How to Start a Yoga Practice: 10 Steps For A Beginner Yogi

Starting a yoga practice can be exhilarating — but also a little daunting. With so many poses to learn, and so many studios and teachers, it can be hard to know where to start. If you want to get deeper into yoga but don’t know what steps to take, follow these guidelines to grow your yoga practice.

Find a studio that feels like home

If you’re looking to start taking studio classes, it’s important to find a studio that makes you feel at home and that suits your needs. While you’re researching, read the reviews to see what other yoga students are saying about the studio. Consider all the pros and cons of a studio. As a beginner, make sure they have frequent introductory or level 1 classes so you can get a proper understanding of the yoga practice.

Many yoga studios offer introductory specials, such as B. Get a free month of classes or unlimited yoga classes at a discounted price. Take advantage of these specials and try out a variety of studios and classes. It can be difficult to get a feel for a studio just by researching online, so take some time to explore the options available to you. After spending time in several studios, hopefully you can pick an obvious favorite that suits your needs.

Find an online course

If you want to privately familiarize yourself with yoga poses before hitting the studio, there are plenty of online classes available. You can easily find free yoga classes on YouTube, or search for subscription platforms that offer live and recorded classes. Online classes are great for beginners because you can learn the ins and outs of the yoga process at your own pace. Even if you decide to head straight to the studio, it’s great to explore your online options. These classes allow you flexibility in your schedule when you can’t make it to the studio, and also help you connect with teachers around the world who may introduce you to new styles or concepts.

It’s important to remember that while online courses are a great resource, you should still take classes with a trained teacher. The trainer will be able to evaluate your practice and make sure you are properly aligned in the poses to prevent injury and ensure you are getting the most out of these poses. Once you have mastered the basics of yoga and are more confident in your abilities, follow the first step to find a studio near you that suits your needs.

Start personal practice at home

Practicing at home is essential for any yogi. It lets you strike poses you’ve learned in class and explore whatever movement calls to you. It also teaches you to listen to your body and honor the needs of that moment. Some days you may need to work your deep glutes, while other days you may want to build strength in your legs. Some exercises might just be for relaxing after a long day. The more exercise you do at home, the better you will respond to your body’s needs. You’ll also learn about your strengths and physical limitations, and can focus on specific elements of your yoga practice that you want to improve.

Exercising at home is also important because it allows you to build confidence in your physical activity and take it with you wherever you go. Going to the studio is not always possible. Whether you’re traveling or pressed for time, personal practice will ensure you’re everywhere, even if it’s just a short 15-minute session.

Start with a basic pose

As a newbie to yoga, it’s tempting to start doing handstands or trying hard backbends right away. While these are all great things to strive for, it’s important that you build a solid foundation first.

Start learning the basic basic yoga poses. These poses are featured in most classes you take and are central to linking poses together to create flow. It will also help you create your own personal sequences to practice at home, which you can build on when learning new poses. Some basic yoga poses are Downward Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana), Upward Dog (Urdhva Mukha Svanasana) and Child’s Pose (Balasana).

Also, get acquainted with the Sanskrit names for poses (called asanas). Often the teacher just uses Sanskrit for the gesture. Familiarity with these words can help you focus on your flow in class without having to look around to figure out what pose you’re talking about. Of course, you’ll become familiar with these words as you take more classes, but you can also speed up your learning process with extracurricular endeavors!

try different styles

There are various styles of yoga. It’s important to explore the different options available, as certain styles may not suit the results you want from your yoga practice. Some of the most common styles you’ll find are:

Hatha: In hatha yoga, you hold one pose for a long time, which allows you to stretch your body deeply and become familiar with the pose. It is slower paced, with a special focus on stillness and relaxation of the body and mind.

Vinyasa: Vinyasa yoga focuses more on movement and flow. By breathing into the rhythm of the movement, you can move fluidly from one pose to the next. Although the difficulty of the classes may vary, this is an especially good choice if you want to build strength