A BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO START PRACTICING YOGA

A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO START PRACTICING YOGA

Taking the first step to start practicing yoga might seem overwhelming. There are so many ideas about how practicing should look that often that reason only prevents you from starting.

This beginner’s guide will help you clarify what type of yoga is best for you, how to practice it, and how to improve after starting.

What yoga is best for beginners?

There are many different styles of yoga, such as yin, ashtanga, vinyasa, kundalini, and hatha. Each type has unique characteristics and ways of practicing, accommodating the needs of every practitioner.

The most suitable style of yoga for a beginner is Hatha yoga. In Hatha yoga, you can:

  • Learn the basics of yoga practice at a pace that is easy to follow. The slow pace of movement allows you to follow the instructions without getting confused.
  • Connect more easily with the breath. That is the number one aim of practicing yoga. Without awareness and connection to the breath, it’s exercise, not yoga. In Hatha yoga, due to the slow pace, you can deepen your breath while staying longer in the poses. 
  • Develop awareness of the body. Many people who are new to yoga have no understanding of the body. That might result from prolonged periods of no exercise or other more deep-rooted issues. Whatever the reason, during a hatha practice, it’s easier to better understand your body by observing it during the practice.
  • Avoid injuries as a beginner. Starting with a more challenging type of yoga such as ashtanga, vinyasa, or power yoga, which have a quicker pace of movement, and not knowing the how-to of asanas is a combination that can potentially lead to injury.

Of course, that doesn’t mean that Hatha is the best yoga practice of all types and that you should only practice that. Not at all. You have unique needs, which should be the criterion for choosing the kind that suits you best. Starting with Hatha, even for a short period, though, is like learning the alphabet of yoga asanas.

How to Practice Yoga?

The number one rule to practice yoga is to be gentle with yourself. Leave aside your thoughts on how you should look while practicing. Stop being judgmental or harsh about how you do things or how you should be supposed to be doing them. Humbly step into the mat and focus on what you are practicing. 

Connect your breath to the movement, and don’t even pay attention to what the other practitioners do because you will lose the whole point of the practice. You are not in competition with anyone, not even with yourself. You aim for progression and not perfection. Keep that in mind.

The one thing you need to avoid while practicing is having difficulty breathing in the asanas. Gradually, you will start feeling comfortable breathing in uncomfortable positions, but in any way, you are not supposed to have trouble breathing. 

How Often Should I Do Yoga?

A great way to begin is by setting a realistic goal, like practicing for two to three days each week and gradually increasing your practice time. It’s better to start small and set an achievable goal rather than starting with practicing too many times per week and then getting tired or bored after a while. When you establish your practice for the number of times you set, you can increase that if it aligns with your lifestyle. This is a fantastic starting point!

As you continue to practice, you will experience a positive change in your emotional state, inspiring you to practice even more. The ultimate goal is to maintain a regular yoga practice.

How to Improve After Starting

Firstly, you can start by staying in the poses for more breaths. That will benefit you on a physical and emotional level. The magic in yoga happens when you breathe into the poses for extended periods because it invigorates your internal organs and creates more space for deep breathing.

Then, you can practice more challenging stages of each asana or new asanas that demand better control and more strength. That will boost you physically and emotionally and help you build confidence.

However, asanas are only one of the essential parts of a yoga practice. Yoga is far more than that. To reap the benefits of it, you need to pour more energy into the elements that will enrich your experience, and those are: 

  • Pranayama is the breathwork that will connect you, deepen your breath, and transform your practice.
  • Meditation. Staying in meditation is the ultimate goal of yoga. The reason for practicing yoga is to prepare your body for it. Staying in meditation only for a few minutes will make a tremendous difference.

So, enjoy the journey; enjoy the process! Enjoy every little change in your life, how you feel in your body, your emotional state, and how you respond and not react in numerous situations. It’s a process that takes time. As devoted as you are, more positive changes will happen. Just be humble and open. Observe.

Keep practicing, and all will come.