Whether you consider yourself a perfectionist or not, our society pushes us to believe we can and should pay the price to achieve perfection. We should get braces if our teeth aren't perfect, go on a diet or have liposuction if our bodies aren't perfect, fix or replace broken relationships... Our need for perfection comes from the ego's need to explain and control, which ironically, is what inevitably keeps us from experiencing perfection. We obsess over wanting perfection when we don't have it, and how to keep it once we have it. But in either situation, we create anxiety, tension, and fear -- even when we're practicing hot yoga and trying to learn how to relax within ourself.  
 
While we should identify and avoid the need for unhealthy perfectionism in our hot yoga practice, we also know that growth, improvement and transformation do not happen without effort. Remember that breakthroughs in our practice will come with patience, intention and understanding, rather than sitting through aching knees or holding poses until exhaustion. Sometimes the best effort is that which seems like no effort at all. We can all benefit by reminding ourselves that perfection is within, even if we don't happen to be feeling it in this moment. Everytime we make an effort to truly accept our self right where we are, we loosen our obsession with wanting to be perfect. 
 
Start out by identifying how you might be exhibiting some sort of unhealthy perfectionism. Does your mat, towel, clothes or hair have to be perfectly neat at all times? Do you constantly compare yourself to others, focusing on your imperfections or their faults? Are you so afraid of not doing a pose or advancement perfectly that you won't even start? Once you are aware you are doing such things, it makes it a lot easier to try to do something about it. Combat negative thoughts with positive affirmations. Give yourself permission to be imperfect. Allow yourself not to be the best. Acknowledge your mistakes instead of wasting energy denying them. Above all, focus your effort on keeping your mind in the present moment, keeping your breath calm, loving and accepting yourself at all times. That way, you'll be using your energy much more effectively, getting yourself much closer to the improvements you've long hoped for.
 
Namaste,
Jason, Stephanie, Lourdes, Laura S., Jordan M., Jordan S., Erica, Harmony, Sarah, Laura B., Melissa, Lisa and Christelle