In life no matter what you’re doing I find it
imperative to put your best foot forward. Go hard or go home. Since I’ve been
dedicating so much time to my yoga practice I’ve been getting endless questions
about yoga in general but mainly HOW TO START. Here are my 5 most important
things to think about when starting to practice yoga.
#1
JUST DO IT!
There is no right or wrong way to start practicing
yoga, you just have to do it. Find a class to take, it should only be around
$20 give or take a few dollars, and go in with an open spirit and mind. Get
yourself in the game and even if you don’t like it at first give it another
try. Remember it may not have been the yoga that you disliked but the fact that
you were outside of your comfort zone. Don’t give up!
#2
KNOW YOUR RHYME & REASON
If you’re thinking about incorporating yoga into
your life, first ask yourself why. I say this because the reason behind your
decision can very well determine how you manifest your practice. I made the
decision to start for mental health rather than physical. The idea of getting a
peace of mind while also getting exercise intrigued me, but my main goal was
not to get fit although it was a plus.
If you want to do yoga for physical health, that’s
fine too. It helps build total body strength but a lot the poses focus on core
strength. You can take yoga just about anywhere that provides fitness classes,
a gym, a yoga studio etc. If you’re more like me and are interested in the
meditation and more mental aspect of yoga then you definitely want to go to a
yoga studio. Knowing exactly what you want to get out of your yoga class will
help you decide where you are best fit to take the class. Do your research; ask around, you’ll
figure it out.
#3
MAKE YOUR DISCOMFORT ZONE COMFORTABLE
As a beginner you may feel intimidated by other
yogis and maybe even feel like a complete amateur. This is an understandable
concern. No your chair pose may not look like the girl’s in front of you but
one of the most important things to keep in mind is that your practice is your
practice. You can and will only grow at your own rate and practicing in a
suitable environment can help you maintain this positive attitude. Like I
mentioned in #3 Know Your Rhyme & Reason, you must find an environment that
works best for you to make this slightly uncomfortable transition as
comfortable as possible. The more comfortable you are in your surroundings the
more focused you can get. The more focused you are the more you will gain from
your practice.
#4
DON’T GET STUCK IN YOUR WAYS
Yes I mention being comfortable. Being comfortable
is an important part of yoga however, don’t confuse comfortable with
complacent. Find a place where you feel at home to conduct your practice but
don’t put yourself in a box. Try a new class, a new teacher and even visit
other studios. With that said if you usually go to a yoga studio try visiting a
class at a gym instead and vice versa. Once you’ve come to grips with the fact
that yoga is solely about your personal journey and stop comparing yourself to
outside entities you will feel confident enough in self that you are able to
step outside of what you are used to and expand your practice. Every class,
teacher, & studio/gym has something special to offer. In the end leaving
yourself open to explore your practice will only enhance your craft.
#5
PLAN TO PROGRESS
If you take your practice seriously it is
inevitable that you will grow both mentally and physically through yoga. Just
like in school or in your professional life you have something that you are
aiming to achieve. Whatever that is for you, find it and work towards it. As
you may recognize by now from reading my previous posts, setting goals is the
basis to accomplishing anything. As you grow in your practice maybe set a goal
for a particular pose that may have been of difficulty to you when you first
began. Keep practicing and growing your strength and soon enough you will gain
what you lacked to carry out that pose with pride. Having that light at the end
of the tunnel will keep you motivated to persevere through the rough patches
that you will encounter at the beginning. Use the people around you that are
more advanced as examples and motivation rather than competition. Remember,
slow and steady wins the race.
Some of these points I didn’t have anyone to tell
me I had to kind of learn along the way so I felt it was important to share.
Grab a yoga mat and some comfortable clothes (preferably cute also, when you
look good you feel good) and get into that yoga class. If you want to start off
slow and try it at home there are a number of videos and books that can assist
you. One book in particular that I really loved is a book/flashcard set called
Basic Yoga For Everyone by Gertrud Hirschi. I declare this a must read for
anyone who practices yoga regardless of where they do it.
Namaste.
Xoxo,
Brionna
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