4 Secrets About Yoga

​Considering attempting this 5000 year old practice that has somehow become a modern phenomenon?  Nervous?  Don’t be.  Here are a few secrets to know before you jump in.

Photo Credit: Freckle and Spot Photography

1) What To Wear

Back in 2000, when I first began exploring Yoga, I would show up for classes in anything from whatever I had worn to class that day to my running shorts and a tank.  "Active Wear" was not a thing.  It wasn't until I started attending classes at a local gym that I began to seek out clothing that would better allow me to stretch out and bend my body.

There's no need to go shopping for the "right" clothing to wear to your first Yoga class.  Wear whatever you feel most comfortable in.  Sweatpants and a tee-shirt, leggings and a hoodie, or you skiing baselayer will all work.  Make sure that your clothes fit well enough not to accidentally expose anything and double check for holes in the wrong places.  A little hint: before you choose those tights you ordered online, do a forward fold with a mirror behind you and make sure they aren't too revealing.

Using tools to support postures.

2) What to Bring

You don't need any special tools to do Yoga.  In fact, Yoga mats are a modern phenomenon.  It wasn't until B.K.S. Iyengar came onto the scene that things like blocks, straps and bolsters became synonymous with the practice of Asana.  Most studios will rent or allow you to borrow a mat.  A well managed studio will have sanitized mats and tools for use.  Don't buy a mat until you've decided the style of practice you enjoy and the type of mat that will best serve you. 

During class, if you are in need of some extra support, a good teacher will notice and provide you with assistance, a variation on the posture or improvise a tool.  You should feel comfortable asking, "Am I doing this correctly?" or saying, "I'm not sure I've got this posture set up correctly."

Bring water and, if you have long hair, tie it back so that it is not a distraction during the class.  How you look while you are doing Yoga is of little importance compared to how you feel.

Listening and Learning

3) What to Do

Observation is the key to learning anything.  If you are just beginning practicing Yoga feel free to look at the teacher and around the room.  This is not so you can compare yourself and attempt to be like everyone else, but more so to gather information and decide if this is the right place for you to be.  We all get uncomfortable when outside of our elements, and a Yoga Asana class can certainly make you feel like you are on a different planet.  The only way to learn more about what to do is to observe.

A good teacher will not only demonstrate the postures, but describe them well.   Watch, listen and do your best to follow the instructions.  The more you do, the more comfortable you will become.

Partnering Up to Access a Pose

4) What to Say

Personally, I like it when the studio is buzzing with conversation before I begin teaching.  I think it is important to meet the people with whom you are sharing the room and the class.  This helps everyone feel more comfortable practicing and helps to eliminate the "silent competition" that can be created when people do not talk to each other.

I also think it is important to ask questions.  If the class you attend begins with a chant or invocation ask what it means and why it is being done.  If there is any sort of saying, expected practice or movements that everyone seems to know and join the only way you will learn is to ask why and how.

If you're considering attending a Yoga Asana class or want to know about what to expect when you join in contact us or book an Evaluative Session with Jenay to learn more.