Mindfulness vs. Perfection

Sometimes yoga teachers say the darndest things. 🤪

I went to a yoga class this week and the teacher said something that made my butt clench.

I understood the intention around it. I get what she was trying to say (perhaps) but it came out in such a way that was kinda triggering.

I think what she wanted was for us to be mindful. To pay attention to what we were doing, especially if we started to get fatigued. 

But here’s how it came out…

Yoga teacher: “And even if we take crescent lunge a hundred times, do it perfectly every time.”

😬

A guy in the class actually laughed out loud when she said it. 😂

This brought back old memories of a time where I was so determined to nail a pose perfectly that I ended up hurting myself—physically and emotionally. For instance, I wanted to nail wheel pose so badly, because I thought not being able to do it meant something about me. 

If there’s one word I do not like to hear in my yoga class, it’s the “p” word—perfect.

I am a recovering perfectionist. Hearing that I’m supposed to do it perfectly every time is a recipe for absolute disaster.

I cannot not—no, will not—do it perfectly every time. I have practiced my @$$ off to get better at not being a perfectionist. Sometimes, I have to work at not doing imperfect perfectly. It gets kind of meta—and I don’t mean Facebook. Lol

Maybe you can relate—I need to throw perfect out the window. Rather than focusing on any form of perfection, I’m reaching for mindfulness. Mindfulness requires my awareness, focus, and attention to the present moment.

When I’m practicing being mindful, I can be more accepting of my thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations in the present moment.

I will take mindfulness over perfection any day. If I’m being mindful, then I can feel when I’m fatigued and take a rest, rather than drilling through it because I want to be perfect. Do you see the distinction?

Some could argue that striving for perfection is a way to improve and grow. While improvement may be desirable, it’s important to remember that yoga is a personal journey, and growth comes from self-awareness and self-compassion, not from chasing an unattainable standard.

This week’s episode of Baptiste Power Vinyasa Flow Yoga with Kari is a 15 minute mindfulness meditation. In mindfulness meditation we are sitting in the simplicity of the present moment.

In this meditation the focus is on your breath, hands, feet, and the crown of your head. 

Mindfulness meditation is a way to interact with yourself in the present moment through anchors like the breath and bodily sensation. While simple, these are powerful tools for getting the mind and the body in the same place at the same time—they are happening right now.

This week’s episode:

I do not assume malice on the part of the yoga teacher this week. I think what she really wanted was for us to pay attention. Asking students to pay attention feels a little less severe than asking for perfection.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this topic. 

Have you ever felt pressure to be perfect in your yoga practice or in other areas of your life? How do you approach mindfulness in your daily routine? Feel free to reply to this email or leave a comment on the video.

I hope you find this meditation practice useful. If you enjoy it, please consider hitting the like button, leaving a comment, and subscribing to my YouTube channel. 

With love,

~Kari