From Faceplant to Flow: Why Your Worst Experience Can Be Your Best Teacher
Lessons from my first yoga class:
At 18, during my freshman year of college, a new friend convinced me to try a yoga class at a studio that had just opened. I had a vague idea of what yoga was-mostly hippies in Berkeley eating homemade granola (no offense, granola-lovers!). For context, Lululemon hadn’t even opened its first store in California yet. This was a different era.
I was familiar with meditation-my mom had a dedicated practice, and my dad was all-in on daily meditation, kung fu, tai chi, and gifting me Zen books by Thich Nhat Hanh. But yoga? That was uncharted territory.
I remember it vividly: walking into this “cool” yoga studio in Mission Beach, San Diego, opening a door caked in steam (and, I’m convinced, the tears of tortured souls inside). My senses were immediately assaulted– the overwhelming scent of tea tree oil barely masking sweat-soaked towels, the heat escaping under the door and licking my feet, and the sudden hush from the clique of girls in the corner when they overheard me tell the receptionist this was my very first yoga class. Gasp!
I scurried to the bin for a loaner mat (cue gasp #2 from the Yoga clique) and was offered a towel to rent for $3. I declined– surely, I wouldn’t need it. Spoiler: over two decades later, I still consider this one of my worst decisions.
The Day I Became “That Person” in Yoga Class
The class itself? Imagine a series of stress positions where I had absolutely no idea if I was doing anything right. Each pose felt more impossible– and more painful– than the last. Eventually, I found myself in Natarajasana (Dancer’s Pose), which, in theory, is a beautiful combination of strength, balance, and grace. I displayed none of those qualities. Instead, the puddle of sweat under me (ick!) sent my standing foot flying, and I landed squarely on my behind, taking out the yogi next to me in the process. Graceful, I was not. To this day, I wonder if renting that towel could have saved me from this humiliation.
By the end, I felt like I’d been hit by a Mack truck, then run over a few more times for good measure. I returned the mat and shuffled out, vowing never to return.
But as I reached my car, I realized I had two choices:
1. Never, ever go back to yoga and forever tell the story of how awful it was.
2. Face my embarrassment and discomfort, and go back to see what this yoga thing was really about.
The Power of One Experience
You can probably guess which path I chose. I went back. And I kept going back, over and over again. I challenged myself, examined my ego, and worked through the mental barriers that had me stuck. Looking back, I’m oddly grateful for that mortifying experience. Sometimes, you have to hit the metaphorical rock bottom of embarrassment to take mindful action and move forward.
So why am I sharing this cringe-worthy story with you? Because it is undeniably remarkable how a single negative, awkward or maybe even painful experience can shape our future decisions– sometimes for years. Our brains are wired to avoid and protect us from pain and embarrassment, so we often let one bad moment dictate our willingness to try again. But what if we challenged that instinct? What if, instead of letting one cringe-worthy moment close the door, we reframed it as a story, a lesson, or even a badge of honor? By shifting our mindset, we can prevent one off-color experience from becoming a lifelong barrier. Yoga, after all, is about growth, resilience, and learning to be present– even (or especially) when things get uncomfortable. What if, instead of letting that one moment define us, we saw it as just a blip– a funny story, a lesson, or even a stepping stone?
Why keep going?
Whether your embarrassing encounter happened in a yoga studio, a gym, or anywhere you tried something new and perhaps didn’t fully stick the landing, I want you to remember three things:
You are in good company! Even seasoned yogis still make mistakes, fall, and occasionally take someone out mid-pose (news flash, this was not the only time I have done this!)
Every experience– especially the awkward ones– can teach us something and help us grow.
And, perhaps most importantly:
You will not have an experience like that with me! SAAL Yoga is designed to meet you exactly where you are. There are no “beginners” or “advanced” students here. We’re all in it together, adopting a beginner’s mindset so we can keep learning and growing, together.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve had a bad first experience– at yoga or anywhere– don’t let it be the last word. Try again, with a new mindset. If you’ve been hesitating to try something new because of one bad experience, I invite you to let go of that self-doubt. You might just surprise yourself with how much you can grow. I’ll be with you every step of the way.
Be well,
Nicole
P.S. If you’ve ever had a blunder like mine, shoot me an email and tell me all about it! Sometimes, you have to name it to tame it. Let’s laugh (and learn) together.