Today I’m sharing my tips on how to start a yoga practice.
To be completely honest, I had no idea what I was getting into when I went to my very first yoga class. I thought yoga was just for super flexible people (I was definitely not one of those people). I really had no idea what I was in for as I was sitting on my mat waiting for my first class to begin.
I remember how nervous I was and how out of place I felt. I wish I had had some guidance and advice for how to begin a yoga practice and have an idea of how to start doing yoga. There’s where this post comes in. I hope that if you’re on the fence about starting yoga, it’ll give you an idea of where to start.
Get recommendations
Have a friend who’s into yoga? Ask them what studio they practice at. Read reviews online. Find out what kind of yoga the studio does (vinyasa, hot yoga, yin), and think about what styles appeal to you.
Call, email, or stop by the studio before your first class and ask what classes they would recommend for a beginner and for any injuries or issues that you may have. The person at the front desk or who answers the phone should be able to point out a few classes that would work for you. Having an idea of where to start is really helpful. You’ll want your first yoga class to be a good experience.
While it might be tempting to start doing yoga at home until you get the hang of it, I really encourage you to go to classes until you know the basics. It’s hard to know if you’re doing the poses correctly or if you’re feeling it in the right body parts if you’re new to yoga. Having a teacher to guide you is so valuable.
Start slowly
If you’re first classes go well, you might want to jump in with both feet, but just like anything fitness, it’s important to pace yourself and let your body get used to the new find of activity and prevent injuries. Start off with 2 or 3 classes per week for the first few months and see how that feels.
I know that I was really sore for the first few weeks of yoga, and I don’t think I could have done more than 2 classes per week with the other workouts that I also wanted to do.
Commit
Just like with anything new, it may take awhile to really appreciate yoga and what it does for you. Try different styles of yoga, different teachers, and different studios. No one style of yoga is right for everyone.
Give yourself a month of consistent practice to see what you like. You might really connect with one teacher or style of yoga. It didn’t take me very long to find a few teachers at my studio that I really liked and knew that if I went to their classes I would enjoy myself and get in a great workout.
How did you start practicing yoga? Are you interested in trying it?