We live in an accelerated society, becoming increasingly focused on ourselves. The lack of engagement in community activities has pushed us into a place of individual practices, avoiding human contact as much as possible. When do we make eye contact or engage in an activity that requires joint attention with people we don’t know? How many times do we avoid small talk when we are pushed into social activities with strangers? How often do we opt for our phones and earbuds, the universal sign of “Leave Me Alone”?
Walking into your typical gym is an extension of the individuality culture we’ve come to know well. We don’t meet up and chat with others. We rarely make eye contact. We’re seriously into our workout and corresponding workout playlist. We want to work out and go, never really mentally arriving. Singularly focused.
But arriving at a yoga class, there is a cultural shift that happens when you enter the studio. And it’s based on the design of yoga in the first place.
It’s About Intention
It is possible to have a mindful solo gym workout. It’s equally possible to have a mindless yoga practice. But an important distinction exists: yoga was designed to be mindful. With mindful instructors who set meaningful intentions for their classes, this can be palpable in the space. Being guided to personally set intentions for your practice can allow for a more successful class, instead of simply focusing on your physical prowess. It also allows for the possibility of a mental cleansing, permeating other areas of your life beyond the mat.
Singularly Focused vs. Community Focused
A solo gym workout has its benefits. It can be quick, effective, and tailored to exactly what you enjoy and need. However, without the benefit of a community, growth can be hard to achieve, especially mentally. When you’re in a dedicated practice at a studio, you get to know your instructors and fellow students. Sometimes you share blocks or straps, other times you share your frustrations and successes. But you always share the space. Coming to the mat among like-minded students flowing together brings everyone in that space closer. It’s a rare, community-focused activity. We’re all committing to a certain amount of time together, with similar goals.
Supportive, Collaborative, Creative
Where do you go when you plateau or get frustrated during a solo gym workout? How do you problem solve when your workout is no longer serving you? Yet another benefit of the community aspect of a yoga class, a great instructor pushes you out of your comfort zone in a supportive environment, allowing you to explore postures you may have thought were not possible or beyond your ability level. And keep in mind: no two yoga classes are the same. The creativity that so many yoga instructors bring to their classes comes alive in dynamic, ever-changing sessions.
Although there can be a meaningful place for traditional gym workouts in our lives, nothing can come close to the supportive, nurturing atmosphere that a yoga class can offer. Offering coaching, mindfulness, and a mind/body connection not easily found elsewhere in the fitness world. Yoga class benefits, in tandem with a solo gym workout, can move mountains.
Author: Sarah Ronau