Top 7 Tips (From a Yoga Teacher) for Beginner Yogis

Yoga is an ancient system of practice that can have profound benefits in our modern world. The only question is, how do you start?

As a yoga teacher, this is a question I get often. Many people are intimidated by the complex shapes in yoga, while others are confused by the spiritual aspects of the practice.

Luckily for all of us, starting a yoga practice doesn't have to be complicated or expensive. You just need to know where to begin.

Here are some good first steps.

Just do it

To borrow Nike's slogan, the best way to get started with yoga is to just start doing it. Attend a local class at your gym or neighborhood yoga studio, look up free videos on YouTube, or download an app on your smartphone.

You don't need to know all of the answers or poses when you're just starting out. We all have to start somewhere. Remember that even the most flexible and strongest yoga teachers in the world started out as beginners.

Find a good teacher

A good teacher can make or break your practice. On a purely pragmatic level, a good yoga teacher will be able to offer hands-on adjustments and modifications that let your body get all of the benefits of a pose.

Similarly, yoga teachers can also be an inspiration to keep at the practice. If you find a teacher that's well-qualified and whose vibe keeps you wanting to come back, then you're set.

Go slow and be gentle with yourself

Your yoga practice is yours alone. Practice kindness and gentleness with yourself by never comparing your practice to others. Focus on what the pose feels like, and not what it looks like. Also, listen to your body and know when to back off a pose. Yoga shouldn’t hurt.

It's also a good idea to start with slower-paced Hatha classes. This way, you'll be able to learn the pose names and proper alignment. You can jump into the faster-paced and more vigorous forms of yoga, such as Power Yoga or Vinyasa Flow, down the road.

Breathe, and then breathe some more

Although we associate yoga poses mostly with the body, the classical system of yoga places much more emphasis on the breath. Practicing yoga poses without proper breathing is just stretching!

Ideally, you want to use your breath as an anchor for your attention as you're practicing. Just like in mindfulness meditation, you'll keep bringing your focus back to the breath when it strays to future plans or daydreams. This takes practice though, so don't be discourage if you get distracted in a yoga class.

Don't be afraid to modify

Using a yoga block or strap isn't a sign of weakness. These important props aren't just for beginners. Even the most experienced yoga practitioner can stand to benefit from using these items to modify certain poses.

When you're just starting out, never be afraid to use any prop to enhance a pose. If you have a good yoga teacher (like I said earlier), they should also be routinely offering modifications to poses that might be tricky for beginner yogis.

Never skip Savasana

One of the biggest mistakes I see beginners make is skipping Savasana at the end of class. If you're unfamiliar, this is the final resting pose of most yoga classes. You lay down on your back, relax your body, and pay attention to your breath for a while.

Although it may seem weird to do this meditative rest at the end of a fitness class, Savasana is well worth the time. It lets your body cool down after a flow. And, more than that, many yogis consider it the most important — and most challenging — pose to master.

Have fun!

Yoga is not a competition of who can be the strongest or bendiest. This isn't gymnastics or acrobatics, after all. Yoga itself is a system designed to unite the disparate parts of yourself so that you can move through life more fully.

Because of that, it's important to keep fun at the heart of it. Don't feel bad if you fall out of a pose -- just laugh it off. Try out different styles of yoga until you find one that fits you like a glove. Above all, just keep coming back. It'll be well worth it in the end.