First Class Basics

Look, if it's your first time going to a yoga class, chances are it's probably at a gym, right? You've heard the benefits of yoga from your friends or family or just some random place, so you thought you'd give it a shot. You've heard how it can increase flexibility, relieve stress, promote sleep, jump start weight loss, help depression etc. etc. etc. There are a ton of benefits to yoga, but we'll get into that more later.

Here's a breakdown of how it may or may not go for you. All you gotta do is get yourself there, with an open mind,....yes, with NO expectations. Every class is different, every Instructor is different, every format is different. So, just like Forrest Gump says, "you never know what you're gonna get." So just go, (why the heck not, right?) give yourself that 1 hour...because you deserve it!

Just some key reminders to keep in mind when you go for the first time, and maybe the second, third, or 100th time. I know it took me at least 40 classes before the "ah-ha" moment kicked in for my movement to match my breathing.

What should I take?:
1. If you don't have a mat, that's okay. The gym probably has a mat there, but it's definitely not a sticky mat. You won't be able to stretch out on it all the way. And it's just simply not very sanitary for people to share yoga mats.
2. If you can afford $10 just go to Walmart or Target and pick up a cheap sticky mat for yourself. If you never try yoga again, you might be out the $10 but you can use your mat as a nice blanket to sit outside on or on your hardwood floor. I'm sure you can get pretty creative.

Is it going to be intense?
1. I think this question depends on what type of Instructor you'll have and where you're going. In any class you can expect a warm-up, a workout, a cool-down, and 5-10 minutes of relaxation time (the yummy icing on the cake that's my favorite!)

Instructor:
Depending on your Instructor they may have a format that is very active or it will be a little more relaxing. You gotta test it out. For me, I had to go consistently to figure it out. I realized that on Thursday I can expect relaxing yoga and my Saturday Instructor likes us to move our butts a little more.

Keep in mind there is not a set guideline for people to be able to teach in the gym but of course they're not going to hire someone without experience. (I'll get more into teacher trainings on another post.) The typical format at a gym is designed for beginners unless the schedules notes otherwise.

Where:
Most gyms cannot use terminology like Sanskrit during class. They gotta stay within the "gym" guidelines. So if you're going for a workout-then yes, it's a great exercise to add to your routine. Some people (myself included) attest to the increased flexibility and have also reported less injuries when they incorporate yoga into their exercise routines.

Either way, you can always go to Child's Pose and hang out there if it gets too strenuous for you. And don't worry, sometimes I'll just hang out in that pose for a good while.

Is it just stretching?
There's a lot more to yoga than the stretching components. Yes, there are unique ways to stretch. But yoga emphasizes breathing into the poses, balancing, and overall creating self awareness with your mind and body.

Is it Religious?
Yoga is not a religion, it's more a cultural way of life,...but simply put, Yoga is whatever you want to make of it. If you are devoted to a religion, yoga will only help you create, understand and be more in tune with yourself. However, you can definitely embrace the yogic philosophies as a way of life too. Just be honest with yourself and whatever floats your boat are the important things here.

Other Tips:
1. If you're completely lost, just tell yourself, "I'm breathing in,...I'm breathing out." And if you go for an hour and do just that, just breathe, then my goodness, you're still doing something good for yourself.
2. At the end of class when you're in Relaxation, just lay there and let go. You drove all the way to the gym, so just take that 5 minutes before you have to go back to whatever it is you gotta rush back to. Seriously, I can't emphasize enough how this is the juicy part.
3. It is NOT a competition. Don't worry about your neighbor, you never know how far they are in their practice. You'll definitely see people in crazy positions, and they had to work hard to get there.
4. Go at your own pace. Remember, this is YOUR time, not anyone else's.
5. Technique is far more important than doing it wrong and hurting yourself. If you see someone in Plow and it's just simply not your day to get there, then listen to your body. Don't hurt yourself and fall on your head. Of course you want to push yourself to grow, but again, be aware of what's going on with YOU.
6. Remember that everyday is different. Somedays your right side may be able to balance more than your left. Somedays you can do a Forward Fold all the way to the ground and other days it's just not happening. Listen to your body.
7. Don't wear socks/shoes. You'll be barefoot to help you ground yourself to the earth.

So get out there, just go! Give it a shot, and if you don't like it you can say you tried. But yoga is a practice, not perfection. I believe you gotta keep an open mind and go a couple times before you pass judgement. My mom always said that, "the little drops fill the bucket" and with each time you go, you are a step closer towards discovering something new about yourself...so why the heck not, eh?

Namaste.
KaoriSun