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Tips for Yoga Beginners (and everyone else, too!)

Writer's picture: jaclyn kingjaclyn king

1. Just show up.


If I had a dollar for every time I heard someone say they wanted to do yoga but they “had to lose weight first” or “aren’t flexible enough” I'd have enough money to send myself on another overseas retreat. There are NO body restrictions or requirements to do yoga! ALL bodies are able to do yoga. Bottom line. Of course not all bodies can perform all postures with perfection in yoga; but that’s ridiculous to even expect. Even after 20 plus years of practice, there are postures I can’t do, won’t do, and don’t enjoy. And that’s okay! Yoga meets you where you’re at. The more you do it, the better you get; and your body becomes more flexible over time. You figure out what works for you with the help of your teacher, and you find your own practice that is perfect for your body.



There are many positive outcomes from a regular yoga practice, some of which may be weight loss, strength building, or muscle toning. You don’t have to create a perfect body before you enter the studio. You don’t have to already be relaxed, grounded, calm, or a meditation expert before you walk into the room, either. This would be like saying you won’t sign up for piano lessons because you don’t know how to play the piano, or you won’t go to a cooking class because you aren’t a master chef. Like anything else, you will learn when you get there. Let the teacher teach, and you do the learning and growing. All you have to do is just show up. 


2. Avoid yoga on social media


I know this may come as a shock, but what you see on social media isn’t real. The rail thin women in seductive postures, hanging upside down and twisted into sexy pretzels in front of a picturesque tropical ocean aren’t doing yoga; they are modeling and putting on a performance. Yoga isn’t about how you look, it's about how you feel. Yoga happens on your mat and in your own body and mind. The images on Tiktok and Instagram are carefully curated for viewing, and show unrealistic and inauthentic yoga. My best suggestion is that you avoid following yoga content creators if they aren’t actually teaching you anything. If their content is purely for eyeball consumption, and doesn’t do anything but make you feel bad about yourself, block, scroll, skip, and un-follow. You don’t need that in your life. 


3. Don’t buy any yoga supplies


We all do it; we decide to start a new hobby and before we actually start doing the hobby we rush out (or onto Amazon) and blow a hundred bucks on supplies. We get caught up in the excitement. I get it; it’s the reason why I have bins of craft supplies in my basement! However, let me suggest another route - take a couple of classes first. Most studios have plenty of loaner supplies; I keep several sets of yoga supports and mats in my studio for student use. You may find that you need less than you thought. Your teacher can help you choose supports that actually enhance your practice and work for your individual needs. Honestly, I do yoga every day on a regular old throw rug and I seem to be just fine! Perhaps you don’t need that $150 inversion chair just yet…


Try out a few things and discover for yourself what works best for you before investing in all kinds of do-dads. You might realize that you prefer a textured mat, or cork blocks over foam. Or maybe that matching Lululemon set you bought actually rides up your butt crack when you’re in Goddess pose, or you sweat like crazy unless you wear a loose cotton shirt. You will most likely look around the studio and realize that most of us are in our pajamas! I know that I have made the mistake of buying cool yoga stuff that I never use; the bolster that is too stiff, the mat that is too slippery, the blocks that are too wide for my hands… and we all remember my brief stint with that big aerial yoga hoop hanging from the ceiling that ended up making me nauseous every time I used it, right? Haha! Don’t make the same mistakes I’ve made; save a buck and wait on all the supplies. 


4. Find the right fit


Although wearing comfortable, well-fitting clothes to class is important, that's not what I’m talking about here. If you have taken a yoga class in the past and didn’t like it, that doesn’t mean you don’t like yoga; that just means you didn't like that class! There are tons of types of yoga you can try. Most studios offer at least a few different styles of yoga. Teachers can interpret and teach these styles differently, as well. From a low-and-slow Yin class that uses pillows and blankets to a high-energy, fast-paced Vinyasa flow on your feet, there’s a wide range of experiences that can all fall under the name “yoga.” I suggest that you read up on the different styles before you start, take a look at the class descriptions offered by the studio on their website, and even call the studio to ask questions before you choose a class. Here’s some questions you might want to ask:


  • How long is the class?

  • What is the temperature of the room?

  • Does this class utilize supports or props of any kind?

  • Are there inverted postures in this class?

  • Is this class secular, spiritual, or religious in any way?

  • What is the main focus of this class (strength building, cardio, flexibility, relaxation, etc.)?

  • Does the teacher do hands-on adjustments?


If a studio has any video or audio clips available, check those out, too. You can get a feel for the teacher’s style, the pace of the class, and the overall vibe. Think about what you would enjoy and search for those aspects when choosing what to sign up for. Some of us like hands on and some prefer their own space, sometimes you are seeking a workout and other times you just want some gentle grounding. All yoga classes and teachers are not the same. Once you find the right fit, everything falls into place and you’ll probably fall in love. 


5. Don’t give up


Starting a yoga and meditation practice is just like anything else; it takes time to see change. If the first few times you hit your mat are awkward, that’s normal. Don’t expect your mind to settle right away, it needs practice at this. You won’t know all the names of the postures for a long time; I’ve been at this for 20 years and I still mix them up sometimes (my Sanskrit is terrible)! Depending on the class, you might be a little sore afterwards, especially if you are using new muscles or stretching very tight areas. Know that over time your body and mind will become accustomed to yoga; you’ll settle into arrival meditation more smoothly and you can spend less time watching the teacher demonstrate as you learn the flows and transitions and build muscle memory. Your body will start to remember more, and you’ll spend less time trying to keep up and more time having that powerful body and mind experience that we all seek. Just like anything else, be patient with yourself and don’t give up. After all, it’s not yoga perfect; it’s a yoga practice for a reason. 



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