youryogaguide

Have you always wanted to try yoga, but don’t know where to begin?  Getting started in yoga is like any other new venture; the getting there is the hardest part.  Questions are sure to abound:  Where should I take a class?  What should I wear?  What kind of yoga should I try?  What can I expect in a yoga class?  Or maybe you’ve convinced yourself that you’re not skinny enough, flexible enough or are too high strung to practice yoga.  Well, no more excuses.  It’s time to get off your butt and onto a yoga mat.

Depending on where you live, you might have several yoga studios to choose from.  If so, get on their websites to check them out.  Get a feel for which one might best suit your personality.  Call to find out which class is most appropriate for beginners.  If there are no yoga studios in your area, check out classes at your local parks and recreation center, the YWCA, evening high school adult programs or a nearby community college. 

Wear comfortable clothes that are suitable for exercise to your yoga class.  Sweatpants and T-shirts are fine, though in some of the poses, such as Downward Facing Dog, a loose T-shirt might ride up and expose your belly.  If you don’t want your belly exposed, a tighter fitting top is a good bet, as long as it covers you up and stays put.   You don’t want to spend the entire class pulling and hiking your top into place.  The same goes for your hair.  If it’s longer, you may want to pull it back in a ponytail so that it’s not falling in your eyes while you practice.

There are many styles and levels of yoga. Styles of yoga are  usually based on lineage and fundamental beliefs. For example, Kripalu style yoga focuses on sensations in the body and yoga as meditation in motion.  Kundalini yoga uses postures, meditation, breathwork, and chanting to awaken the Kundalini energy that lies dormant in the base of the spine.  Power yoga is a sweaty, physically challenging workout for people who want to build strength and stamina; its roots are in Ashtanga yoga.  The list goes on.  Read the class descriptions to get a feel of the different styles. Better yet, try out different styles until you find one that you love.

Levels of yoga classes have to do with your own level of experience.  A gentle or beginner class is best for newcomers, no matter what their fitness level.  Intermediate or advanced classes are best visited once you have mastered some of the basic postures. 

Once in class, what can you expect?  That depends on where it’s taken and who the teacher is.  Studios tend to invite more yogic philosophy and meditation into their classes.  Some invoke chanting, such as the chant OM.  Studios are generally comfortable, peaceful settings in which to practice yoga.  Gyms, fitness centers and parks and recreation centers tend to have atmospheres less conducive to yoga; though I began my yoga practice in a gym with a wonderful teacher who brought her own music and a little lamp, which she would cover with a scarf to create a more peaceful atmosphere. 

Class usually begins with a centering, to help you transition into your yoga practice.  Expect to do some basic yogic breathing, which helps de-stress and calm the mind.  Expect to do postures; some you will do on your belly, some on your back, and some standing.  You might even do a little bit of flowing Sun Salutations.  Balancing postures are usually included in each class. 

Overall, the class will probably be a mix of warm up postures, a little flow to get your heart rate going, some holdings of postures to build strength, and a winding down sequence. At the end of class you will lie on your back in Corpse Pose (called Savasana in Sanskrit, the language of yoga) and spend five to ten minutes lying in deep relaxation.  At the end of relaxation, the teacher may invite you to sit up, and may close the class by saying “Namaste” which is Sanskrit for “the light in me honors the light in you.”

A final word:  You don’t have to be skinny, flexible or calm to practice yoga.  In fact, if you’re the opposite of these things, a yoga class is the perfect place for you to be.  You gain flexibility, create a sense of calm and balance, and take good care of your body and health by practicing yoga.  Yoga really is the perfect exercise, for it incorporates all aspects of your being—body, mind, emotions, and spirit/energy, creating an overall sense of wholeness and well-being. 

May you have a positive, joyful experience in your first yoga class.

Namaste!