How to be a good Yoga student

Like everything else in life, yoga takes time to learn and understand. It also has it's share of ups and downs. One day it may seam effortless and the next it's a struggle to bend over and reach your toes. Yoga can help us stay centered when times are good, bad and in-between. Even when we think practice is a waste of time and energy, it is not. When thoughts such as this arise remember that the act of practice itself - sticking to our commitment - is valuable. Consistent practice takes discipline (Tapas) tempered by compassion and self acceptance.

Be enthusiastic. Initially, your eagerness may be strong but over time this may dwindle as the mind seeks something new and unfamiliar. Try to stay with your reasons for starting Yoga in the first place and renew your commitment regularly. If in doubt, get your mat out! It's often the first few postures that inspire us to want to do more so if you're struggling then just make the pledge to get your mat out and sit on it each day, and see what unfolds from there.

Your heart is your inner teacher. If you learn to listen to this you will be constantly reminded of your truth and your inner guidance will show you what you need to do. Reconnect with this heart space as much as you can so that you can become your own teacher.

Don't be in a hurry. Be curious. Try to discover for yourself what the postures mean to you by encouraging 'disbelief' - rather than taking instruction to the letter always think about how the pose feels for you and how you are reacting to the posture physically, mentally and emotionally.

And now, some tips for you as a student attending class:

• Be on time. This is crucial as there are often important instructions given at the beginning of a class. If you can, be early so that you can settle into the right frame of mind for the practice. Most importantly, consistent lateness is a disrespect to your teacher and a disruption for your fellow students. On the flip side of this, don't berate yourself if you are late once in a while - this happens to everybody.
• Be motivated. Students that practice at home, ask questions and want to learn more inspire their teacher to go out of their way to help them progress.
• If in doubt, do less. Listen to your body - stretching is good but Yoga doesn't 'go for the burn'.Try to stay with the idea of being a novice, that way you are more open to learning.
• Be seen. Introduce yourself to your teacher. Don't always hide at the back of class; position yourself near the front. If the teacher is good, just being in their light and watching the way they move their body can inspire you.
• Perhaps one of the most important tips to the student is to be consistent. Your progress will only be enhanced by regular attendance to a class. This includes going to class when you don't feel like it. If we rely on the mind we miss the truth of what is best for us, we just think the easy option is the best.
• Don't compare yourself to anybody else in the class nor to the teacher. Individuality extends to levels of natural flexibility as well as body types. Students who seam very flexible may actually be hyper-mobile which can be uncomfortable and even problematic to the body. Don't envy somebody for their flexibility when you don't know the full picture.
• Think about your goals. Be reasonable with what you want to get out of your practice either in the session or through a season. 'To become a master yogi in three weeks' is probably an unrealistic expectation but 'to strengthen my back and move out of pain in 6 months' is more realistic. Knowing these goals can help you interact with your teacher and get advice and encouragement.
• Be appreciate of constructive criticism. Verbal or hands-on correction are typical in many forms of Hatha Yoga. take it in the manner it was intended - to help you along the path. This can be a hard practice sometimes but try to remain humble.
• Be appreciative of your teacher. Offering feedback when the teacher does something helpful (or potentially harmful) can be a morale booster as well as bettering the quality of their teaching. Your teacher cannot be in your body and nor would they want to be. To offer insights as to what works for you and what doesn't is to be of service (Karma Yoga)
• Lastly, don't give up! Postures that are initially uncomfortable and/or challenging are generally the best ones for us. The truth is that the people who struggle the most in a class to begin with are those that have the most to gain from Yoga Asana. It is hard for us to let go of our competitive nature and desire to be immediately good at something but this is why it's called 'practice'...