of your surroundings as well as yourself. You will probably start to pay more attention to details and notice how you react in different situations. Practicing asanas becomes both a preparation for meditation, and a meditation in and of itself. The postures become a tool to expand the consciousness, and the key to fostering this expansion begins with the control of breath: pranayama.

It is not uncommon to get attached to the asanas in your practice. The mind often gets competitive and the urge to advance and do more postures has hit many yoga practitioners at one time in their lives.

I have been there myself, eager to go into more advanced postures. I have compared myself to others and lost sight of why I do this practice, and almost every time this has happened, I injure myself, the practice just isnt meditative and leaves me feeling discouraged or not accepting. When I am moving too fast, without my body or my mind being ready for it, the body just says stop. It is a reminder of why I shouldn’t push myself, why I should accept that my body is different from others’, and that I have my own limitations. Most importantly, a reminder of why I do this practice. When I compare myself to others, I lose the essence of my yoga practice.

So if you ever feel frustrated by not “mastering” a posture and you might have thoughts like, “Why can she do that and I can’t?” or “Why does he get more postures and I don’t?”, try to remember how far you have come and how the practice has transformed your body, mind, and soul. Just give that an extra thought and be grateful to be able to do this practice, regardless of which postures you are doing.

MENTORSHIP WITH VICYASA™...
Yoga with Victor's mentorship program... for teachers looking to sharpen their tools and hone in on varying skills that will make you more proficient at sequencing, teaching anatomy, or widening their skill set to become a successful instructor and craft your own business model.

What if you're not a teacher and would like to prepare for training or enhance your ever-hungry-desire to absorb all things yoga? Holla' at me.

Feel like your 200 hour training ended with you needing more questions answered? Want to expand on those teachings? Do you feel like there are areas of your teaching repertoire that need enhancing? Contact me for more info and enrollment.

PRIVATES: ONE-TO-ONE WORK!
If you want to set up any private sessions or events, please contact me through email. You can learn more about privates: CLICK HERE!

SINGLE CLASSES
We've added single class purchases to our on-demand offerings. How does it work? A $17 payment will give you access to a single pre-recorded class with Victor or anyone on his staff. The private link with unique access code will give you entry to that class, which you can load anytime you want. You'll have 24-hours of unlimited access to that class. No refunds, returns and you must use that class within 24-hours of receiving it before it expires. You can request a teacher on our on-demand options... featuring Demetra Kentrotas (@d_meetch), Leanne McDermott (@leannerays), Elinor Cohen (@elinorraerigby) and others.

YOGA AT OHHHMMM LIVE VIRTUAL SCHEDULE:

MONDAY: 9/23/2024
NO CLASSES

TUESDAY: 9/24/2024
NO CLASSES

WEDNESDAY: 9/25/2024
NO CLASSES

THURSDAY: 9/26/2024
NO CLASSES

FRIDAY: 9/27/2024
NO CLASSES

SATURDAY: 9/28/2024
NO CLASSES

SUNDAY: 9/29/2024
NO CLASSES


*ALL CLASSES EST
*SESSIONS 45/60 MINUTES
*WAIVER STATEMENT: I understand that I must be in good physical health to participate in these classes, that my participation may cause an injury and that I should consult with my physician before I take a class. I am taking these classes at my own risk. I waive any claim for personal injury and any other damages that I may have against the school, studio and/or the teachers who are offering these classes.

*NEW REGULAR RATES:

• $65 for 30 days of UNLIMITED CLASSES! (includes on-demand)
• $17 for 1 pre-recorded class (24 hour access from purchase)

PAYMENT:
VENMO -- @Vicyasa
Paypal -- [email protected]

NAMASTE,
Victor Cotto
www.YogaWithVictor.com
Instagram: CottoVic
Facebook: Yoga With Victor - Vicyasa™