Each individual would have some very specific objectives and goals that they expect to realize through yoga practice and trying to become skilled at it. But a yoga instructor's perspective can be different. To help you get the most out of your yoga class near you, let me go into more depth about this.
How would you define yoga?
If you practice yoga, you might be considering improving your physical condition or losing weight. The goal can be to have a more attractive figure, or what society often deems attractive. Some people merely desire improved health and a decreased susceptibility to disease. Others may want to get stronger, more flexible, and more balanced in their bodies.
Some people go to nearby yoga classes because it helps them feel calm and relaxed. It improves well-being and assists them in coping with life's stressors. Perhaps students would try to compare their monthly progress to evaluate how they had improved.
Yoga from the perspective of the teacher
Undoubtedly, yoga aids individuals in achieving all of these objectives, including losing inches and gaining health, strength, leanness, and relaxation. A yoga instructor, though, has a slightly different viewpoint. My attention is on each of my students' overall progress because I teach yoga to so many people.
I assess each pupil's health down to the level of their organs. Are the organs performing more effectively than before? Is an organ now healthier if it was previously ill? I consider how well my organs are functioning generally, as well as my physical and emotional health. Yoga will unavoidably lead to weight loss or inch loss, increased strength, and a greater sense of calm. These results are anticipated if the poses and pranayama are performed correctly.
To me, though, inch reduction, relaxation, and improved immunity are all only by-products of the all-around, holistic growth I hope to see in my pupils. Instead of focusing on improvements (or regressions, depending on your perspective) achieved each month, I consider each student's overall growth since they started their yoga journey.
Why and how to change your outlook?
I suggest to my students that they change their perspective on yoga just a little bit and put more emphasis on the practice than the results. I would advise students not to set goals that are too specific, such as being able to perform specific challenging asanas or postures or reducing X kg or Y inches. I counsel yoga practitioners to fully and entirely commit to and concentrate on their yogic practice.