Non Judgement

Total 360 yoga blog November 2025

Non judgement

We are always asked what you think of my shirt, my shoes, my clothes. The answer given is always a judgment.  It’s something we prescribe to the question that is asked.  One of the biggest things I learned while going through the MyVinyasaFlow program several years ago was the concept of non-judgment.  People don’t want to be judged, especially when they are coming to a yoga class for the first time.  Instead of judging, offer suggestions and ideas to help them with their practice.  

Moving away from judgment, you will find there is more room in your heart for compassion and kindness.  Build on those concepts.  Being non-judgmental is not something that will happen overnight. I still find myself judging someone or something. I accept that I did and will work harder not to do it again.

As an instructor, the more non-judgmental you are, the more you will find that clients and students will talk to you more.  The more trust you build, the more you will see things for what they truly are.  Presence will come to mind as the judgment slides to the side. Our job is to hold the space for our students to have a clear and fluid container they can work on themselves and the practice.  

Would you go back to a therapist who continued to judge you, or would you go back to a therapist who listens and offers suggestions?  Transcend these moments and build the non-judgmental concept into your daily routine.  Look for the hidden judgments.  Is this coffee good?  Did you like the movie?  These are all going to require some sort of judgment. Take the time to practice with the small movements so when it matters most, you can show up with non-judgmental responses.  

You don’t need to have an opinion to simply be.  Being present in the moment is what every yoga instructor tries to teach it’s students.  We need to apply it across our lives.  Judgments can lead to materialism, which can lead to disease. Disease of want, judgments, or trying to live up to someone else’s judgments.

 Remove the idea of good or bad and simply examine what is.   When we simplify it this way, that something is.  It exists, we exist, let's find the moment and cherish those moments.  Judgments consume us, let's find now and be here.  

Peace be still, stillness be peace. Be in the moment.

Michael A. Rodgers