Want to try yoga as part of your New Year’s resolution? So, what’s stopping you? Here at the Yoga Loft, our goal is to help you succeed, flourish, and grow.
Here are a few tips for beginners of yoga.
I’m not flexible: That’s OK. You come to class to work on your flexibility. It’s something that takes time. You’ll be amazed how regular practice will have benefits for your body. Yoga also is about building new strength, not just being stretchy.
I'm too self-conscious: The most difficult part of first getting into yoga is talking yourself into the studio. You’ve pulled off a win once you get there. Once inside, tell our teachers it’s your first class. Make sure to first check with the class schedule and pick one that’s an appropriate level. Remember, everyone in the studio once was a beginner. Yoga is a non-competitive environment. You focus on yourself. Our Yoga Loft teachers demonstrate the poses and expertly get you into and out of the poses.
Leave your self-judgment at the door: We can be highly critical of ourselves. Our ‘inner-critic’ can go into hyper-drive, especially when we start something new. When you arrive for a class at the Yoga Loft, there are no expectations for you to know everything. Your desire is all you need! Yoga practice has a great benefit of reducing stress…so it doesn’t make sense to add to your concerns.
Be your own teacher, first: Everybody has an ache, pain, and ouch. When you begin a yoga practice, tell your teacher about your injury before class begins. Then call on your expertise of you. Nobody knows your body better than you. Follow your body’s cues and listen to them. Nothing should ever hurt. Yoga teachers encourage students to pull out of a pose and rest when ever it’s appropriate for you.
Try it, and try it again: Attend a class and then return. Practicing yoga is a journey, not a race. Time on your mat has amazing results. Commit yourself to a regular routine to reap the benefits.
By Doug Adamson
