Stay in the room.

Whenever a new student takes my class I always ask them to to stay in the room, even if the class gets challenging or overwhelming.  I ask this for important safety reasons: 1) I want to know students are safe, which means being able to SEE them; and 2) exercise without proper cool down, can increase the feelings of discomfort.  But, there is also an important psychological factor; the sense of accomplishment that comes from sticking out a tough class, even if that means briefly taking savasana (corpse pose) or simply putting your head between your knees.

Setting a goal, and sticking to it, should feel empowering! Use physical activity to combat feelings of self-doubt and fear. Let your yoga practice, or any other exercise regime, become brain training for taking on challenges outside of the room.  Recall a time when you overcame an obstacle or finished a difficult task.  Boil that experience down to one word: determination, perseverance, focus, etc.  Use that word as your intention each time you hit the mat or lace up your shoes.  Let each session be a reminder of how mentally and physically strong you really are.