Nine Things to Be Mindful of as You Begin Your Yoga Journey

Nine Things to Be Mindful of as You Begin

YOUR YOGA JOURNEY

BY CAROLIN TAYLOR

Yoga is much more than poses. As a matter of fact, the poses or “asana” (pronounced aa-suh-nuh) are the third of the Eight Limbs of Yoga.

As you begin your yoga journey, there are many things to consider as you walk into your first class:

1. Try different instructors. I can’t impress this

upon you enough. Each instructor has his or her individual style of teaching. You might connect with one but not another. Don’t give up if you don’t love your first yoga session; instead, try a different instructor or a different style of yoga.

2. There is a type of yoga for everybody and

every body. As you begin your yoga journey, you will find yoga has different names. Vinyasa, Yin, Hatha, Ashtanga, and more. Most yoga, no matter what it’s called, is rooted in the same basic principles and poses. It’s best to try a variety to see what you most connect with.

3. Find a place to practice where you feel that

you can show up exactly as you are. You should be able to practice without judgement, without the feeling that you must do everything that the teacher is suggesting, a place that understands that your individual practice is just that—your individual practice.

4. Everything is a suggestion. It is so import-

ant to know that your practice is yours alone. There is no one who understands what you need, better than you do. Therefore, when taking a class, you should never feel obligated to do everything or anything at all. You should feel the freedom to honor your body.

5. Consistency matters. If you go to the gym

only once or twice, you likely will not reap the benefits in the same way that you would if you showed up consistently. Yoga is the same. That’s why we call it a practice. It’s consistency that will help you to achieve your goals.

6. Come as you are with what you have. I

would suggest having a mat that is appropriate to the class you are taking. If you are taking a hot yoga class, you’re going to sweat. You would ideally want to use a mat that will not cause you to slip. In my opinion, a mat is the only requirement: everything else is optional.

7. Using props is not a bad thing. For some

reason people equate using props, such as a yoga block or strap, with your practice not being advanced. This is far from the truth. If you don’t have your own, it’s fine. Most studios have them available for you to use. I recommend that you experiment with props to see how their use has the ability to change the pose for your body.

8. It’s not a competition. Yoga is not a com-

petition, and your yoga probably won’t look like the person who is practicing beside you. Everyone is at a different stage of practice and everyone’s body is different in strength, flexibility, bone structure and more. Your practice will look different, and that’s perfectly okay. Ultimately though, your practice is completely individual. 9. Breathing. The first time you come to class, you will try to follow the instructor’s posture cues. By far the most important is connecting with your breathing, which is the heart of yoga. The physical movement of a class has its purpose. However, you are not reaping the benefits of the practice if you are not breathing correctly. The steady flow of the breath is what ignites transformation physically, mentally, and emotionally. The breathing is what moves the stagnant energy out. It anchors you to your practice. It creates steadiness in the mind and therefore steadiness in the postures. It helps you to focus, it improves circulation, and helps to relieve stress. When you can find the rhythm in your breathing, everything else begins to fall into place.

This list is not exhaustive. If you are interested in a yoga class, do your research, see what resonates, try different classes, see what connects. I’m confident that you can find something that suits you. Remember, you don’t have to show up to a class. Taking five minutes, seated in silence connecting with your inhale and your exhale, is also yoga. Be sure to consult your doctor before beginning any new wellness routine. n

Carolin is a 700+ hour trained yoga instructor, teaching primarily Vinyasa Yoga. She currently leads classes for her employer's corporate wellness program teaching to employees across the globe.