5 Yoga Tips for Beginners

by | Oct 2, 2014 | Yoga

One of the reasons yoga enjoys such widespread popularity is that it can be successfully practiced by anyone. Age and gender don’t matter. You don’t have to invest in expensive equipment that ends up gathering dust in a corner. Both weekend warriors and hardcore fitness enthusiasts can accomplish their personal goals.

Most important, yoga does not discriminate against any fitness level. You don’t have to be in excellent physical shape to take up yoga. Its adaptability even makes it a great activity for individuals with injuries or disabilities.

Have you made the decision to begin practicing yoga? As with any new activity, you can improve your experience by incorporating steps to get yourself off on the right foot. These five tips will help you set a great foundation for your journey.

  1. Keep a practice journal. Yoga is centered around the connection between mind and body, providing mental and spiritual benefits along with physical. As you make discoveries about yourself and your connection with the world, write them down post-session before the thoughts drift away. You can also log notes about your performance and track your improvement.
  2. Commit to consistent practice. Yoga is more than just a form of exercise: it’s a lifestyle. While you’ll see improvements almost immediately, maximum benefits come over time as each experience builds on the ones before. Even if you run into a time crunch, frequent shorter sessions are preferable to occasional long ones.
  3. Don’t overdo it. Listen to your body. It will take you some time to perfect the poses, especially if you haven’t been physically active to begin with. Forcing yourself beyond your current fitness level will result in frustration and possibly even injury, making you less likely to continue. Even the most accomplished yogis began in your shoes. Allow yourself the freedom to grow.
  4. Focus on your own journey. Yoga is not a competitive sport. No one’s keeping score and there are no trophies handed out at the end. Comparing yourself to others accomplishes nothing. The only story that matters is your own. Have fun and enjoy the process.
  5. Practice with an experienced instructor. The best books and DVDs in the world are no substitute. Your instructor sees you in real time and can spot areas for improvement that you may not even be aware of. He or she is also a wonderful source of encouragement and positive advice to keep you engaged and motivated.

The sooner you begin, the sooner you’ll experience the joys of yoga. We offer a class that provides a helpful introduction to yoga and meditation with a question-and-answer session afterwards. Please contact us for more information.