Flowing movements, a stylish outfit, acrobatic poses - guidebooks, videos etc. give a pretty strict idea of what yoga should look like. However, if you are at the beginning of your yoga journey, you are probably sceptical: can I do it at all? The answer is a resounding yes! Because anyone can do yoga, and with the right preparation, even the very first session on the mat will be a success.
10 Tips for Yoga Beginners
Of course, yoga is not about following strict rules and working through lists. So the following list is just food for thought, but no less helpful for getting in the mood for the first yoga session!
1. pre-inform yourself: Which yoga suits me?
There are many different types of yoga and it is all the more important to find out what suits your type best before your first session. In many studios, for example, there are courses with hatha yoga. This form involves assuming certain poses such as the warrior or the crow.
Hatha yoga is therefore body-based and definitely requires some movement. Yin yoga, on the other hand, is different: Here you stay in passive postures and relax. However, if you have already read up a bit more, you can also orientate yourself on the principles of Ayurveda yoga and thus find your personal style.
2. questions: How is the studio equipped?
As a rule, most studios offer accessories such as yoga mats and blocks for rent. Nevertheless, it doesn't hurt to ask again before the class whether you need to bring certain equipment with you. By the way: don't hesitate to use aids! Because this is not a sign of weakness, but of mindfulness and a positive relationship with your body.
3. leave perfection to the left
In everyday life, you already put enough pressure on yourself to perform. So tell yourself before your first yoga session: it doesn't have to be perfect. The fact that your fingertips may not quite reach the floor the first time or that your cobra doesn't yet rise so high is completely normal. After all, the reassuring thing about yoga is precisely that the journey is the destination. You have made it onto the mat - the rest is not so important!
4. respect the group
Show respect for the other yogis and arrive on time, ideally a few minutes before the class starts. This way you can find your way around, exchange a few words with the course leader and tune in calmly.
If you are a very lively person, it is best to adjust early on to the fact that a period of silence is now called for. Whispered conversations and comments are disturbing to others and to yourself.
5. accept what comes
Unfortunately, the fact that you show respect does not necessarily mean that everyone else does too. Nevertheless, this does not have to spoil the first yoga session.
Think of strong perfume or deodorant smells, mumbling or loud panting as personal little hurdles that you can easily overcome.
6. choose the right clothes
If the yoga outfit pleases you, that's a nice side effect - but looks shouldn't come first. A comfortable feel and yoga suitability are much more important. Soft fabrics and loose-fitting clothes complement the flowing movements perfectly. The branded look from head to toe may look good in the gym, but it is usually of little use on the yoga mat.
7. eat smart
There are some yoga exercises that you spend in the prone position. This can be uncomfortable if you have eaten a lot just before the yoga class.
Ideally, do not eat anything up to two hours before the start. If you do get a little hungry or if there is no other way due to time constraints, it is better to eat light food instead of heavy, fatty food.
8. go on the mat with the right attitude
Yoga is not a competition. Especially before the first session, it doesn't hurt to tell yourself this several times. Pay attention to your body alone during the exercises, discover what it can do - and accept from the beginning that it cannot do some things (yet).
By the way: Don't expect to be extremely stretchy, muscular and deeply relaxed after just one yoga class. Be aware that you are only at the beginning of a longer process.
9. engage with the new
For beginners, it may seem strange at first to just breathe consciously while kneeling, standing or lying still. But always remember: all the other people in the room are doing it too, and because it feels good. Go into the class with curiosity and just leave the doubts at home.
10. look forward to the experience!
This last point is as self-explanatory as it is important. Yoga is about finding serenity and balance. This does not happen at the push of a button and works better on some days than others. Especially in the first yoga session, but also on the rest of the journey, one fact is in the foreground: the conscious decision to do something good for body and mind. Just let the rest come to you.
