Fitness Friday #20: Getting Started with Yoga

Yoga practice has changed my life. I started an at-home practice 4 years ago. My love for yoga has expanded in ways I never thought possible.

Because of the impact yoga on my life, I’m eager to share its benefits with others. Though I’m not currently a yoga instructor, I do teach PiYo Live, which bases some of its beliefs in yoga practice. I thought it would be fun to share a few tips for aspiring yogis.

1. Start where you are. Right now.

Yoga is a constant work in progress. Even if you’re super flexible through the hamstrings, a move might not work one day to the next. It requires constant attention and practice. And patience with yourself.

So many students have told me they plan to start yoga when they are “stronger” or “more flexible.” You can start yoga anytime (with approval from your doc, of course). You will build on the movements, the meditation, the breaths as you go. I’ve been practicing for years and I’m still learning.

2. It’s not all about the poses.

As a fitness lover, I’m all about the physical sides of a yoga practice. But it goes deeper. It wasn’t until I started a regular yoga practice that I learned that it’s more about the process than the final product.

Honestly, I’m still learning this one. I place some measures of success on whether I can reach a certain posture, but the beauty of yoga is really in the process of learning to get to these different asanas (poses/postures). With ‘instagram perfection’, many times the only piece I ever share is the final asana product. But some of those poses take many tries, months, years, of practice.

3. Find a yoga buddy.

While practicing solo is one of my favorite things to do, I also appreciate practicing with others. It’s amazing to see different people approach different challenges in the practice. Every body moves and reacts differently.

It’s also nice to have a spotter when you attempt more difficult poses. The encouragement is pretty sweet, too.

[related side note – I LOVE being a yoga buddy. Please, if you’re interested in trying different postures or learning more about the process, let me know!]

4. Keep an open mind.

Immediately when I say ‘I practice yoga’ I get a reaction from people. Most of the time, it’s a strong reaction: “I LOVE yoga” or “I could NEVER do yoga.”

Practicing yoga is a commitment to learning, to understanding, to challenging yourself, and ultimately rewarding yourself.

I think sometimes the fear is that you’re not ‘flexible’ enough or ‘strong’ enough. But that’s precisely what a yoga practice can help build.

5. Listen to Your Body.

This is one of the greatest benefits I’ve found from practicing yoga – I’m so aware of my body.

Some days, I have better posture than others. Some days, my attitude toward the practice is better than others. It’s important to ask your body and mind what it can handle that day, challenge it a little, and commit to just doing it.

Every day will not be a crow pose/handstand/backbend days. Truthfully, many of my yoga practice days are full of forward folds, ‘easy’ pose, and trees. Because those make me feel good and keep me moving forward with the practice. It’s also called a ‘practice’ for a reason – there’s an expectation that it will be a bumpy road, not a straight road to ‘success.’ The word practice also implies that you’re never finished learning, there’s always a new piece to develop.

I hope that you’ll feel inspired to start or deepen your own yoga practice!