If you are a beginner at yoga and want to give it a go, here are a few tips and helpful advice to get you started.
Find A Good Yoga Instructor
It is so much easier and enjoyable to learn the art of yoga with all its nuances and subtle mental and physical aspects from an experienced, qualified yoga instructor. There are a lot of free videos on YouTube or websites and apps which can guide you through the beginner poses.
Respect Your Body’s Limitations And Inner Wisdom
It is not necessary to push yourself or do anything that feels uncomfortable and dangerous for you. ‘Ahimsa’, the practice of non-harm, is an essential part of the beneficial and skilful practice of yoga. However, beware of contradictions relevant to specific circumstances pertaining to the body. For instance, certain poses should not be practised during menstruation, early pregnancy, or with certain injuries, while other poses can be beneficial in people with those conditions.
Breathing Exercises
Finding a more profound and healthier harmony between the mind and body is one of the most important aspects of yoga, and our breathing is a crucial factor to this. Breathe into the whole body in the poses specified for breathing, and relax. Healthy breathing is something that is taught in yoga.
Don’t Compare Yourself With Others.
There will always be people who are more experienced than you in every field, including this one. Looking inwards to your own progress is of utmost importance because comparing with others is wholly and utterly pointless. Yoga may be something that is fashionable today, but it is not a competition or spectator sport, so appreciate the subtle progress you make with your own practice. The best part of this is how it works on the mind, in the healing awareness and ultimate unity of your mind, body and spirit.
Don’t Take It Too Seriously
Yoga may be a focused, yet quiet, activity, but it does not mean that you need to take this too seriously. It may feel like we are stiff and ungainly as a board while trying to navigate our body into new poses. An inner smile, a bit of gentleness and a lot more humility can save you from pushing your body to the point of strain and injury.
Eating And Drinking And Yoga
It is advised not to have anything to eat for one or two hours before practising yoga, and to drink only as little water as required beforehand and not to drink anything during practice. Avoid caffeine, alcohol or sugar before yoga.
Wear Loose Comfortable Clothing
During yoga, you will be stretching your body in all directions, so you don’t want to wear anything that will dig in or restrict your movement. At some point, you are most likely to bend your body to the fullest and also turn upside down. Therefore it saves wriggling about and prevents exposing more that you intend to if you wear stretch fit outfits.