If you have never attended a yoga class and you would like to know how to prepare and what you expect, then you have come to just the right blog post.
First, brew up a cup of tea or coffee, find a comfortable chair and join me in envisioning what a yoga class may be like. You come to the studio and you may be a little bit nervous as you walk in the door. As you enter in you may get the scent of a candle or maybe some incense. Once you come all of the way in and meet your new yoga instructor, her smile begins to melt away some of your nerves. Everyone else in the room is also so welcoming and joyful and you all prepare for the next hour where you will center, relax, learn, and grow. After you come out of the relaxation at the end of the session, you feel lighter than air. Everyone has a slight smile and begin to prepare for the rest of their day chatter comes back to the room as you all leave from this invigorating and yet restorative yoga session. This is what I hope like joining a yoga class with me as your instructor can be. But before that can happen, there are a few things that you can do to prepare for this first yoga experience:
- Bring your own mat (or don’t). Ask your instructor or studio ahead of time to see if there are extra mats available to use. Then maybe find out how many are available and if you need to register ahead of time to make sure that there is enough room and enough mats. (I have about 10 extra mats at my studio.)
- Bring water. Having water or hydration is great, but water can also be used when you just need a break. If holding a pose is something that you have never done before, you can use that water break as a great reason to take one. (Though in yoga, you should always listen to your body and take a break any time that you may need to.)
- Breathe. . . yoga is the union of breath and movement so don’t forget to breathe. In some postures you may stretch yourself in a way that you may have never done before. Make sure not to hold your breath.
- Wear comfortable clothes that you can move in. This may seem like an obvious tip, but wearing the right clothes can mean a lot in a yoga class. Wear clothing that is comfortable and breathable in case you get warm. There are also some postures that may cause your shirt to lift up so you can choose to wear an undershirt, sports bra, or whatever it is that will make you feel comfortable if your shirt begins to move. Also, be aware that socks are not usually worn in class since they can cause you to slide, but you can always begin in socks and go from there.
- If you have any other questions about what to do in your first yoga class, just ask. Yoga instructors are there to help guide you through this new experience.
- Let all expectations go. Each class and each yoga instructor is different. Just be present and experience this class and every class as if it were your very first (especially if it is).
See you on the mat!
