5 Things to Consider When Starting a Yoga Practice
There are so many different yoga practices available, it can be hard to know where to start or if you “belong,” because you don’t look like the people popularized as yoga practitioners.
Don’t worry, as a yoga practitioner/teacher, Doctor of Physical Therapy, and a curvier woman-of-color, I have you covered! But if none of this gives you the gumption to try a studio class, you can always get a personalized program from me to start you off strong and structured on your mat.
THE LIST
The style of yoga you practice should be based on what you want to get out of it. Read the class descriptions and be willing to try different styles and teachers.
The only 2 requirements for entering a yoga studio and taking class are having a body and breathing, so don’t worry about what you can or can’t do, you’re there to learn and grow. Be comfortable with laughing at yourself. Even the most “advanced” practitioners in the room had to take their first class at some point.
If you have any known injuries or pain, let the instructor know at the beginning of the class. Know that it is okay to personalize your practice. The point is to leave feeling better, not worse!
IT IS NOT A COMPETITION! Yoga means to “yoke” or “unite.” Long story short, you should be paying more attention to yourself than what anyone else in the room is doing. Don’t get me wrong, watchasana is awesome and can show you where you might grow one day with your own practice, but don’t internalize that you “need” to do what anyone else is doing.
Yoga is actually an 8-part (8-limb) practice, and the physical part popularized here in the west is only one part with arguably a lesser importance. The other limbs include things like breathing, practicing internal and external discipline, concentrating, meditating (praying), withdrawing inward, and ultimately, seeking connection with that which is outside of ourselves. If you do any of those things regularly, you’re ALREADY a yoga practitioner.
If your questions are deeper than what I’ve discussed above, feel free to reach out and ask away. If you’re more concerned about doing things correctly or believe you may have some weakness that is negatively impacting your ability to practice, you might be appropriate for Thrive with Dr. C’s “YOUR Yoga Program,” designed to help you safely practice yoga for a lifetime.