How To Start Yoga On Your Own/ Complete Guide to get Started Yoga

 

Yoga is a combination of breathing, movement, meditation, and wellness. Research proves that yoga helps manage stress, ease depression and anxiety, improve mood, and increase the quality of sleep. This is a beginner’s guide on how to get started with yoga. Introducing you to some of the best practices and answering the most common questio

What is Yoga?

Originating from India, Yoga is a practice that helps you find a balance between your mind and body. Yoga improves your mental health through consistent practice and meditation. Moreover, it also increases your flexibility, balance, coordination, and strength.

Yoga does not discriminate. Anyone can do yoga with consistent and proper practice. Starting yoga is a great way to set up new goals for yourself and to bring in new practices in your life.

What are the benefits of practicing yoga?

Yoga helps you feel better. This mindful practice has many physical and mental benefits. If you have an illness, you’re recovering from surgery, or living with a chronic condition, yoga can be an integral part of your healing process.

• Good for easing lower back pain
• Helps ease the discomfort of tender, swollen joints for people with arthritis symptoms.
• Reduces levels of stress and body-wide inflammation that causes high blood pressure and excess weight.
• Relaxes you in the right mindset and prepares your body to fall asleep and stay asleep
• Boosts your alertness and enthusiasm
• Supports stress management, mental health, healthy eating, weight loss, and quality sleep.
• Yoga classes ease loneliness and provide an environment for group healing and support
• Promotes better self-care
• What do you need to get started with Yoga?

A yoga mat is essential to start the practice. For instance, buy beginner-friendly yoga mats or if you’re not ready to buy one yet, you can rent a yoga mat during your class.

Join a yoga class to experience the whole session or you can start small by practicing in your own home. Find an area for your yoga practice. Any flat and comfortable space whether indoors or outdoors works.

Always have a bottle of water ready to keep yourself hydrated. Especially, if you know that you’ll get sweaty. Keep a towel beside you to wipe off your excess sweat so that you can continue your yoga session.

Wear stretchy pants or shorts, a well-fitted top (or any top as long as it’s not too loose or else it will fall on your face every time you bend over), or a sports bra. You don’t need shoes for yoga since it is always done barefoot.

It’s also important to go check with your doctor before beginning to see what type of yoga might be best for you.

What are the Different Yoga Styles?

Yoga can be intimidating once you learn the many different styles. But, don’t worry! Like any type of training, you’ll incorporate a variety of yoga in your regular practice. This helps you keep balance and it’s a good way to know what type of yoga suits you best.

Let’s get to know some of the beginner-friendly styles!

Hatha Yoga is a total beginner’s yoga practice. This is a great class if you’re starting out because it’s a slower pace. It’s also a gentler form of yoga where you’re only required to hold each pose for a few breaths.

Vinyasa Yoga is for intense exercisers who like a faster pace when working out. If you usually exercise and love HIIT, you’re perfect for this type of yoga style. This is perfect for runners or endurance athletes who love to be in continuous movement.

Yin Yoga is for people who need to stretch and unwind. If you want to calm down and find your zen, this is a great style for you. Yin yoga poses are held for several minutes at a time, designed to target your deeper tissues, restoring length, and elasticity.

Restorative Yoga is a good practice for anyone who has a hard time slowing down, experienced insomnia, or struggles with anxiety. This slow-moving practice allows your body to experience deeper relaxation. It’s great for athletes on their recovery days.

How do you Begin a Yoga Practice?

To experience the full benefits of yoga, you need to make it a regular part of your routine.

Build a Habit

The most important thing to remember is to do things consistently. Starting a yoga practice means committing to doing it routinely. Take it easy and start small. If you practice a good 10-15 minutes a day of yoga, it’s more beneficial than going to a yoga class once a wee

Find a Starter Class

While it’s possible to do Yoga at home, having a seasoned instructor guide you can be a great start too. Whether it be in a private or a group setting, having a yoga expert with you ensures that you’re doing the exercises safely.

Start by looking for an experienced yoga instructor. They should have at least a 200-hour teaching certificate from a teacher-training program accredited with the Yoga Alliance. These programs include training on injury prevention.

Another way is to look for yoga studios or gyms that provide slip-resistant mats (if you are planning on renting a mat), and sturdy clean blocks for support. Make sure to use an antibacterial spray and a cloth to wipe down your mat before and after use. These studios or gyms also offer yoga classes from beginner to advanced levels so feel free to do your own research and inquire.

Since we live in an age where almost all of the information that we need is free, YouTube and other free yoga courses are a go-to recommendation. You can find a variety of instructors who are authentic and teach basic yoga poses virtually.

Starting a training or practice requires discipline and good intention. Set yourself up each day to take on challenges with different yoga poses. From a total beginner, I’m positive that you’ll be comfortable with yoga in no time. Don’t stress yourself out if you don’t reach your goals, the best thing you do is to be consistent and practice with patience