7 things to know if you are new to yoga
If you are new to yoga, here are a 7 things you should know that will help you feel comfortable when you step onto your mat for the very first time…and beyond.
1 BE CURIOUS
Starting yoga, or anything new can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re an adult and feel a bit silly not knowing all the things….but if you approach your practice with curiosity and a ‘beginners mind’ it will help you come to the mat feeling playful and ready to learn.
2 ASK QUESTIONS
If you’re curious, you’ll naturally want to ask questions, so do this, and do it as often as you need. Not sure what style of yoga is best for you - ask your yoga teacher, not sure what to wear - ask a friend or colleague who already practices, want to know what the Sanskrit words used in class mean - just ask! Your yoga teacher will be more than happy to help. Oh and if you really do want to know what you should wear, it doesn’t really matter so long as it’s comfy and a little stretchy - always good if your practicing yoga asana (poses).
3 DO I NEED TO BE FLEXIBLE TO PRACTICE YOGA?
Nope, flexibility is not a pre-requisite to practicing yoga…it might end up being a result, but it’s definitely not required before you step on your mat.
4 I’M WORRIED I’LL LOOK SILLY
Firstly, it’s natural to feel a little worried about falling on your face, looking silly or not being able to keep up with your class mates. Secondly not everyone in your class is a beginner, so try not to compare your begining with someone else’s middle. Some students will flow smoothly through the asana sometimes ahead of the teacher and some will hang out in child’s pose often. Lastly - nobody else is thinking about anyone else in the room, except your yoga teacher, who is totally there for you!
When we come to yoga we create space for ourselves, we aren’t watching what our class mate is doing next to us, we may do this at first if we want to check if we heard correctly, but this changes slowly as we begin to trust ourselves and if we wobble, we laugh and try again. At first it’s hard to not watch what everyone else is doing and worry about what you might look like but as you continue to practice I promise that you’ll forget you ever even worried. If your’e worried about getting a pose wrong, let that shit go…each and everyone of us has different needs for our bodies, the shape doesn’t matter, the experience does. If you have a great teacher, they will provide a bunch of variations for you to choose from, but there really are so many, it’s impossible to know them all. Plus we are being curious and kind to ourselves, and here to learn right? Your yoga teacher will guide you through the asana (poses), pranayama (breath work) and meditation and going back to point 2, if in doubt ask questions!
5 TUNE IN TO YOUR BODY
Ok, that’s a bit vague I know, I know. So lemme break it down for ya! When you hear your yoga teacher say ‘listen to your body’ at first this doesn't mean much, sometimes we’re drawn to yoga because we are feeling disconnected, yep, even from our very own bodies, so how can we listen to something we are disconnected from? This is exactly where a consistent yoga practice helps. Yoga helps you slow down, drop in and switch your focus and eventually - eventually, you will be able to feel if something is ok for your body or not. You’ll learn when to explore your comfort levels and when to just say no. You will also get very good at knowing when savasana is coming - that’s the laying down part at the end :)
6 KEEP PRACTICING
Yoga is not a destination, the practice just that - a practice. Yoga is a journey and we can have a different experience every time we step onto the mat. The key to getting the most out of your yoga practice is consistency. Keep coming to class, keep rolling out your mat, keep practicing yoga principles off the mat…like practicing gratitude, Ahimsa (no harm) and remembering to breathe and keep approaching your practice from a playful and curious POV.
7 BUT WHAT ABOUT THE DETAILS
Arrive to class (if practicing in person) and test your log on links (if practicing online) early, especially if it’s your first time, ideally you will have booked before your class but you may have tech issues, need to make payment, be asked to fill out some details about yourself, you can use this time to let your teacher know about any concerns you have and anything the teacher needs to know i.e if your pregnant or have any injuries or niggles…this also helps you get a good spot!
No shoes are worn in studio, so wear shoes that are easy to slip on and off.
BYO mat if you have one. Most studios have them available to borrow but it’s becoming more popular to byo. There are plenty of options available to buy ranging from $10 for more affordable mats to over $100 for fancy pants mats. If you are practicing at home, a comfy bit of floor will work just fine too.
Have a towel and drink bottle, handy yoga can be a workout!
Most yoga teachers offer class passes or memberships, usually there’s a discount on these packages so don’t forget to let your teacher know you are keen to keep practicing and find out what offers they might have.
That’s it - your all set to take your first class :)
