This has happened to me a couple of times: I'm told that group x is not that into yoga because group x prefers to get a workout. So I bring in a big bowl of yoga soup with the ingredients of a strength based asana practice. Not the full course meal, just the components. Lots of prep work, strength drills (in a yoga context), flexibility/ mobility, and no poses that require exceptional flexibility that a block or strap couldn't help with. Some love it, others just don't.
Was it me? Did I say something wrong? Not supportive enough? All this crosses my mind, but I can't be anyone but myself. I'm just sharing a piece of my path, and trying to be the teacher I wish I had. I'm dishing out exactly what I needed in my early years (not that long ago).
I guess, for someone with little or no experience, asana seems esoteric. And some teachers try to keep it that way by saying some weird sh*t. Look a little closer, it's familiar, kinda like a slow-mo dance/martial art fusion. Sun salutation A is the slowest burpee you have ever done, ever!
Truth is, any asana class is just a workout, really. The real yoga is what you do on your own time, your personal practice. It takes a long time for some to start a meaningful home practice, no need to force it. It will organically happen, slowly, inadvertently spawning from random moments of deep breathing.
Don't underestimate the importance of classes. Building strength, refining your transitions, practicing yoga skills helps create those deeper moments when your get lost in your own personal practice. Not all classes will meet you where you are at this moment, they might highlight your weakness, play on your strength, bore you terribly, engulf you wholly. So, be open to new experiences, and try the back bend class even though you hate wheel pose;)
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