What can we learn from being an adult beginner that informs more familiar activities, like our yoga practice? Today host Rachel explores that question with Auckland-based Yoga Medicine Therapeutic Specialist, Functional Range Conditioning® Mobility Specialist, and Yoga Medicine Online guest teacher Kylie Rook.

Kylie shares her love of being a beginner off of the yoga mat, her tips for getting more comfortable in that uncomfortable space, and the lessons she has learned along the way - including how to more compassionately teach yoga beginners.

Listen in as we discuss the physical, mental, and emotional benefits of being a beginner, and how we can learn to apply a beginner's mind to more familiar activities in our lives.

Show Notes:

• Why are we, as adults, scared to be beginners? The stories we tell ourselves [3:24]
• Benefits of being a beginner: forging new physical and neural pathways [8:23]
• Novelty creates enforced mindfulness [11:01]
• Patience, persistence, and reframing failure [13:00]
• Feeling empathy for beginners in yoga [15:45]
• Tips for teaching yoga beginners [17:40]
• Exposure to other movement styles informs yoga teaching and practice [20:10]
• Being a beginner can increase self-compassion and exploration of familiar activities [24:35]
• Tips to get more comfortable with being a beginner: start small & fun [29:53]
• Recruit expert instruction [31:53]
• Final advice for becoming a beginner: take a buddy [35:14]
• Applying a beginner mindset to familiar activities [36:11]
• Last takeaways from Kylie [40:53]

Links Mentioned:

• Watch this episode on YouTube
• Connect with Kylie Rook:

Facebook | Instagram | Kylie Rook | Yoga Medicine Online Guest Teacher

You can learn more about this episode, and see the full show notes at YogaMedicine.com/podcast-66.

And you can find out more about insider tips, online classes, or information on our teacher trainings at YogaMedicine.com.

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