Yoga Tips For Beginners

Almost every person who has practiced yoga remembers their first time on the mat. My first time was when I was 16 years old, and I had no idea on what to expect. When I opened the door and walked into the class, I was greeted warmly by all the soccer moms who were the only participants and placed my mat beside one of the moms of one of my good friend and teammates and completed my first class in bliss. Now, as a teacher, I understand the feeling of being a beginner, teaching as a yoga teacher, and how to help others have the best experience during their first class and beyond. Here are my top tips for beginners.

1. Celebrate yourself for coming on the mat! Seriously. Give yourself a high five. Trying something new takes courage and strength. Not everyone can say that stepped outside their comfort zone to roll out their yoga mat and attend a class (sometimes a class full of strangers) alone. If you go with a support buddy or loved one, even more of a reason to celebrate yourself. That means you more than likely confided in someone and took the leap of faith to start something new.
2.  Have fun. If that means dropping it like it’s hot in down dog once or twice, by all means, do it. Yes, yoga is a practice of dedication, but that it includes honoring yourself and your body if your body happens to say, “Hey, I’m feeling this beat and breath, and my body wants to move.” Great. If the practice before you hit tree pose (Vriksasana) and grew your branches and the next class, both feet need to be grounded, honor that, and have fun. Don’t beat yourself up because one day, you can hold every down dog during a 75-minute class, and the next class you are in child pose for each down dog. It’s part of the journey and practice. We all have our days.
3. Keep your focus on your mat, not your neighbors. Again, focus on your mat, and not your neighbors. Yoga is the union with yourself and the practice, not your neighbors. If this was a team practice, we wouldn’t have our own individual mats to practice on. Please don’t take that wrong way, but the fastest way to never practice yoga again is by comparing yourself to another person and their practice. Trust me.
4.  Stop the Excuses. For example, “I’m not flexible.” Well, you know what? I’m not either. I can’t do a middle split, and my chest does not touch my thighs in forward fold no matter how hard I try, and I’m okay with that. Or, “I don’t want to wear leggings.” Okay, sweatpants, shorts, windbreakers, MC Hammer Pants. There is no ancient proverb that says, “To practice yoga, one must wear leggings.” I believe if you say you can, you can. If you say you can’t, you can’t. Excuses are just a roundabout way of telling yourself you can’t, or you just don’t want to. Do yourself a favor, and leave the excuses at the door, and if you really enjoy the practice and want to deepen your practice, just show up for yourself.  

Once you begin practicing yoga, you will routinely start practicing yoga daily, whether you are on or off your mat. Yoga is breathwork, meditation, mantras, and so much more. So, I encourage you to apply the tips listed above, and congratulations and Namaste Yogi.