The Core Distinction: Practice Style Varies
On January 05, 2025, let’s explore the differences between a beginner yoga practitioner and an advanced one. The most prominent difference lies in the practice style. For a novice stepping into the world of yoga, the Mountain pose can seem like an advanced asana. It allows them to feel the sensation of their feet firmly rooted to the ground. Any simple movement that they can manage appears to be an advanced – level action to them.
However, for those who have been practicing yoga for several years, performing a handstand or a wheel pose indicates that they are no longer beginners. Complex asanas are merely a combination of basic ones. The Yoga sutra states, “Shtira sukkhan asanam”, which means asanas should be executed with comfort and stability. So, being “advanced” has little to do with the specific asanas one can perform.
The State of Practice: A Key Differentiator
The difference between a beginner and an advanced practitioner is more about the state of their practice. An advanced practitioner respects and satisfies their body, holding a comfortable position with awareness. When starting out in yoga, beginners often find it most challenging to maintain their practice. They repeat the same movements day in and day out, year after year, without seeing immediate results or gains, and may frequently feel like giving up.
As one overcomes challenges time and time again, for example, finding balance in the Tree pose and space in the Triangle pose, it’s not about making progress just for the sake of it. Instead, it’s about moving on to the next step when the body is truly ready. The yoga practice, through repeated repetitions, becomes second – nature. It seeps from the skin into the muscles and bones, transforming into one’s own energy.
The Essence of Being “Advanced”
Only then can one reap the rewards of their practice. Repeating something is not arduous; in fact, each repetition brings additional benefits to the mind and body. Being “advanced” implies having a calm brain and deep, long – lasting breaths, and being able to rest in the present moment within the body. It’s a state of harmony and self – awareness that goes beyond the physical postures of yoga, a journey of self – discovery and inner peace that evolves as one’s practice matures.
