You may have your reasons for starting yoga. Whether it’s for weight loss, healing, or improving your balance and flexibility, yoga is the best physical and mental activity to indulge in. It may look easy but, if it’s your first time, it can be challenging. However, with commitment and dedication, you can make yoga work for you.
There are many ways to start yoga and be successful at it. Here are some beginner tips to ensure you get the best out of yoga.
1. Learn some poses ahead of time
If you’ve never done yoga before, it’s easy to be intimidated, especially if you feel out of shape. However, if you research and check some basic poses for beginners, you can know what to expect in your first yoga class. For example, a few poses or asanas like mountain pose, forward pose, or plank pose are just a few of the perfect poses for beginners. You can check videos online and see how they do them to have an idea, and you will be more confident in the class.
It’s also okay to research some terms they use in yoga; drishti in yoga, Namaste, asana, savasana, chakra, and the like.
2. Find a qualified yoga instructor.
A qualified toga teacher will work with you and put together an individualized plan for what you want to achieve with yoga. For beginners, it’s challenging to nail the different poses in your class. Your yoga teacher should help you find more comfortable ways to fit your body’s needs.
You can also ask all the questions about yoga in the class. Your teacher should help you with the yoga poses by achieving the correct posture with hands-on adjustments and individualized cues.
If your main aim to start yoga is to get treatment or recovering from an illness. Then an experienced yoga instructor should be knowledgeable enough to work out something that coincides with your medical therapy. This way, yoga would be a benefit and help you achieve the healing process with less distress.
3. Wear the right outfit suitable for yoga
Yoga is a physical exercise, so you should ensure you are wearing comfortable and breathable clothing. Wearing the right outfit will make a difference in your class. Also, remember to wear loose-fitting clothes that won’t restrict your movements or tops that wouldn’t ride up during your poses and make you uncomfortable.
No shoes or socks are needed during yoga because it’s easy to practice yoga barefoot to allow your body to adapt to uneven surfaces. If you dislike the idea of being barefoot in class, you can buy yoga socks that usually have grips on them and are toeless.
4. Find a non-slip yoga mat.
A non-slip yoga mat is great for yoga because it will allow you to do different poses without the risk of slipping. A good yoga mat provides padding for your joints, knees, and wrists.
Remember to choose a mat with an excellent grip to hold your hands and feet in place. Also, ensure that you keep your mat clean to avoid unpleasant odor.