There are many parallels between the asanas (postures) and your spiritual practice.
I frequently joke with new students,"Underacheive. Listen to your body. It's about evolution, not revolution."
Whether it's physical OR mental flexibility, there is no rush. Permanent change rarely happens quickly. Instant gratification is quick....... but fleeting. Be patient with yourself; God isn't finished with you yet!
Both physically and mentally you are trying to establish new habits.... SLOWLY. (Yes, the operant adverb here is SLOWLY.) Much more important that relatively quick progress is regularity of practice. Physical and mental habits get imprinted with regular practice. You are not trying to see how many different experiences you can have; it's not about variety or continuous entertainment.
Give up the concepts of quick, instant results before you begin your practice. There are no shortcuts that have permanent, long-lasting results.
Radical yo-yo changes make both the body and the mind both restless and instable. Rarely does someone stick to any practice that is either quick or radical.
Especially when one first begins a practice, one should go really easy. Whether it is physical or mental, make the habit comfortable. Let it become ingrained into your consciousness. Build up slowly. If you become serious, the intensity can come later - when you are firmly entrenched in your practice.
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