“At first, keeping all the different parts of your body in alignment is like herding wild monkeys. Plus, in the beginning, it may hurt, too, so beginners are often afraid to do it.
“This leads me to one of the most important lessons America has ever taught me: “No pain, no gain.” In India, we express the same sentiment as “No money, no honey.” Of course it hurts! Contrary to popular belief, pain often means that you are doing something right. Be grateful and patient. Nobody’s telling you to be a martyr or a masochist; I’m just talking about going one small step beyond discomfort. Stretch to the point at which you feel pain, the threshold, and learn from it. Each day that threshold should recede and you’ll have to go farther and farther to reach it.”
~ Bikram Choudhury, Bikram Yoga
Have you ever noticed how you’re more proud of the accomplishments that took time and effort to achieve?
Keep this in mind as you practice your yoga. Taking your body or your mind into new territory requires effort to create the change and diligence to maintain it.
Little by little, my friend. Appreciate the incremental changes; these are the ones that will last.