The point of mind-body exercise is not to analyze every muscular move, critique yourself in the mirror, compete with your neighbor, or worry about whether you're doing it right. The point is just to do it. Feeling the way your body moves is the ultimate goal. Letting your limbs and muscles move in a way that feels good and can make the difference between a good mind-body workout and an unsuccessful one.

In other group-exercise classes or individual sports like running or cycling, it's way too easy to fall into a competitive and judgmental trap. In a mind-body class, the most productive thing you can do is to turn off your gray matter, and simply feel the workout, letting yourself flow through it. Avoid passing judgment or grading yourself. Go inside yourself to achieve an inward focus, and listen to what your body tells you about how far, how fast, or how low you should go. Your body talks to you -- you need only listen. You can hear it if you let it talk.

One exception is Pilates-inspired movement, which requires inward focus, but also demands exactness in its movement. A Pilates instructor may correct you if you have your spine or leg placed in a position considered incorrect. Sure, there are modifications and alternatives to movements if you aren't flexible or strong enough to do a move a particular way. That's not being "wrong," just a modification to let you continue.