How to Begin a Yoga Practice

First find a  studio  that agrees with you.  And by that I mean do you like the decor, the staff, the layout, the colors, the smell?  All of these aspects are important as you will be asked to be fully present and absorb yourself in each posture, breath and sensation.  So if the front desk girl irritates you every time you come in or the smell is throwing you off then you may want to consider shopping around.  However, if you live in a small area and there is little to no selection you may want to use the source of irritation as a focal point in which to sand down those jagged edges until they no longer bother you.

Second, start with a Intro or a Beginner yoga class.   This may seem very slow in the beginning especially if you are an avid gym rat or cardio class person; think of it as your rest day.  It is better to slow down and get your alignment correct rather than taking a class that is too hard and risk injury or worse form bad habits that are difficult to overcome.   Gentle classes can also be helpful when you are just starting out especially if you are injured or limited in some way.   However, they tend not to focus on alignment, technique or basic yoga vocabulary.

Third, go to class as often as possible!  Frequency means a lot right now.  Your body will most likely be sore in the beginning and by going often the soreness will not last as long.  I suggest 3 to 4 times per week.  Frequency is key right now.  Think of your body as a new leather shoe.  The more consistent you stretch it out the more it will hold it’s new shape and the new natural state of being.

This is a journey and will not happen over night.  Enjoy the discovery, be playful and keep an open mind.

If you have any further questions please email  or comment below.

Breathe