obsessed with moving on to the next level

As adults, we are so obsessed with seeing things crossed off a list, that we may cheat ourselves and cut corners to get that gold star. Sadly, this need for check marks seeps into yoga way too often.

Robin and I were talking about "those people" who are obsessed with moving on to the next level and how they are so eager to learn more advanced poses. What interests me most is how most of these people can't even do the beginner poses correctly yet claim to be experts. Let me ask you: Where is your technique? Are you breathing, with your abs contracted, throughout the pose? Are you engaging your bandhas? Do you know what a bandha is? Let me tell you, the answer is "no" to all of these, so you are no expert!

I equate it to children in ballet class, who are bored with doing the same exercises every week. As children, they don't understand that by reviewing and practicing regularly they will become better ballerinas. They instead think they know it all and are bored. I was that kid.

Even though I am a certified teacher, (which I rock at by the way), I do not claim to be an expert yogi. Hell, most days my main goal is to shut my brain off from reviewing what other crap I need to be doing instead in laying in Savasana. The only way I will ever become an expert is if I dedicate 175% of the next 15 - 20 years of my life to yoga, and we all know that will never happen!

Once upon a time I would have been the most competitive person in a yoga class. I would seek out someone who I believed was on the same level as me and work my arse odd to exceed their skill level. These days, I'm happy if my belly flab doesn't suffocate me during poses.