10 Things Every Newbie Yogi Should Know
GUEST POST BY SUSANA FRIONI.
I’ll never forget my very first yoga class. It took me about two months to finally go (I always found an excuse to go next week, and next week just never came). I was a little nervous. I didn’t know what to expect. I couldn’t relax because my mind was obsessing with whether I was doing it right and my eyes were busy looking around for confirmation. I felt like I was always behind. I didn’t get the terminology.
Plus, many of the poses felt weird and were much harder than they looked. I got dizzy…lots! I kept holding my breath but didn’t notice until I was reminded to breathe. I was self-conscious of making my breath audible or sticking my tongue out for lions breath. I om-ed like a quiet mouse and prayed there would be no chanting. I couldn’t even relax in savasana because I was too concerned with wanting to know how long we’d be staying in that pose for (control freak!).
If you currently practise yoga then you may have had a similar first time experience, right? Then again, maybe you’re one of the lucky few who fell in love instantly (it does happen!).
But if you are new to the yoga practice and you’ve been thinking of trying a class, then here are 10 things you should know before you give yoga a go:
1. You’ve got lots of options to choose from. When it comes to choosing a yoga class there are many different styles. There’s Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Power, Yin, Iyengar, Anusara, Bikram, Hatha, Jivamukti, Kundalini and many more. While each style is unique they all aim to serve one purpose: to unite the body, mind + spirit. So choose whatever style you feel drawn to.
2. Start with a slower paced class that has a strong emphasis on alignment. Slowing down may be your biggest challenge but your body will thank you for it in the long run.
3. Enroll in a beginner’s course. There’s more to yoga than just striking a pose on a yoga mat. A great beginner’s course will help you gain a deeper understanding of what yoga is all about and how you can maximise the physiological, psychological and spiritual benefits.
4. It’s not always going to be love at first sight. Some people fall in love with yoga instantly. Others need a little more time. Keep exploring different classes and different teachers until you find the right one for you. You’ll know instantly when you have.
5. You’re going to feel funky before you feel fresh. During your first couple of classes you’re likely to experience head spins, dizziness, a metallic taste in the mouth, muscle cramping and muscle soreness. Don’t stress if you do. It’s simply the body’s way of cleansing itself of all the toxins + realigning itself. If you keep up a regular practice these experiences will fade and you’ll begin to notice an increase in energy.
6. You don’t have to learn Sanskrit before giving yoga a go. While there are some teachers who only use the Sanskrit names for the yoga poses, there are other teachers who use very little, if any at all. Whatever terminology is used, you’ll become familiar with it sooner than you think.
7. You do not need to be strong or flexible BEFORE you start practising yoga. Being strong and flexible are just some of the by-products of having a regular yoga practise.
8. Don’t underestimate the power of your breath. Yoga teachers will constantly remind you to breathe. It sounds so simple and yet it has been the most profound learning of my yoga journey so far.
9. Always stay for the final resting pose, savasana. This is one of the most important poses and also one of the most challenging as it requires total stillness + total surrender.
10. You’re about to be taken on the best journey of your life!
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Author bio: Susana Frioni is a Life Coach, Vinyasa Yoga Teacher + Studio Coordinator based in Brisbane inspiring + empowering people to take the journey inward to heal + transform their lives. In her experience there is nothing more ecstatic + liberating than following your deepest truth + living it wholeheartedly. Susana is also the creator of Selfish For 27 days, an online program where women shamelessly put their health + happiness first.
Positive affirmation for the day: I am gentle and forgiving with myself when trying new things.
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POSTED IN: 10 things about yoga, health and wellness, newbie, Susana Frioni
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This post came to me at the right time! (scary how those things happen!)
I am looking into doing yoga at the moment but where I am it is very limited. Do you recommend DVDs?
x
Lisa personally I wouldnt do DVDs, until you have done a few classes. People often run into trouble with doing poses incorrectly which can cause more halm than good.
