9 Yoga Tips for Beginners

Yoga can be as enjoyable or as stressful as you make it. If you are just starting out with yoga or even thinking about taking a class or two, then take a look at the 9 yoga tips for beginners listed below. They should give you some ideas on how to go about getting into this marvelous way of life. It is great fun, you meet tons of interesting people, and yoga is an excellent way to move towards healthier living.

1. Save the stimulating poses for morning only

Yoga can be a great way to relax in the evenings, but you might want to do poses that aren’t going to stimulate your heart. Some poses are better left for a morning session of yoga instead of right before bedtime. You’ll end up getting yourself amped up rather than relaxed and ready for sleep.

2. Don’t push yourself so hard that you feel pain

Even though yoga isn’t as vigorous of an exercising method as aerobics or require an immense amount of strength like in weight training, it can still cause you to feel pain. You should feel a pulling sensation, but not uncomfortable pain when performing yoga. If you feel any pain or major discomfort at all, then ease up a bit and work up to the more strenuous poses later.

3. Find someone to help you with your technique during poses

To get the full benefit of yoga, you’ll want to make sure you are performing each pose correctly. There is a specific way of breathing through each pose, as well as the best way to hold your body so you get the most from each move. Join a friend who has had some experience with yoga already and get pointers on your technique. It might also be wise to take a basic yoga class with a professional, in order to make sure you are doing each pose correctly.

4. Don’t practice yoga poses on a full stomach

It’s best to do yoga on an empty stomach. This allows you to focus on each pose without feeling intense pressure caused by a stomach full of food. You also will feel less tired while doing yoga because your stomach won’t be drawing blood from the rest of your body to help digest food.

5. Practice often

Like with most things; the more you do yoga, the better you will become at performing each pose. Eventually the move will be easier and more natural feeling. Once you get the basics down, moving up to harder poses will be more enjoyable and less frustrating.

6. Purchase a quality mat that will last

Some people use a quilt or thick blanket for each yoga session. I personally think buying a really good yoga mat is a much better investment. They are easy to roll up and tote from one place to another, which comes in handy when you are taking a yoga class at the local gym or performing yoga somewhere other than your home. These mats are non-slip so you don’t have to worry about the mat moving around on you while you perform each pose and you’ll be able to hold each pose without sliding on the mat.

7. Choose a style that is right for you

I know of at least 12 styles of yoga, but I’m sure there are many more out there. Some types of yoga are very similar to one another while others are at completely opposite ends of the spectrum. There are yoga classes which cater to beginners and tend to incorporate a few different styles into each class. Read up on some of the many styles and see if there is one type that you prefer over the rest.
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8. Wear comfortable clothing

It’s not impossible to perform most yoga moves in everyday clothing, but it’s much easier to wear loose-fitting clothing when doing yoga. You will be more comfortable doing each pose if your moves aren’t restricted by the clothing you have on.

9. Start slow

Diving right into the hardest poses in yoga might be possible for some people to pull off. It’s best to see what you can do by starting slowly with easy poses. If the poses seem too simple, then move on to more difficult ones. It’s always best to start slow and work up than to be turned off about yoga by starting with a style that frustrates you. [ read: Top 5 yoga poses for women ]