Zenlama Holistic Wellness and Healthy Living for Body, Mind and Spirit
After hearing many positive things about yoga, are you inspired to try your first yoga class but don’t know where to start? If the answer is “YES”! We have put together a short guide to yoga for beginners. It will give you an outline of everything you need to know and point you in the right direction to help you get your first taste of this wonderful ancient practice.
Calming the mind is yoga, not just standing on the head. ~ Swami Satchidananda
One of the best things to know about Yoga is that it’s an ideal activity for people of any level of fitness – that’s right. Despite all the images you see online, it’s not just for slim athletic people who can contort their bodies into jaw-dropping positions.
So what is Yoga really?
For yoga newbies, at first yoga can seem a little intimidating, but it’s really not.
More than just a great workout, yoga is a centuries-old holistic mind, body, spirit durability and approach to health and fitness that improves the overall wellbeing of men and women alike.
It’s designed around the idea of moving your body to increase its durability and you can adapt the practices to your own speed and level of comfort and daily practice can be adapted it to suit individual tastes and needs so it is suitable for people of all shapes, sizes, ages and fitness levels.
How to get started
Take note: To help you ensure that your first experience of yoga is a positive one, you should find a friendly teacher and start with a beginners class – even if you are super fit and flexible.
Choose a beginner’s class
There are so many different types of yoga, that when it comes to choosing the perfect class, it can be a struggle. One of the best styles of yoga to start off with is Hatha yoga, as this style is simple and gentle, so ideal for beginners.
Don’t make the mistake of thinking that because you are already in good shape that you should do an intermediate class. Unless you have done yoga before, a beginner’s class is the best place to start.
Take time to introduce yourself to your instructor and let them know if you have any injury, or physical issue so he or she can modify the routine to accommodate your needs.
Find a great teacher
Once you have decided on the type of class you want to take, the next step is to find the perfect teacher. You will find yoga much more fun and enjoyable if you have a teacher who you get on well with, so choose your teacher carefully.
A lot of people think that they can learn to do yoga from a book or an online tutorial, but for beginners it is important to have the attention, help and support of a teacher. If you don’t know of any good teachers in the area, ask a friend or relative to refer you to one that they have used. Alternatively so a bit of research using social media and check out what other people have to say.
Wear comfortable clothing
When you do yoga, you will be stretching your body in all sorts of directions, so wearing comfortable clothing is a must.
As well as being comfortable, your yoga wear should also be stretchy. However, that being said, when it comes to tops, don’t wear anything too loose, or you may end up exposing yourself.
For your first few yoga sessions, a pair of leggings and a comfortable top will do perfectly. However, if you decide that yoga is for you, it’s a good idea to invest in some proper yoga wear. You can find great yoga pants online, plus lots of fantastic yoga tops and mats, too.
Buddy up
If you are nervous about attending your first class on your own, consider buddying up with a friend. You could either find a friend who already attends yoga and go to a class with them, or ask a friend or relative to start yoga with you.
If you are feeling anxious, buddying up with a friend should help to calm your nervous before your first class. Just make sure that you and your friend are both on the same page about the type of yoga that you want to try.
Last words
We all know that breaking bad habits and choosing to making a change for the better can set up an internal resistance that tough to push through. Sometimes the hardest step is just getting to, and over the starting line. Seep down we all crave more certainty and security and what I have found is that practice, ritual and routine brings us that. But the hardest part can simply be to begin.
Yoga has so many amazing health benefits that it’s definitely worth giving it a go and sticking with it past the initial learning curve. Remember, yoga is all about you so smile, get started and have some fun.
What do you think?
What attracts you to practice yoga? How do you keep fit now and what do you do that calms your body and your mind in a healthful way? We would love to hear from you so do share your experiences.
As always, your interaction with our posts creates a reservoir of wisdom for all our readers to benefit from so please share your thoughts, stories and questions in the comments box below and remember to tweet, like ~ thanks
Additional Resources
10 reasons why yoga lovers are more likely to be successful
Yoga for Beginners with Kino MacGregor : Ashtanga Yoga
Yoga For Complete Beginners – Relaxation & Flexibility Stretches 15 Minute Yoga Workout
