Okay, you're considering the best way of getting started with yoga. At the very least, you might be wondering how you can get your feet wet to determine what it's like. If you're at all like I was, you are curious, a little excited, but maybe a bit nervous as well. Perhaps, the simplest way to get started is to identify a local yoga studio and check out any basic or introductory classes they provide. I don't recommend beginning with videos or books. Those can be really valuable once you get oriented, but a personal connection with someone, a teacher, a class peer, etc., can be really important to getting off on the right path.
Truthfully, I felt like an idiot the first time I walked into a yoga studio. I was self-conscious: I was clearly out of shape, carried around 30 or 40 extra pounds, and my sweat pants were ugly. I was a fish out of water and was sure that The Yoga People would laugh me out the door.
That didn't happen. Not even close.
I visited the Yoga Studio and used the gift certificate I'd been given by my husband to purchase a 6-class pass, allowing me to attend any classes that were open for drop-ins (some classes ran as discrete, limited sessions, but most didn't). Once I had that pass in hand, I grew anxious. Now I was going to have to attend a class!
The yoga instructor, who was also the owner of the yoga studio, helpfully answered my questions and encouraged me to start with a basic Hatha class. I discovered that Hatha, the most common form of yoga practiced in the West, is the physical (asana) type of yoga. There are many others that concentrate more on mental practice, lifestyle and action, breathing, etc. Technically, physical asana is just one element, or limb, of yoga.
The basic class I visited was perfect for me. It was small, attended by a range of people of all shapes, sizes and ages. The teacher (The Fabulous Bryan) was gentle, supportive and - most important of all - completely accepting of each person's unique situation. It took me a solid six months of going to the class once a week to be able to touch my toes without bending my knees. Boy, was that an exciting day!
So, search for a class and a teacher with which you feel comfortable. You might want to visit another studio for comparison before you buy a package or large pass card anywhere. This will give you a good feel for the studio itself and how warm and accommodating it is, as well as the teachers in your area. There is probably nothing more important in the Getting Started in yoga process than finding a teacher you like and connecting with her. If you don't meet that person on your first try, just keep at it. One thing I've really cultivated in my yoga practice is persistence. If you practice persistence in the search for the right "fit" for you, in terms of a yoga teacher and studio, it will pay off!
One other important point: It's useful to give some thought to what your goals are with yoga. Weight Loss? Relaxation? Weight loss? Reduction of anxiety or depression? Cardiovascular Health? Becoming more flexible? In the beginning, just getting started any way you can is enough, but down the road, the answer to the question of what you want out of it may help decide where your practice goes.
Truthfully, I felt like an idiot the first time I walked into a yoga studio. I was self-conscious: I was clearly out of shape, carried around 30 or 40 extra pounds, and my sweat pants were ugly. I was a fish out of water and was sure that The Yoga People would laugh me out the door.
That didn't happen. Not even close.
I visited the Yoga Studio and used the gift certificate I'd been given by my husband to purchase a 6-class pass, allowing me to attend any classes that were open for drop-ins (some classes ran as discrete, limited sessions, but most didn't). Once I had that pass in hand, I grew anxious. Now I was going to have to attend a class!
The yoga instructor, who was also the owner of the yoga studio, helpfully answered my questions and encouraged me to start with a basic Hatha class. I discovered that Hatha, the most common form of yoga practiced in the West, is the physical (asana) type of yoga. There are many others that concentrate more on mental practice, lifestyle and action, breathing, etc. Technically, physical asana is just one element, or limb, of yoga.
The basic class I visited was perfect for me. It was small, attended by a range of people of all shapes, sizes and ages. The teacher (The Fabulous Bryan) was gentle, supportive and - most important of all - completely accepting of each person's unique situation. It took me a solid six months of going to the class once a week to be able to touch my toes without bending my knees. Boy, was that an exciting day!
So, search for a class and a teacher with which you feel comfortable. You might want to visit another studio for comparison before you buy a package or large pass card anywhere. This will give you a good feel for the studio itself and how warm and accommodating it is, as well as the teachers in your area. There is probably nothing more important in the Getting Started in yoga process than finding a teacher you like and connecting with her. If you don't meet that person on your first try, just keep at it. One thing I've really cultivated in my yoga practice is persistence. If you practice persistence in the search for the right "fit" for you, in terms of a yoga teacher and studio, it will pay off!
One other important point: It's useful to give some thought to what your goals are with yoga. Weight Loss? Relaxation? Weight loss? Reduction of anxiety or depression? Cardiovascular Health? Becoming more flexible? In the beginning, just getting started any way you can is enough, but down the road, the answer to the question of what you want out of it may help decide where your practice goes.
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