Totally understand! DVD’s can be a great way to get started, especially if you are limited with what’s available in your area. I personally am a big lover of Seane Corn’s Yoga DVD’s + highly recommend them. Otherwise check out some great online resources too like yogaglo.com and yogisanonymous.com All the best Lisa! Susana XO
Theres a great website called myyogaonline.com – you can sign up and then view classes online – its excellent for folks who live remotely
I was the same way before going to my first yoga class around 14 years old – Best. decision. EVER! I’ve been doing yoga on and off every since and for the past couple of years, regularly. For me its about the calming of the body – I steer towards being revved up and yoga really brings a balance. It also does wonders for the body 
Great post!
Hiya! as like the post above,this post was great timing, I have decided that I would like to included yoga in my life. I live in a country town and we have little choice. I have done body balance and manna yoga some years ago(manna about a year), but just couldnt connect.. I too would like a good instructional DVD as I just cant travel 80kms for class, even a half hour drive to another town is a struggle particularly when I am time poor. I would appreciate any advice, or perhaps some simple poses I could focus on for while, before moving on.
with thanks
Jen
ps I feel very motivated now
Hi Jen! See my reply to the first comment – I included some of my personal favourite resources. Hope that helps! Will definitely make my next post about this topic though as there are definitely lots of options available to us all. And when you live in remote areas (as I did growing up) it makes it even more challenging to keep exploring a style + teacher that you resonate with. Enjoy XOX
dear susana, thanks for this article. i did yoga when i was younger and during my pregnancy.meanwhile i sadly am a chronic pain patient because of my back and because of endometriosis. would you reccommend a ceratin kind of yoga for pain patients? i would really love to start again, but am a bit scared. best from faraway berlin, anja
ahem, a certain kind of yoga, that is what i meant to write:)
Great post Susana! It’s so true that for some things in life, you are going to feel a bit crap before you feel a whole-lotta-awesome! And half the journey/struggle of life is pushing through those tricky ‘starting out’ bits and lasting ’til the true rewards are revealed. This is true for so many things (starting a new diet, exercise regime, job etc).
[Also, in relation to point number 6, I have a yoga teacher who says 'save-ASS-ana' in her lovely Canadian accent. She really emphasizes the 'Ass' part. And it makes me snicker every time - yoga is indeed saving my ass!]
Yoga instills powerful habits too. Throughout my day I can hear my teacher gently grilling me “shoulders away from you ears”, “unclench your teeth” and “breathe!”. For me it’s a perspective changing way to handling stress. Great post!
Girl, I LOVE this post.
It reminds me of what it was like going to my first yoga class and all the thoughts racing through my head!!! These days I still have some of those thoughts, ok quite a lot of them, but I’ve also experienced the stillness of savasana and that’s what draws me back for more.
I love the stillness so much. Somehow having moved through the poses beforehand makes it much easier for me to quieten my mind at the end.
Thanks for making me laugh and for the top tips. You’re awesome. Can’t wait for your next post!! xx
I attended my first yin class just over a week ago and after 10 minutes had to leave the room because I was so dizzy and nauseous. I eventually got back into it and completed the class. And although I suffered the above, could not still my mind, had more bolsters than the rest of the class combined I cannot wait to go back. My girlfriends even chipped in for a beginners course for me – can’t wait.
Hi Susana! I just sent your article to a girlfriend of mine who is going through a bad time and is going to start practising yoga. She just emailed me that she read it and burst into tears. Your words really conjured up a feeling of a safe place for her. Thanks so much! Dani x
Dani, this is beautiful! Thanks for sharing this x
Hi Jess,
My name is also Jess and a mutual friend of ours Scotty has put me onto you (I’m so thankful he did). I finished 25 weeks of chemotherapy in December and have just moved to the Sunshine Coast from Christchurch, New Zealand and really want to take up mediation and yoga, I was hoping you could recommend where to go for classes.
I love your web page, you have no idea how useful I have found everything on here during treatment so a huge thank you, you are truly inspiring