There’s No Such Thing As Being Bad at Yoga

Have you ever worried that you’re bad at yoga? Have you heard other students complain that no matter how hard they try, they just can’t get “good” at it? As a teacher, I’ve heard this time and time again, and I’ve seen the shame and frustration that this belief causes. And it completely obscures the whole purpose of asana practice.

Yoga is not a game of being “good” or “bad.” It’s a personal and spiritual journey that unfolds over a lifetime, devoid of the competitive nature of sports or the need for accolades.

Most of the time, when people talk about being bad at yoga, they’re really talking about being bad at poses. And sure, they may not be able to do the fancy or so-called “advanced” poses, and they may never get there. But guess what? That doesn’t actually mean they are bad at yoga poses!

What is the Actual Purpose of Asana Practice?

Once again, we need to reflect on the purpose of Asana practice. Like yoga as a whole, there are no prizes for getting into a perfect Crow Pose (Kakasana) or balancing the longest in a Headstand (Sirsasana). Asana is simply one of the eight limbs of yoga, a tool to help us along our larger personal journey. And its worth is not measured by the poses you can or cannot do. The poses are morally neutral; they do not confer special yoga powers or magically move you three steps in personal growth.

Remember, there’s no such thing as being a bad yoga student. Whether you find meditation challenging or struggle with understanding certain concepts, it’s all part of your unique journey. There’s no good or bad yoga practice; it’s just your personal experience.

I’d argue that one measure of progress might be the ability to let go of the idea of being good at yoga at all since that’s simply another form of attachment. No matter what your practice looks like, it—and you—are worthy.

Have you ever worried that you’re bad at yoga or heard others say they’re bad at it?