To access the benefits of ancient wisdom that yoga offers, we offer some advice on how to get the most from this life-enhancing practice.
Keep An Open Mind
Yoga is for everybody, no matter the body shape or level of fitness. The flexible bodies shown in the media are what yoga produces, not what you need to get started. Every yogi started somewhere and developed suppleness as their poses progressed, but every person understands yoga differently.
Yoga rules, like its benefits, are somewhat flexible, and poses can be adapted to suit any need, depending on how the practice is understood or the abilities of the person doing it. The ultimate aim of yoga is to calm the mind, and scientific research proves that practicing yoga leads to a happier life.
Cultivate Beginner’s Mind
Trying yoga for the first time can be overwhelming, but remember that breathing is central to the practice, and if you struggle or hit an obstacle, return to taking breaths before continuing.
Yoga will help you be healthier, stronger, and more flexible in body and mind, but don’t forget to show yourself some kindness while you’re on your yoga journey.
Things You Need For Yoga
- Yoga mat: Not essential, but important, because a yoga mat offers protection from a hard floor, is more hygienic, and can be part of the ritual as you get your mind tuned into a yoga session.
- Yoga clothes: Costly yoga pants or unique clothes aren’t necessary. Breathable, comfortable clothes that you can move around in are ideal. These could be leggings or exercise shorts with a sleeveless workout top. You may need extra layers before and after class.
- Yoga props: Props can support and challenge you, but do your homework to learn how to use them safely and get the most benefit.
Find A Yoga Style That Suits You
There are many different styles of yoga, but many people choose Hatha yoga to start with. Each type of yoga has different approaches, poses, and methods of practice, and every yoga teacher has had their own teaching style.
Yoga types include Kundalini, Yin, Bhakti, Bikram (for those looking for a workout), Ashtanga, Iyengar, Yoga Fusion, Just Meditation, and more. Some common yoga types are:
- Hatha Yoga: A strong emphasis on breath and proper posture, ailment-centred
- Vinyasa Yoga: Breath and movement are co-ordinated in a high-energy practice
- Yoga Nidra: A guided meditation centered around deep, conscious relaxation
- Hot Yoga: Vigorous yoga performed in a heated room
- Restorative Yoga: A slow, deliberate practice that helps relax body and mind
Do Yoga At Home
If you’re not interested in a yoga studio, videos, DVDs, and streaming yoga classes are available to practice at home, enabling you to choose the style, time, and place of your practice and the chance to take breaks whenever you want.
Parts of the lessons can be skipped or replayed, and you can work at your own pace and in privacy. We have multiple online yoga classes available for free you canc check out here.
What To Expect In A Yoga Class
Classes differ and can be 15 minutes, but most classes last 45 to 90 minutes, and the yoga style chosen will dictate the order, complexity, and variety of yoga poses. A yoga class generally consists of the following:
- Opening: Breathwork, meditation, or a brief talk on yoga philosophy.
- Warm-ups: This may include sun salutations with the downward-facing dog pose, lunges, cobra pose, and plank pose.
- Standing poses: Typical standing poses are the mountain and tree poses.
- Peak pose: The pose being built up to.
- Reclined poses: Sitting or lying on the floor, usually while cooling down, could include the child’s or bridge pose.
- Conclusion- relaxation: A deep relaxation pose, or savasana (Sanskrit for “corpse pose”), helps absorb and integrate the yoga sequence.
The most important thing is taking the first steps. From there, it gets progressively easier as the body becomes more flexible through the practice of yoga.
Start watching our free yoga classes today!
Katy has been teaching yoga and meditation since 2010, Katy is also a certified life coach.
