Our Guide to Starting Yoga

I’m a big fan of using yoga as part of my training. It’s incredible for improving your strength, flexibility, and mindset. I recommend it to compliment your current routine. However, a lot of people don’t know where to start to get involved. Men can find it especially difficult since it’s often seen as a very feminine pursuit. But getting into yoga is pretty easy, whether you want to attend classes or try it at home. If it’s something you think you’d like to try, but you don’t know where to begin, here’s my quick guide to getting started.

Choosing a Discipline

There are several different types of yoga. If you attend a general beginner’s class, you won’t be getting too far into the various kinds. However, you might want to start exploring the range of disciplines after a few sessions. For example, you can try Iyengar yoga, which helps you focus on getting the correct alignment in different poses. You can use props such as belts to help you get in the right position. There’s Ashtanga, which uses the same poses as Iyengar, but it’s a more vigorous style. If you want to get sweaty, try Bikram, which you do in a heated room.

Buying the Gear

There isn’t anything complicated about the clothes you need for yoga. But some people still end up making mistakes during their first couple of times. It’s important not to wear anything too restrictive, or you could struggle to move and breathe. However, don’t wear anything too loose either. You don’t want to end up with a t-shirt over your face and trousers slipping down your legs when you’re upside down. Yoga tops tend to fit quite well, giving both your lungs and your skin room to breathe. They deal with sweat well too. So you don’t have to worry about getting smelly during your Bikram session.

Looking for a Class

If you’re not sure about trying yoga at home without any help, go to a class first. You might continue attending them, or you might not. There are lots of bonuses of going to a taught session. They include having an instructor correct your posture and positioning. Lots of lessons named as beginner’s or general will be suitable for anyone who hasn’t tried yoga before. They will say if you need to have experience to join. Many classes will allow you to sign up for a number of weeks and pay for a bunch of sessions at once.

Practicing at Home

When you’re not in the yoga studio, you can practice at home. There are several ways you can do this. The first one is practicing the asanas you have learned in class to perfect them. You can also use a DVD so that you can have an instructor lead you through a session. There’s also another option that’s becoming more popular. Some gyms and studios will live stream classes so that you can join in with them in real time.

If you’ve never tried yoga before, there’s nothing to be scared of. I recommend you look for classes close to you and give it a go.