Want To Practice Yoga But Don’t Know Where To Begin?

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Want To Practice Yoga But Dont Know Where To
Begin?
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• Yoga can be extremely beneficial for our health
  and wellbeing - and many people wonder if they
  should give it a try. Oftentimes, however, the
  choices in styles and classes can be
  overwhelming, making it confusing to know where
  to begin.
• If you want to start practicing yoga but arent
  quite sure where to start, then we have some
  great tips and pointers for you

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• Decide which type of yoga you want to practice
• There are many different styles of yoga and so
  its a good idea to have a general understanding
  of what youre looking for in order to understand
  what types of yoga to experiment with. If youre
  already physically fit and looking for a workout,
  youll choose a different style than if youre
  not particularly active and are just looking to
  gradually improve your flexibility and balance.
• Maybe you want a jumpstart to your day with an
  energetic practice that gets you going or perhaps
  you lead a very stressful life and are looking to
  yoga as a calming break to help you reset at the
  end of a long day. There truly are many options
  and its just a question of finding the right
  teachers and studios whose offerings match what
  youre looking for.

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• Either way, since you are just getting started,
  be sure to ask if the class is appropriate for
  beginners. Some classes will be specifically
  designated as such and others will be open to
  multiple levels of practitioners, including
  neophytes. Some classes, however will be geared
  toward more experienced yogis skip these for now
  and get acquainted with the basics first. There
  will be plenty of time for advanced classes as
  you get more comfortable with the practice.

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• Hatha the term hatha is a general term usually
  used to refer to any type of yoga that involves
  practicing physical postures. If you see a class
  being advertised as hatha yoga, then you can
  expect a slow and gentle introduction to the
  foundational yoga postures. These classes are
  often appropriate for all levels and dont
  require a high level of fitness.

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• Ashtanga/Vinyasa Ashtange is a style of yoga
  that requires you to perform the same specific
  sequence of postures and poses, in the same
  order, and each movement is linked to a breathing
  exercise. Vinyasa is a more free-form practice
  with roots in Ashtanga, but with less structure
  and more variety. Both tend to be very vigorous
  practices. While each can be appropriate for
  beginners, its good to have a base level of
  fitness and be certain to find an introductory
  class or a teacher comfortable offering
  variations for new students.

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• Hot yoga hot yoga is often, though not always,
  based on an original series called Bikram yoga,
  though it has evolved to include a great many
  more options than Bikram yoga does. Both styles
  are performed in heated rooms, so arrive prepared
  to sweat profusely. These also tend to be
  athletic practices so it is good to have a basic
  level of fitness before jumping in.

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• Gentle or Restorative gentle yoga can be a
  great place to start for someone new to the
  practice or seeking a slower pace and a class
  with less emphasis on athleticism. The focus
  tends to be more on alignment, steady movement,
  and calm pacing. Restorative practices can be
  very healing and tend to be supported poses using
  props on the floor to create a sense of serenity
  and relaxation.

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• Find a class that teaches this type of yoga
• A trusted recommendation is a great place to
  start if you know others with similar objectives
  who have taken yoga classes and enjoyed them.
  Getting the names of good studios and teachers in
  your area is a great place to start. Look them up
  online and see if their approach seems like what
  you are looking for. Keep in mind that a good
  studio will offer a variety of options throughout
  the day and week, so inquire about introductory
  classes and teachers who welcome beginners. Many
  studios also offer low introductory rates so that
  you can try yoga out for a week or two and
  experiment with different classes and teachers.

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• If you already belong to a gym that offers group
  classes, then they may offer yoga as well.
  General fitness facilities dont often have the
  range of classes that a dedicated yoga studio
  will have, but can have teachers who are just as
  skilled. Be sure to check that the class is
  appropriate for a beginner, however, because you
  might feel lost in a more advanced class and that
  could spoil the experience or even lead to injury.

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• Online searches will help you locate classes that
  are nearby and convenient for your schedule. In
  the end, if you are hoping to make yoga a regular
  part of your life, then you want to narrow your
  search to appropriate locations close to home
  or work, for instance. If you become a dedicated
  practitioner, then you may well travel longer
  distances for your favorite teachers, but start
  by making it easier on yourself and youre
  likelier to stick with it.

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• What to wear and bring to class
• Youll want to wear comfortable clothes that
  dont restrict your movement in any way, and
  which are made of light, breathable materials.
  Either loose and flowing or tight and stretchy
  can both work, depending upon what youre most
  comfortable wearing.
• Most yoga studios have mats that can either be
  borrowed for free or rented for a small fee.
  Eventually, youll want your own mat, but you
  likely wont need one to get started.

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• A water bottle is essential to remain hydrated
  and a towel might be appropriate, especially if
  youre practicing hot yoga or another form where
  youre prone to sweat.
• For the most part, yoga requires little equipment
  aside from a mat, though several styles do make
  use of additional props. If any props are
  necessary blocks, blankets, straps, etc. they
  will be provided by the studio.

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• Read up on what to expect from a yoga class
• Mats are generally placed in loosely formed rows
  in the classroom or studio, and remember to leave
  enough space between your mat and that of your
  neighbour, as some of the poses and postures may
  require a little space.
• Some yoga teachers begin their classes with some
  chanting or the invocation of an intention, and
  some like to start with short breathing exercises
  before beginning the class.

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• There will then be a series of warm up poses
  followed by more vigorous poses (except in
  restorative classes), and sessions will almost
  always end with a final relaxation pose. Some
  classes may also conclude with a closing chant or
  perhaps a brief meditation.
• Expect to be a bit sore the next day in certain
  spots as you are likely to have used muscles that
  hadnt seen regular exercise recently. The
  soreness will pass quickly, though if you keep
  practicing and moving deeper into the poses, you
  might notice that soreness shifts to elsewhere in
  your body as you progress and get stronger and
  more flexible.

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• If there are no yoga classes near you, you still
  have options
• There really is no substitute for attending a
  yoga class taught by a good teacher, but if there
  arent any in your area, then you still have
  several options. The best is to find a commercial
  service that offers yoga classes online. You can
  often sample a variety of different teachers to
  see what style you like and there are usually
  options for a variety of different class lengths
  so theres additional flexibility.

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• Beyond online offerings, there is also a plethora
  of books and DVDs that can be very helpful.
  Books, in particular, can be an excellent
  component to studio classes to really help you
  learn more about the poses as well as the
  philosophy and history, if those are of interest.
  
• If possible, try to start by attending at least a
  few classes with a skilled teacher to learn the
  basics and periodically return to studio
  classes to make sure you dont get entrenched in
  bad habits that could lead to injury. Online
  classes, DVDs, and books can be a great
  complement to live classes, especially since they
  can help you to squeeze in a 20-30 minute
  practice on days when you otherwise wouldnt have
  time to make it to the studio.

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• A few more things to remember
• As with any new activity or exercise program,
  be sure to consult your physician first to make
  sure that you are healthy enough to start
  practicing yoga.
• Best not to practice shortly after a meal. Give
  yourself some time to digest.
• Dont forget to stay hydrated, before and after
  a class
• Inform your yoga teacher that youre new to
  yoga and be sure to mention any injuries or
  physical limitations

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• If you need help at any point during the class,
  dont be afraid to ask
• Go in with an open mind and a willingness to
  learn
• If something feels wrong for your body, honor
  that. There will be plenty of opportunity to
  practice advanced poses later. In the beginning,
  take it slowly.
• We hope these tips give you a good introduction
  and encourage you to explore all that yoga has to
  offer. Its a practice that can truly help you to
  lead a happier, healthier and more fulfilled
  life. Enjoy!

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