So, you’re considering taking up yoga as a practice? Well you’ve come to the right place. Whether you’re trying to get back in, or a complete beginner. Our top 10 list will surely help you succeed.
Breathe
Breathing brings your center of attention to the present moment. If you want to get the most out of your yoga practice, then you’ll remember to maintain an act of mindful slow and steady breathing.
Don’t Compare Yourself to Others
Everyone learns everything in life at their own pace. You’ll only set yourself up for disappointment if you compare yourself to others. Try to be the best you and do yoga for you and not to impress others.
Laugh a little
You may fall down a few times during each yoga session. Remember to not be too hard on yourself. Everyone was where you were at one period of time. If you end up falling or simply can’t put yourself into the position yet, just laugh it off. It’s best to have a sense of humour to move past the hard times in life. Yoga shouldn’t be one of those hard times in life. Yoga should be fun and enjoyable. Do whatever you can to achieve this.
Eat well before yoga
It’s best to not eat or drink 2 hours before yoga. This is because you may get an upset stomach or have to go to the washroom which will interrupt your practice. Make sure to plan out your day so you can have a nice big meal and a glass of water or tea 2 hours before your session.
Wear comfortable clothes
There’s nothing worse than being uncomfortable when doing yoga. Make sure you have comfortable clothes that won’t tug at you when you’re stretching and doing poses. I recommend yoga pants or sweat pants and a nice fitting t-shirt.
Modify Poses if Needed
Everybody is going to have some difficulty with different poses. Yoga is meant for therapy and not to hurt. Do whatever you need to do to modify poses you’re doing throughout your practice to suit you best. If you’re stuck, ask your instructor what they think is the best way for you personally to change up the pose.
Yoga can be a great tool for pain but only if done right. Make sure to ask your instructor for tips on how to not only minimize pain but benefit it from doing yoga.
Bring your own stuff
There’s no better feeling than having a close connection with your yoga mat. This also shows that you’re prepared to do whatever it takes to maintain your practice. If everybody forgot their yoga mat, your teacher probably wouldn’t have enough to go around. And who wants to use an old smelly used one anyways 😊.
Leave Your Phone and Other Electronics at the Coat Rack
It can be quite annoying when somebodies phone or watch goes off. This can be quite distracting for some and may even ruin their experience. Be mindful of others and leave your electronics at the front before you enter the room you’re doing yoga in. If you’re worried about somebody taking it then 100% make sure your phone is off.
Inform your Physical Limitations to Your Yoga Teacher
The hardest part of meditation is sticking with a routine. There are hundreds of ways to remind yourself to meditate but it’s up to you to find which on works best. Reminders on your phone set to a random time say within a 1-hour timeframe I find work best. This is because your mind doesn’t get used to the reminder and start to ignore it. There are plenty of apps on the app store that you can do this with.
Come Free of Expectations
You don’t want to set yourself up for failure. It’s definitely great to have goals but they should be realistic. Instead of having a goal like “I want to do this pose in 1 month from now”, set something like “I will practice yoga 3 times per week for 1 hour”. That way you’re putting in the required time to accomplish whatever goal you have versus just blindly setting it.
I hope I helped you in your journey to starting and sticking with your yoga practice. If you have any further questions or wish to share your story with us, please feel free to fill out our contact form.
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To your future success!