How often do we imagine someone standing on their head against a scenic backdrop and think: “Yoga is not for me”?
You might want to reconsider this decision after getting familiar with these 11 unique tips for beginners. This is an easy approach to start your yoga practice and a way to benefit from what yoga has to offer. Explore these valuable tips and rediscover yourself as you practice yoga against a scenic view.
Yoga tips for beginners
1. Yoga for beginners
As beginners, we often reduce yoga to a few difficult, twisted poses. Don’t we sometimes worryingly say: “I can’t even touch my toes—how can I practice yoga?”
But yoga is not about whether you can touch your toes or stretch 98 degrees to the northeast. Yoga is a natural process of uniting with yourself—using your breath, your body, and your consciousness. And that is easy and achievable.
It doesn’t matter if you’re not Mr. Stretch or Ms. Flexibility, or if you dare to start yoga at 40, or secretly have “love handles” that stress you out—just let go of all these preconceptions before starting your yoga practice. The only one watching you is yourself, so relax. This adventure called yoga will bring you lots of joy and relaxation.
2. Yoga – a new aspect of life
It’s best to start learning yoga under the guidance of an experienced yoga teacher who can show you the correct way to perform each technique. This will help you learn the asanas (positions) correctly and avoid possible injuries.
Some of the ideas and techniques in yoga may be completely new to you, so it's good to keep your mind open—this will help expand your perspective and enrich your yoga experience.
3. Seek professional help to learn yoga
If you have a specific health condition, inform your Sri Sri Yoga instructor before starting the yoga practice. This will help your instructor tailor your yoga practice to avoid health complications or injury.
4. Dress comfortably!
Wear comfortable clothes when attending a yoga class or practicing at home. Avoid belts and bulky jewelry that could get in the way during your yoga practice.
5. Be consistent
Although it’s best to practice yoga asanas early in the morning, any time of day is suitable—as long as you are consistent in your practice. If mornings don’t work for your schedule, don’t let that become an excuse to quit altogether!
6. Stay light!
It’s recommended to practice yoga on an empty stomach or at least 2–3 hours after your last meal. Also, it is encouraged to drink at least three to four liters of water throughout the day to help flush out the toxins released during your yoga practice.
7. Warm up before stepping on the mat
Sukshma Yoga or light warm-up exercises help the body relax and prepare for the upcoming asanas. Here are a few suitable warm-up exercises:
Massage your head, eyebrows, nose, and cheeks. When we make a mistake, we instinctively grab our head. This is a sign that blood circulation in our brain is impaired and we need a massage.
Rotate your neck in both directions to release any stiffness.
Move your shoulders and arms to shake off lethargy.
8. Keep going with a smile
A gentle smile on your face relaxes the body and mind and helps you enjoy the asanas even more. With a calm mind, you can go beyond the limits of the body and stretch more than usual.
9. Rediscover your potential – little by little each day
The ancient yogic text Yoga Sutras of Patanjali defines asanas as “Sthira Sukham Asanam.”
Do as much as is comfortable, then stretch a little more (to improve the flexibility of the body).
Don’t forget to use your breath as a guide—when it is light and smooth, the muscles start to relax, but when it is sharp and uneven, it means you are overexerting.
Going just a bit beyond your comfort zone will keep your practice interesting and add a spark of challenge to learning and progressing in new yoga asanas.
10. Every yoga asana is unique – just like you
Wherever you are in your yoga journey, be happy about it and don’t compare yourself to other students in your class.
Remember that every body is unique, and different people are at different levels of practice. Some may perform certain asanas effortlessly, while others may need more time and practice to succeed. So don’t feel pressured or push yourself too hard. Your flexibility and skill in yoga positions will improve with regular practice.
Don’t worry if you feel muscle soreness in the first few days of practice. However, if the pain persists, immediately inform your instructor.
The challenge here is to stay consistent with your yoga sessions and be patient. As with any other undertaking, your body will need time to get used to the asanas.
11. Relax to recharge
When you finish your yoga practice, don’t rush to get up and dive into your to-do list.
It’s better to lie down in Yoga Nidra for a few minutes so that the body calms down and absorbs the energy gained during practice.
Yoga Nidra is helpful for complete relaxation of the body and mind after yoga.
You’ll experience the more subtle and deeper benefits of yoga only if you stay consistent in your practice.
Yoga includes asanas, ancient eternal philosophy, pranayama (breathing techniques), and meditation, which take you beyond the boundaries of the body, offering a deeper spiritual experience.
Your body is like the wick of a candle, and your consciousness is the glow surrounding it. This is Prana—the life energy that nourishes the mind and keeps our body alive. “Pranayama” means to work in the realm of prana.
Prana creates an aura around the body. Every problem first arises at the subtle level and only then manifests physically. Illness appears in your prana long before it manifests in the body.
Pranayama cleanses all the energy around you, increases your aura, and strengthens your spirit. It brings clarity to the mind and health to the body.
That’s why it’s important to dedicate a portion of your precious time and be patient in your yoga practice—to receive the results that will make you more flexible, healthy, calm, efficient, and consistent.
Be happy practicing yoga!
