Useful Tips for Yoga Beginners

Yoga is a discipline that brings forth innumerable physical and mental benefits for dedicated practitioners. If you find yourself feeling lost and frustrated, these tips might help you find your way back to the mat.

Understand why you are here

Whether you are a beginner or just getting back to yoga after a break, it is always a good idea to consider your motives. What is it that you wish to gain out of this practice? Why are you keen on practicing yoga? Keep your intention in mind, chart clear goals, and follow through with them. 

Beginner or not, setting an intention at the start of your class will help you stay focused and help make considerable development.

Look for someone who can guide you

Home practice is an excellent way to get your daily fix of yoga. But a trainer has a lot to offer, especially to a beginner. A yoga expert with trusted credentials will not only guide you, but help you perform better and reach your desired goals. In this digital age, many teachers are offering their teachings online on various apps and platforms. These teachings and insights may transform your practice.

Start slow

It is important to set realistic goals and progress towards it one step at a time. Pushing yourself too hard can only bring about disappointments and injuries. Instead, start slow, stick to the basics, know your strengths, and work hard on your weaknesses.

Build a strong base

A strong foundation will help you build a sustainable practice. Working on your basics reduces the risks of injuries. Little details such as the positioning of hands and feet, the alignment of your spine, and the engagement of appropriate muscles go a long way. Working with utmost awareness and paying attention to the changing demands of your body reaps innumerable benefits of the practice.

Show up regularly

Take out some time for your practice, even if it’s 15 minutes a day. If you do two poses a day, it leads to 60 poses a month and puts you into a habit of them. Just 15 minutes daily is better than hours of practice once in a while. Short daily practices prepare your body for the process, making it fun and easier with every passing day.

Understand your body’s limit

Comparing yourself to others is unreasonable, in yoga or otherwise. Each of us has a specific anatomical setup. Learn to accept your body’s limitations and respect what it can offer. Do not force yourself into any pose. It might feel good temporarily but may cause greater damage in the long run.

Savor every bit of Savasana

If you are in a great hurry to rush for the rest of your day, after yoga, you might as well not start the practice. It is important to lie down and relax for a few minutes to let your body cool down. It will synthesize the energy produced through practice. A short Savasana proves to be beneficial in calming the body and mind after asanas.

Breath through every pose

Breathing during your yoga poses sounds obvious, but it becomes an uphill task as you’re trying to hold a pose. Breathing will help you relax and maintain your posture and position. It will rejuvenate your senses and make you feel fresh and alive. It is also important to keep breathing while stretching. Yoga becomes pointless without the basic technique of breathing, which every beginner should practice.

Your experience of yoga is going to be different than that of others. So setting up a practice that suits you and benefits you the most will allow you to deepen your practice.