The Do’s and Don’ts of your First Yoga Class
If you’re reading this I would imagine that you’re probably in one of two places. On the fence about going to your first yoga class, or you have gone to your first yoga class and had a less than ideal time. Regardless of which camp you fall into. Use these tips to help improve you’re overall yoga experience
Do arrive early
Being early is relaxing and will put you into the correct mind state to practice. Yes yoga helps reduce stress but why add any extra to the mix. Also it allows you fill out paperwork, and secure a comfortable spot in the room. Getting a good spot in the room can also help reduce your anxiety and allow you to focus more on your body and practice.
Do listen to your body
During practice I will commonly tell my students at any point if I ask you to perform an activity that you’re not comfortable with or do not feel like doing make a different choice. I do provide that choice but my overall goal is to get students and trust their intuition. Society has created environments that don’t require use of our intuition and as a result we have become disconnected from the voice in our head that knows what you need. Overtime trust in your intuition becomes trust in yourself.
Do hydrate
Both before, during and after practice. I primarily teach hot yoga where this is extra important and easily makes the top of the list. It does however apply to all types of yoga since water helps hydrate the body and tissues, aids recovery, and is all around a great habit regardless of your yoga practice.
Do have fun
One of the by products of adulthood is being serious. It is as if by becoming adults our instincts switch to we are important and must be serious. I think there is a time and place for all of that, but we also have to know when to let that shit go. Your yoga class is a great and safe place to start; not your boardroom. I try to encourage students to smile, laugh and when appropriate be ok with the awkwardness of things happening in class. The common way I do this is by poking fun at myself or calling out my mistakes. In the moment I can never tell if folks think I am crazy or not but after class there is always one student that tells me that it was fun. Something I said or did was fun. To which I say it should be fun or why are we here.
Don’t talk poorly to yourself
Yoga to the west can be summed up in a few boxes, something women do to get firmer butts, tighter abs, or bend into a pretzel. The truth behind all of those generalizations is that there is so much more to it. If you practice consistently and long enough it will also introduce you too your inner voices. We all know the critic that lives in your mind, questioning why we are here, how fat you look, how strong you use to be, how you can’t or won’t do that thing, and how come Karen on the other side of the room can pull off that handstand. That voice we know all too well, the one we are less familiar with is the positive one because it is overshadowed by the negative one. Spoiler alert you can exhale the negativity, and leave space for the positive alternative. Trust the positive of that voice. Just know if you would not say it to your friend don’t say it to yourself.
Don’t worry about your neighbors
Stay in your lane when doing your practice it is easy to get outside ourselves with comparisons to what is happening with the people around us. Wondering how or why they can do a move you can’t do. The truth is their path belongs to them and is one that you’re not familiar with. You’re energy would be better served focusing on showing gratitude for the progress your making in your journey. Know that you will be where you want in time that is your journey so enjoy it.
Don’t expect practice to be the same as yesterday
Yoga is about showing up on the mat. The expectation that your practice will be what it was yesterday is more of a story and exception that you have set for yourself. The thing about expectations is that they tend to leave you feeling let down when they are not met. This is not what yoga is meant to do or be. Know that everyday when you arrive at the mat your body and practice will unfold in a natural way. Consistency over time will take care of the rest.
Don’t listen to your teacher over your body
Teachers myself included are guides and when we ask you to perform an asana/pose it is an invitation to sit with your body and mind to find peace, and clarity. The thing is if you can’t do what is being asked of you or do it the way it is being asked you can’t find peace or clarity. I encourage you to hear what is being asked of you and allow your mind and body to guide to what it needs. Your intuition knows what you need.