Your first class can indeed be exciting, it can also be intimidating.

From the profound to the practical, here’s what you need to know before you do your first Down Dog…

Time

Give yourself time to learn the basics first. Joining a series of classes designed for beginning students is a great way to begin.

Arriving 10 minutes before the start of the class is a good amount of time to allow you to get oriented to the space, set up on your mat, relax for a few minutes, and settle in so you’re ready to begin when the class starts.

Choosing a teacher

• Are they themselves students, committed to their own practice, ongoing learning and development in yoga?

• After a few classes, do they make an effort to learn your name, inquire about your physical condition and your experience of the classes?

• Do you feel at ease with the atmosphere they create in the class (both before and during?)

• Does the teacher encourage a sense of self-exploration and connection to your own experience during class?

Listen to Your Body

I know, I know, it’s easier said than done. When I first heard this advice I remember thinking, “Really? What language does my body speak?”

The truth is, yoga is about being in a conscious relationship with oneself.

There’s no better place to begin than with the body.

Over time, you’ll develop the sensitivity needed to understand the signs your body sends you about when it's beneficial to go deeper in a pose and when it's better to back off.

Introduce Yourself to Your Teacher

Be sure to tell her about any active injuries, sensitivities, or health issues that might affect your ability to do the class. The teacher will be able to inform you about any contraindications and give you safe alternatives and guidance about how to work within your limitations.
Yoga shouldn’t be painful. If you feel any sharp, sudden sensations, especially in a joint of the body, release the pose you’re doing right away & rest.

Above all, respect your limits & meet your body where it is regardless of what the person on the next mat is doing. Poses are varied there will always look different from person to person. Even in a class setting, yoga is essentially an inward journey.

Continue!

It’s important to understand that the benefits of yoga are cumulative. They come from consistent practice over time. If you have a positive experience after your first classes, remember how you felt at the end. This will to fuel your commitment to return.

If your beginning experiences with yoga are less than ideal, know that it can take some time to find the right fit.

Just because one class or one teacher doesn’t resonate with you, it doesn’t mean that yoga isn’t for you. Try different teachers, styles, or classes in different studios to find what feels right!

What to wear?

You will see lots of lycra in a yoga class, but stretchy comfortable clothes of any kind work fine. The big piece of advice is that we do lots of inverted postures in class & that is why we tend to wear fitted tops, so when we go upside down we don’t expose our bellies to each other and cover our faces with our t-shirts! If you are not one for tight tops layers work!