When I ventured on the path of yoga nearly five years ago, I had no idea where this practice would take me.
Back then I was simply looking for a way to stay physically active and to calm an anxious mind. When I first started practicing yoga I could just barely touch my toes. When I tell people this now they usually think I’m joking… but I really wasn’t that flexible. I grew up playing soccer and was a competitive athlete for over 13 years. My body overall was tight and stiff. I couldn’t sit still for more than a minute and my mind was constantly racing. During my time of practicing yoga I’ve had to work through a lot of limitations within myself, not only physically but mentally as well. One of the amazing things about this practice is that you never stop growing, or learning. You come to realize that there are no limitations.
Looking back, there are many things that I now know that I wish I knew when I first started practicing yoga. The type of questions that I get asked most often across all platforms usually have to do with starting yoga.
So, I thought I’d share my tip five tips for yoga beginners…
Know your intentions
The first question you should ask yourself is, “Why do I want to do yoga?”
Is it to gain more flexibility? To have more strength? To be more in tune with your body? Whatever your reasons are, you need to be true to it. This will be your motivation in continuing your practice and growing as a yogi. Know that your intentions might change over time and that’s okay. When I first started practicing yoga it was mostly because I wanted an exercise routine to stay in shape. Over the years, as my practice shifted into the subtle energetic teachings, my intentions started to shift as well. I started seeing profound improvements not only in my physical body, but in my mental health as well. Now, whenever I step on my mat I set the intention of maintaining a sense of inner peace through the physical body. I no longer practice to keep up with a physical appearance (but hey — if that’s your intention, that’s fine too)! There’s no right or wrong intention when it comes to practicing yoga. It’s really a personal choice and depends on your own specific goals.
Find a location that feels good for you
There are no rules about where you should practice. I personally started my practice with YouTube videos and iPhone apps at home. (This is what ultimately inspired me to start my own YouTube channel and create my own app, Jess Yoga!) I stuck with a few teachers that I felt connected to and grew my practice with them until I thought I was ready to get deeper into the philosophy and principles of yoga. I eventually started going to a local studio that immediately became my second home and where I ended up doing my first teacher training.
It’s important to try different studios and teachers in your area. You will learn that they all have different styles of teaching, and it’s just a matter of how you feel after the class. Do you feel energized? Relaxed? What feeling are you looking for after a class?
Regardless if you’re starting your yoga journey at home or at a studio, it’s important to find a location and teacher that resonates with you. If you tried yoga and feel unsure about it, don’t give up. Try other classes with new teachers before you abandon yoga completely. Sometimes it may take a couple of classes before you get connected and discover the right teacher or class for you.
Listen to your body & honor your limits
It’s great to be inspired by these beautiful shapes our bodies can make. But if there’s one yoga principle that you need to remember, it is a term in Sanskrit called “Ahimsa”, which means non-violence towards other beings and yourself. It’s so easy for us to not cause harm to those around us, but we also need to remember to respect our body’s limits and know that everything is a process. I always tell my students to know the difference between discomfort and pain and to go two steps back when you feel like you’re going to hurt yourself getting into the pose.
Remember that most yoga poses have different versions and modifications. It can be very inviting to go for the more advanced options even when your body is asking you not to. It can also be tempting when you see what somebody else’s body can do, whether that’s someone on the mat next to you at a studio, or a photo you happen to come across on social media. Don’t compare yourself to others. It’s silly and often doesn’t come from a place of love, but instead self-judgement.
Always listen to your body, honor your limits and stay in the first variation if that is where your breath is steady. If the pose makes you hold your breath or the breath becomes labored and ragged, think about taking a step back. Listen to your intuition, take a rest when you need to and trust the feedback of your own body.
Use props
Pretty straight to the point — props were created for the purpose of helping you get into a pose without hurting yourself. It aids in making you understand how a pose is really supposed to feel with full support and safety. Trust me when I say that even teachers use belts and blocks during their practice because they understand its benefits. Set the ego aside, treat your body with respect and put those props to good use!
Remember it’s not about the final pose
I wish I had learned this earlier in my practice; it would have saved me several backaches and joint pains from trying so hard to get to the final pose. The practice of yoga asana doesn’t focus on getting to that backbend or handstand, it’s about being stable and at ease with where you are at this very moment. It is scanning your body for tension and using your breath to ease it while being completely and totally present in the pose. It’s the very experience you are having and not the shape that you’re taking. Don’t get discouraged or upset with yourself if a pose doesn’t come right away. It’s been five years into my practice and I still can’t put my foot behind my head or balance completely on my hands. If I can’t do a certain pose yet I am no longer frustrated. Because from my experience, I know it will come. And after it’s mastered, the beginner’s mindset is gone and something else will come and grab my attention again. And I look back and realize it was the journey that was so fun, not the final pose.
Always remember that yoga is a personal journey. When you start to realize the benefits of the practice not only on your body but also on your mind, it will become more of a lifestyle rather than just another fitness routine. I hope these tips have provided you with new insight and you found something helpful in these words.
Thanks for taking the time to read!
Love, Jess
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