There are endless benefits to starting to practice yoga, for both your mental and physical health. It can be such a special journey, whether you choose to practice on your own or as part of a studio, and yoga is particularly welcoming to complete beginners. So, if you’re wanting to start yoga but aren’t sure where to start, we’re here with a few essentials to get you on your way, from technical wear from brands like A-Game Activewear through to learning the basics at home. We’re not only covering the equipment you’ll need, but also some tips to help you mentally prepare for this wonderful journey.
Invest In A Good Mat
The beauty of yoga is that you can do it anywhere, anytime, with just one piece of equipment; a yoga mat. You’d benefit from good yoga wear, particularly a good yoga sports bra and leggings too, but the first essential is a mat. There are mats of all price points out there, however a few things to look out for are a strong grip to help you when you’re in more unique positions, particularly when you have more weight on your hands. If you struggle with your joints, a slightly thicker mat will be beneficial for you. Aside from this, you should simply look for a mat that feels comfortable for you, and if you’re going to be travelling to studios, one that you can easily carry. We’d recommend starting with something cheaper, then as you become more involved in the world of yoga, you’ll get to try different mats and learn more about what you like or don’t like.
Listen To Your Body
The most important thing you need to do when starting out your yoga journey is to listen to your body. Our bodies tell us everything we need to know when we’re exercising, from when we’re fatigued, to when something doesn’t feel quite right, or when we feel great and know we can push ourselves slightly further. When you’re starting out, it’s particularly important to listen to what your body is telling you, particularly when you’re watching videos of experienced yogees, or when you’re in classes and people may be able to push themselves further into postures or if they look more advanced. Yoga is a journey, especially if you’re not naturally as flexible, so make sure you only do what feels right, and don’t push yourself into positions that don’t feel comfortable to you, particularly not without the guidance of a professional.
Learn The Basics Online
In terms of where to start physically, we’d recommend that you complete a couple of sessions using videos online. YouTube has thousands of guided yoga sessions, many of which are for complete beginners, and so we’d recommend that you complete a few of these to help build your confidence in terms of the basic postures, and also to learn about what a yoga flow looks like so you know what to expect when you start classes. You’ll feel more confident when you do start at a studio, and you can do this in the privacy of your home, with the freedom to pause as much as you need.