How to begin a yoga practice

Show up – carve the time on your busy schedule.

So, you want to learn how to start yoga? What a brilliant idea.

Whether you want to learn to slow down, breathe deeply, or just strengthen your mind-body connection, starting a yoga practice can help.

BUT you have no clue where to start! And the idea of stepping into a yoga studio seems absolutely ridiculous and trying weird postures is even more ridiculous.

Well, I feel you. Yoga, from the outside, can appear intimidating.

As a yoga teacher, I hear a lot of excuses.

My personal favorite?

“I’m can’t do yoga because I’m not flexible enough.”

The best thing about yoga? There are no minimum requirements, and there is no “end goal.” There is no point at which you are not “enough” to practice yoga, and there is no point at which you have done “enough” yoga. It’s a constantly-evolving practice that meets you exactly where you are.

The second question is: “What do I need to practice yoga? “

Me: ” You have to show up, You don’t need a fancy yoga pants or a fancy mat, you have to start to show up for yourself. The hard part is go to class, carve time for yourself on your busy schedule.

“In truth, yoga doesn’t take time, it gives time.

G.W.

How to choose a Yoga Routine

When I started practicing yoga it was difficult to find a studio or even a teacher, now there are studios in every corner and classes availables at almost every gym. Today the only problem is to find the right class for your needs.

I’ve made it easy for you to navigate all those hard-to-pronounce styles of yoga, so you can show up to your first yoga class with confidence!

In your search for beginner-friendly yoga classes, look for words like “hatha yoga,” “yin yoga,” or “gentle yoga” .

Hatha yoga is a general term for a movement-based yoga class, and it’s a good choice for beginners. In yin yoga  classes, you will hold the yoga poses for longer periods of time and typically use props such as blocks, bolsters, and blankets, to make the body more comfortable.

Other classes may focus more on building strength, and not just flexibility. Vinyasa flow classes will move at a more dynamic pace, and typically incorporate sun salutations, a series of basic yoga poses including mountain pose and downward-facing dog.

Expect a bit more physical challenge from power yoga, kundalini yoga, Ashtanga yoga and hot yoga.  

Finally, it’s important to understand that there are plenty of non-physical forms of yoga. These can include meditation, pranayama or breathing techniques.

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​What to Expect at Your First Yoga Class

Here’s everything you need to know before showing up.

1. Arrive early. Most teachers will ask you to show up for class 10 minutes early if you’re a first-timer. Take off your shoes (and socks!), and go to the bathroom before class starts.
2. Once you enter the practice space of the yoga studio, roll out your yoga mat on the floor, take a comfortable seat or lay down on your back, and rest quietly.
3. At this point, your yoga teacher might come and speak with you. This is your opportunity to share your level of experience and any injuries that could affect your practice ( sore knees, spine surgery, or serious illness.)
4. The class may begin with some deep breathing exercises, a brief meditation. You can expect to spend some time warming up the spine and muscles, then move through some basic yoga poses (asanas).
5. At the end of most yoga practices, the teacher will invite you to lie down on the floor and make your whole body as comfortable on the yoga mat as possible. This is savasana, one of the most important yoga asanas. As you rest in stillness and silence, you allow your body-mind system to absorb all the benefits of yoga for beginners. You may close the class by bringing your palms together and saying “Namaste.”  

What’s the most important thing to remember about your first yoga class?

Don’t. Stress. All you have to do is follow along. Try and let go of the voice that keeps asking “Am I doing this right?”

The health benefits of beginner yoga don’t come from making comparisons, they come from cultivating your mind-body connection.  

Do you want to start your yoga journey with me?

I designed a Mini-Yoga cours for beginners: 5 practices of 60″ to introduce you to the practice of Hata yoga and Vinyasa Yoga.

All classes will start with a cup of YogiTea to get you confortable, and for all the duration of the class we will listen to music to help us deepening the experience.

Learn more about me and my teaching style here.