Introduction
Yoga is a great way to start exercising, especially if you’re new to working out or have a body that doesn’t fit preconceived notions of what a workout should look like. Yoga can help you get in shape, improve balance, and even relieve stress—all while making you feel more comfortable in your own skin. Whether you want to try yoga for the first time or are an experienced practitioner looking to deepen your practice, here’s everything you need to know about taking your first yoga class:
What kind of yoga is right for you?
There are many different types of yoga. If you’re not sure which one is right for you, here are a few things to consider:
- What are your physical limitations? If you have limited mobility in certain areas of your body, or if there’s something else that makes it hard for you to do certain poses (like bad knees), some forms of yoga may be too difficult or painful.
- What kind of workout do you want? Some forms of yoga can help build strength while others focus on flexibility and relaxation as much as they do strengthening muscles–and there’s no wrong answer! It all depends on what feels best for your body at any given time.
- Do any aspects of the practice feel uncomfortable? For example, some people dislike the thought of being upside down because it reminds them too much about how old they feel when they look back at photos from high school football games where everyone else looked young enough but now appear ancient compared with today’s standards; others find chanting in Sanskrit unintelligible gibberish rather than sacred words from another dimension that might actually be useful if only someone could translate them into English so we could understand how awesome humanity really is…
How to choose a class.
Choosing a class is an important decision. There are many factors to consider, such as the teacher’s experience and background, the class format and style, and even location.
While you can certainly go with your gut instinct when choosing a yoga studio or teacher, it’s good to do some research beforehand so that you know exactly what kind of experience awaits you. Here are some questions to ask yourself before signing up:
- What type of yoga do I like? Is it hot or cool? Gentle or vigorous? What appeals most about this particular style? Will it suit my needs?
- How long has this instructor been teaching? If they’ve only been doing it for two years (or less), then chances are they’re still learning themselves–and may not be as qualified as someone who’s been doing it for longer than that timeframe. Think about how comfortable or uncomfortable this makes YOU feel!
How to find the best teacher for you.
When you’re looking for a yoga teacher, it’s important to find one who will be friendly and welcoming. You want to go into your first class feeling comfortable, so look for someone who makes you feel at ease from the moment you walk in the door.
A good teacher will help you understand the basics of yoga so that when they start moving faster through poses or adding more advanced moves, it doesn’t feel overwhelming.
The best instructors will also help guide their students through their practice–whether that means making sure everyone is doing each pose correctly or helping them figure out what works best for them as far as postures go. And finally…great teachers know how important progress is! They’ll encourage their students’ growth by pushing them just enough without being overbearing or condescending (which can happen with some less experienced instructors).
What to wear and bring.
Now that you know how to prepare your body and mind, it’s time to think about what you’ll wear and bring.
- Wear comfortable clothes. This may seem obvious, but the last thing you want is for your outfit to be uncomfortable or distracting during class. Make sure your pants fit well (no sagging) and are made out of breathable material such as cotton or linen so they don’t weigh down on your hips while doing poses like warrior 2 or triangle pose (trikonasana).
- Bring water! You will sweat during yoga–a lot! If possible, bring a small towel too so that when things get sweaty at home practice sessions, there’s somewhere else besides the floor where people can wipe off their face without being rude about it by wiping their sweat onto someone else’s mat or clothing instead!
Yoga poses for beginners.
Yoga poses, or asanas, are a great way to get started with yoga. They’re also the most important part of your practice so they deserve plenty of attention!
The poses listed below are some of the most basic and easiest to do. If you’re brand new to yoga or haven’t done any physical activity in a while, these are great ones to start with. That said, even if you’ve been practicing for years and consider yourself an advanced practitioner–you may want to try some of them anyway! The whole point of yoga is growth on all levels: physical, mental and spiritual; so don’t limit yourself by thinking there aren’t any more challenging moves available just because they seem too difficult at first glance (or second glance). Once again: don’t be afraid – just give it a shot!
Leaving class feeling accomplished.
When you leave a yoga class, you should feel better than when you arrived. You should have learned something new about your body and mind, and perhaps even discovered some hidden talents that weren’t previously known to exist in your physical form.
You might also want to consider leaving with a greater sense of self-confidence–or maybe just more confidence in general! If this is the case for you (and it likely will be), then consider focusing on poses that help build strength through core engagement. These poses include: Warrior 1/2; Tree Pose; Triangle Pose; Side Angle Pose (aka “side crow”) and Extended Hand-to-Big Toe Pose (aka “half pigeon”).
Yoga is a great way to start exercising, especially if you’re new to working out or have a body that doesn’t fit preconceived notions of what a workout should look like.
Yoga is a great way to start exercising, especially if you’re new to working out or have a body that doesn’t fit preconceived notions of what a workout should look like.
It’s also an excellent choice for people who are already active but want to try something new. Yoga classes often include modifications so that anyone from beginners to advanced practitioners can participate and get some benefit from the practice. And because there aren’t any weights involved, it’s easy on the joints–even if you’re older or injured (or both).
Conclusion
Yoga is a great way to start exercising, especially if you’re new to working out or have a body that doesn’t fit preconceived notions of what a workout should look like. It’s important to find the right class and teacher for your needs, but once you do, you’ll be able to leave feeling accomplished and ready for whatever life throws at you!
