You’re relaxing at home, scrolling through your phone, when you come across a video of a person doing yoga. It’s not the first time that a video like that has popped up since you’ve probably shown your interest in the activity before.
Watching the video, you say to yourself, “Okay, that’s it. Tomorrow I’m getting started”. And then you don’t.
And have you come to the conclusion that the reason you aren’t getting started is because you are too lazy to get off the couch or stick to a routine?
While I get that point of view and while I’m not going to argue against the fact that sticking to a routine can be a problem for most people, have you perhaps wondered if there was another reason for you constantly postponing your decision to start enjoying yoga?
You feel it in your heart that you love this form of exercise, and you’re always in awe when watching people do it, but you’re simply not setting things in motion. Why?
Well, there could be another reason apart from the lack of motivation, and it appears that it’s not all on you, so don’t blame yourself for not having started just yet.
Basically, there is a great chance that you simply don’t know how to get things going the right way, and you’re not making any concrete moves toward taking up this activity because you’re not sure you’ll be able to do it correctly. The fear of not knowing things is winning the battle and driving your motivation to the ground.
If you’ve found yourself a justification not to start once again, though, that’s the wrong thing to take away from what I’ve been saying.
The truth is that, even though it’s completely understandable that you’re postponing things due to a lack of knowledge, you are the one responsible for getting the knowledge.
So, no more excuses. What you should do is get some yoga beginner tips to get you started, and if you’re ready to get a clearer idea of what it is you’ll have to pay attention to and focus on as a beginner in this activity, reading on is a good idea, as I’ll share some tips to help you.
- Choose the Right Yoga Mat
Do you think that it doesn’t matter what kind of mat you have when you want to practice yoga?
Well, sure, while you could find your way around any surface and hold certain postures pretty much anywhere, some can’t really be done that easily without the proper mat.
So, choosing the right one is of utmost importance, especially for beginners, because having a good surface beneath you will make the exercises more enjoyable and thus motivate you to stick to the routine. Getting a non-slip mat is the most significant thing to do, but there are also other specifications to keep in mind, and you should learn about those so as to make the best ultimate choice.
- Your Clothes Matter
If you thought that the mat doesn’t matter, then you definitely have taken your clothes into consideration too.
Wearing comfortable clothing, however, is an absolute must, because you don’t want those getting in the way of you holding certain postures. Breathable materials are important, and investing in thermal athletic gear could be a good idea for cooler weather, especially if you want to practice outside or in a cold space.
- You May Need Some More Equipment
The great thing about yoga is that practicing it is possible with next to no equipment.
Yet, grabbing a few essentials can really improve the entire experience, as every great yoga teacher will tell you. Blocks, for example, are the most common pieces of equipment that yoginis use, and, as a beginner, you may want to invest in those.
- Find a Good Guide to Get You Started With the Most Common Poses
Trying to do some random poses without having previously practiced yoga is not only silly but also dangerous and reckless, as it can lead to injuries.
You have to start slowly.
Finding a great guide can help you get started with the most common poses and teach you how to do them correctly, without risking injuring yourself.
As you’ll see at https://restanddigest.com.au/blogs/yoga/yoga-for-beginners or in similar great guides, there are a lot of fundamental poses you have to master before you can proceed to the more complicated ones, and you should never jump ahead.
The Child’s Pose, the Mountain Pose, the Downward-Facing Dog, Warriors I and II… Those are just some of the fundamental poses you’ll have to learn before going any further.
I know that the names of the poses may not mean much to you since you’re only a beginner, but you’ll soon get the hang of it all once you get things started.
So, find a good guide, or a good teacher for that matter, if you’re not planning on doing this at home or anywhere else alone, to teach you the fundamental poses before proceeding any further.
- Learn Breathing Techniques
As every experienced yogini will tell you, breathing is everything. You’d be surprised, though, with how many people simply don’t know how to breathe the right way when doing any kind of exercise.
There are some rather important breathing exercises in yoga that will help you not only learn how to keep your breath steady and thus improve your endurance but also succeed in connecting your mind and body and learning how to be in the present moment while exercising, instead of letting your mind wander.
- Learn Relaxation and Meditation Techniques
Relaxing and meditating after a good session is a practice that you should incorporate in your daily routine. Achieving a mentally clear and calm state through meditation will undoubtedly help you relax both your body and your mind.
Therefore, as a yoga beginner, you also have to learn relaxation and meditation techniques that will help you find moments of peace in this fast-paced world.
