I am new here on the forum, and technically to yoga as well, and have many questions. My desire to begin yoga came from the spiritual side. I knew there was a side to yoga that most around here (where I live) don?t use or seek. I live in a very, very religious society. I found the idea of yoga being spiritual fascinating and began to research. I was eventually given the contact info for a teacher, and began with him immediately. I absorb so much information, and have such a passion for it. However, many questions arise from this. I have been attending classes for only 4 months, but I feel like I have been here for the better part of a lifetime. I have tried to explain this to others, but I get that ?you?re nuts? look. I guess what I am wondering is, am I learning too fast? Is this even possible? With yoga, don?t I learn at exactly the pace I need it? Does this make sense? I admit, my asanas are those of a beginner, but I feel like my mind and soul are light years ahead. Any thoughts?
Light years ahead … compared to what ? Your former self ? Other people ? Your physical nature ?
My enthusisastic beginner yogi self was so touched by Sri Sivananda’s teaching (Divine Life Society) that I soon found myself preaching it as absolute truth. Later I had become involved with other things, than I stood up for that. Today, what I know, is that I don’t really know much, except my own weaknesses, and my life is spent in slowly correcting them, having ups and downs all the time. The beginning is always glamourous, as in case of falling in love with a woman. But it passes. Enjoy it while you can. 
Oh yes, I seem to have forgotten to expand on that! Thanks for asking.
I suppose all three, actually. You see, I have only ever spoke about yoga with my teacher, and really want to hear other thoughts about whether or not one could move along too quickly. I said in my introduction that I feel like I am moving so quickly that it’s as though I am in two places at once! I like it though, and it doesn’t feel forced.
I always struggle to express myself clearly when speaking of yoga, so I hope I’ve expanded enough for others to understand my meaning.
I find that I must pace myself so that everything I do just is. I can’t obsess about things like there is some goal I’ll arive at, but just be disciplined so that I can realize what already is. Diving head first into things has been the cause of much suffering for me.
[QUOTE=Yoga Yammer;25266] I feel like I have been here for the better part of a lifetime. I have tried to explain this to others, but I get that “you’re nuts” look. [/QUOTE]
This feeling you describe resonates with me a lot. It’s very comfortable and attractive – and can lead you to unfounded conclusions about other people. Like soaking up sunshine when spring starts to warm: enjoy it, let it goad you into a better life (the Vitamin D is excellent), but don’t let it burn you.
There is no such thing as slow or fast in terms of our spiritual evolution and learning. This is our ego and our own subjectivity who wants to attach importance to what we are experiencing. I would say let go and just allow that spiritual evolution to happen, like you say at your own pace. Your spiritual evultion is exactly equal to the effort you have put into it in previous incarnations, allow that effort to bear the fruits it is supposed to in this incarnation. My own teacher wasn’t fluent in doing all the asanas perfectly, in fact there was many that she admit openly that it is not for her, but she was and still is a phenomenal wealth of spiritual inspiration and information and she has this amazing quality to teach well. Who can tell where you will end? 
Thank you all for the resposes. It is very refreshing to have thoughts of spirituality spoken of so openly, and with such differing viewpoints. It fills my heart.
Like most things in life, it takes time to fully absorb and realize the philosophical and spiritual teachings of yoga and related disciplines. It’s possible that the contact with you teacher has awakened some tendencies that you’ve carried with you from previous births, and that have been latent until now. I wouldn’t worry that you have questions. If you continue to cultivate this side of of your nature, in time the seeds that are now being sown will grow and come to fruition.
Wow, I must say. Reading this has actually made me want to go do Yoga. Amazing… Is the feeling always like this? It seems… serene.
[QUOTE=Yoga Yammer;25266]I have been attending classes for only 4 months, but I feel like I have been here for the better part of a lifetime. I have tried to explain this to others, but I get that ?you?re nuts? look. I guess what I am wondering is, am I learning too fast? Is this even possible? With yoga, don?t I learn at exactly the pace I need it? Does this make sense? I admit, my asanas are those of a beginner, but I feel like my mind and soul are light years ahead. Any thoughts?[/QUOTE]
If the soul exists it would likely be far beyond wherever our physical manifestation may be at any given moment.
As to feeling like you have been here for the better part of a lifetime, this may be an insight into the illusory nature of time and self. Your physical body today is not the same body as 4 months ago. It is in constant flux.
How can something that constantly changes have a lifetime? What is it that we are measuring the life of? The eternal present is a lifetime and beyond. The fact that yoga is part of your life now means that it spans the totality of your present lifetime.