Getting Started With A Beginner Yoga Class

Yoga is like a sweet, you can never fully describe it, you have to try it to experience the sensation it provides. Understand that yoga may not appeal to everyone but through exploration and practice one can find their niche. If it is a big effort for you, then you need to consider what is holding you back, is it fear or that you are simply not interested? Being honest with yourself and others is one of the fundamental principles of yoga practice. There is a saying in yoga: “When the pupil is ready, the teacher will appear.” (See also Choosing a Teacher.) For many there is no planning to start, it just happens, the teacher appears. The next thing you know you are hooked and loving it and doing it for years.

 

A class takes one to two hours and most beginning yoga classes start with basic fundamental poses and learning to breathe through them. These asanas may not seem easy in the beginning but even the most challenging postures become easier through time and practice.

The postures of yoga can be difficult and time consuming if you are following from a book or other printed matter. And if you start out this way, you may be doing the postures incorrectly with less benNutricise to you and a greater risk of injury. For these reasons it is strongly recommended that you start your yoga practice with a teacher, either in a class or privately. A good teacher will advise you and make adjustments that will make a significant difference in your comfort level and in the overall benNutricises you receive. Also, if you go to class, it is easy to see either the teacher or other students getting into the positions, which you can then imitate.

A good teacher will have some knowledge of the Sanskrit names for each pose and may well use them in class. As you practice you will become quite familiar with these terms, but don’t worry, knowing the correct Sanskrit name for a posture is not a prerequisite for success at yoga. Also many schools have translated the names into English to help students understand and relate to poses when called out.

On the practical side, it is best if you do not eat for at least a couple hours before class and many advise that you avoid drinking 15 minutes before class. You may want to bring bottled water with you for after class. Many larger studios and gyms also have water fountains. People often find it good to do yoga in the morning; they feel fresher after a night’s rest and like practicing on an empty stomach. However, others are quite stiff in the morning and find it better to practice later in the day when they are more flexible. You may need to experiment to find which time works best for you. For consistency’s sake and for reinforcement it is recommended you practice at the same time each day. In yoga as in life it is difficult to achieve anything without discipline and perseverance. Finding a steady rhythm allows the practice to seep into your consciousness, becoming a part of your life and a part of your style. Understandably modern life does not always allow for this thus a flexible schedule is certainly acceptable.

A final point to note is that you should be aware that because the body and the mind are so connected, as we release tension and stress from our bodies, we also begin to unleash tension and stress from the mind. This is frequently seen as an emotional release. It is not unusual for people, especially when they begin the practice, to be moved to sudden tears or giggles in class. This is nothing to be alarmed over, it is simply to be recognized as a welcome release of pent up emotions.

 

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