When you hear the word " yoga, " the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word "yoga" is people moving from one impossible pose to another?
Well,
this is not entirely wrong, but the ones who can do those yoga postures
correctly are those yogis who have been practicing them for years. You can use
this image as an inspiration or forget about it and concentrate on yourself.
Yoga is a physical and
mental discipline that originated in India, and its fundamental objective is to
achieve the union between body, mind, and soul. Yoga postures, known as
"asanas," are performed on a mat and are the means to achieve this
goal.
But yoga is not only
this. At the same time, the practice of yoga is perfect for training core
muscles and improving coordination and flexibility. And, of course, to
strengthen your mind.
If you are new to yoga, we recommend that you sign up for a yoga class for beginners, where you will start with slow and easy postures.
This way, you will be able to test your
flexibility and learn to be aware of your body and breathe in rhythm with each
movement. Becoming aware of your body will help you with yoga and any other
type of sport.
What Type of Yoga is
Best for Beginners?
There is no one type
of yoga designed just for beginners, but it depends on your goal. Each of the
types of yoga has options for those trying it for the first time.
Want something
peaceful? Then try yin yoga or restorative yoga, the two most relaxing yoga
types; there is also therapeutic yoga, more focused on healing and meditation.
Hatha yoga is one of
the most popular types and is characterized by a smooth transition between the
different asanas.
On the other hand,
with vinyasa yoga, very dynamic, you will sweat from minute 1. The exercises
followed during the class will depend on the teacher and the style of the
studio.
In most yoga classes, the postures are performed in groups following a teacher's instructions at a harmonic rhythm. The asanas and the order in which they are performed may vary from week to week.
However, this is not the norm in some yoga types, such as
Ashtanga yoga or Bikram yoga, in which the same sequence is repeated every
week.
Each type of yoga has
its specific asanas. The kind of class, the rhythm, and the postures' order are
different according to the type practiced.
No type of yoga is more or less suitable for beginners. It is best to ask yourself what you want to achieve by practicing yoga and try a specific style.
Just remember that yoga
is something you enjoy and that, even if you think it's not for you, it never
hurts to step out of your comfort zone and try new things; you may end up
surprising yourself and discover something you didn't know about yourself.
How to Start
Practicing Yoga?
1. Find the Reason Why
You Want to Practice yoga
You can attend almost any type of yoga class in big cities: from relaxing yin yoga to the more spiritual kundalini or vinyasa, full of energy and movement.
Ask yourself why
you want to practice yoga and what you need a particular yoga class or studio
to be perfect for you. Look for yoga studios that meet those requirements and
choose a style that fits your goal.
2. Find A Yoga Studio
If this is the first time you decide to do yoga, it's best to choose a yoga studio. Why? Because it is much more fun to do yoga in a group and, thanks to the teacher's instructions, you will learn to do a sequence of postures adapted to the particular group's level.
If you don't manage to pose, your teacher will be in
the class to give you a hand and offer you a variation of the exercise you can
do.
3. Establish A Routine
Sometimes yoga is fun from the start. But at other times, unfortunately, it is not. The truth is that the better you know how to do something, the more fun you have doing it.
So,
remember not to get frustrated if your first class doesn't go smoothly. Take
your time to do the asanas and establish a routine safely. If you do yoga 2 or
3 times a week for one month, you will be able to decide if the type of yoga,
the teacher, and the studio you have chosen is right for you.
4. Be Realistic
The overhead pose (Sirsasana) or the lotus pose (Padmasana) are not postures for beginners. You wouldn't dare to run a marathon just because you go for a half-hour run every day, would you?
Of course not; it is very possible that something goes wrong
and hurt yourself that you could have avoided. Ask the yoga studio what level
is right for you and sign up for a class at the level recommended by the professionals.
5. Comparisons Are
Odious
Easier said than done, we know. But why should you compare yourself to someone who has been involved in yoga for years? Or why should you feel superior to your other classmates because you've been doing ballet for years and can do a split with your eyes closed?
Focus only on yourself and your progress. Yoga is like any sport: everybody is
different, and it has benefits for everyone.
6. Always Practice
Yoga with Care
Beginners should remember this: when you start practicing yoga, do it calmly and slowly.
Whenever you are doing a posture during a class, ask yourself the following questions: Do you feel good? Are all your joints in a position that is not dangerous? Does it hurt at all? Does it make sense for you to do that posture?
If you answer
yes to all of these, you can step out of your comfort zone and do the asana
more deeply.
Before your yoga class, you also need to be careful about what you eat: leave at least 3 hours between your last big meal and the time your course starts. It is also recommended that you drink something hot before you start: it is good for the stomach and the soul.
You can opt for hot water, but tea is much better. For
example, a pack of Beauty & Wellness herbal teas will give you what you
need to bring energy to the class.
7. Don't Push Yourself
Too Hard
It's possible that the first time you want to do a downward dog pose (Adho Muka Svanasana), you won't be able to stretch your legs as far as you should.
That's okay. Yoga for beginners is the perfect practice for flexibility training.
As with other training
types, such as weight training or resistance training, there is also an easier
or more difficult variant for every yoga exercise. The important thing is to
know how to find the one that best suits you and your fitness level.
As soon as you get over the first class's nervousness and know how to do the basic postures, you will realize that yoga helps beginners who dare to try it to improve strength and flexibility.
During a yoga class, there is no rush, you work by concentrating on the rhythm of your breath and your body, and space is created in which you forget your thoughts and can focus only on what is essential.
Besides, many
classes are accompanied by a relaxation and meditation session, so you will
leave the studio feeling like you are flying.
8. YouTube Vs. Yoga
Studios
Want to do yoga for beginners but don't feel like going to a studio and spending 60 or 90 minutes on a mat? Don't worry!
All you have to do is go to YouTube, look for an easy
beginner sequence and do it at home; it doesn't matter if it's 5, 10, or 15
minutes.
However, remember that the same rules apply here as if you go to a studio: choose something suitable for beginners.
Forget about challenging, flashy postures that involve a lot of
movement; focus on doing basic poses slowly and precisely.
Note: Be very careful with the movements you execute during yoga practice at home. Even leaning forward or backward can cause back and spinal problems simply by performing the asana incorrectly.
Since you are not in class and under the supervision of a
teacher, you have to be doubly careful to make sure you don't hurt yourself.
Yoga Exercises for
Beginners
We want to make available to all those who want to do yoga for beginners the basic exercises performed in most yoga classes.
It is important to remember that even practices
that at first glance seem very easy can hide small details that escape us. It
is always good to pay attention and see them more than once.
Yoga for Beginners: Conclusions
❋ Yoga has its origins in India.