There are many reasons why you might feel a little shy about trying yoga at a studio – most of them might seem like exclusive clubs for skinny, super bendy, able bodied middle class women. Maybe you feel like you´re not flexible enough (a classic!) or you just think that it´s not your scene. However! You owe it to yourself to try something that could possibly change your life in so many ways: Yoga is great for your emotional wellbeing, your strengths and flexibility, your sense of self-esteem and your brain functions and it will also help you feel more relaxed. Pro tip: A take away and a movie will probably not have the same effect on you. I am an awkward turtle just like you, so I’ve written up the things I wish someone had told me when I went for my first ever yoga class roughly 13 years ago.
Choosing the right class
Depending on where you live, you might be confronted with an overwhelming choice of studios, teachers, workshops and classes. Urban areas are luckily full of all kinds of yoga practices these days, so you are in a great position to choose whatever is just right for you (if you live in a rural place, you might want to skip to the DIY – Yoga at home section).
Many different forms of yoga practices have taken root in the West in the last 50 years. What you will find in an average yoga studio is an asana class, asanas being the different postures that you do on your mat. In addition to that, there might also be meditation, chanting or even kirtan (devotional music with call and response singing). Asanas are really just one part of a holistic yoga practice and going beyond the mat to explore some of the philosophical aspects of this tradition can be highly rewarding. A good place to start is a beginner`s guide to the Bhagavad Gita such as the one by Swami Sivananda.
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Here is a great guide to the different schools, traditions and lineages that you´ll come across in the West today. Which one of these is right for you will of course depend very much on what you are looking for. Ask yourself if you want to be challenged physically, if you have any special health issues that you would like to address, if you would like to try meditation or if you want to celebrate self-care with a restorative class.
Many bigger schools offer donation-based community classes which are great if your on a budget. If you´re a new student, some centers will also offer you 10 or 30 day passes for a highly reduced price so you can get a sense for the different classes before you possibly commit to a membership. Look out for yoga in unusual places – community centers or adult learning organizations for example can be a great alternative to a normal studio.
Settling in
Don`t be shy about contacting the school before you attend. They should be able to tell you more about what to bring and what to expect. Most teachers will appreciate it if you introduce yourself at the beginning and they will love to hear wether you have done yoga before or not.
Many people will recommend being at the front when you´re a newbie, but I would encourage finding a spot you´re really comfortable with. A good teacher is able to give you clear verbal cues so you know what you´re doing even if you´re not right in front of them. Most classes will expect students to grab a mat and any other prob that is available at the studio to set up their own space. It´s best to wear loose, comfy clothes and to bring some water. Wearing a binder is absolutely possible – you might feel more restricted during breathing exercises or spinal twists, but if that`s what you need to feel good, wear it. Many teachers, especially in smaller classes, will expect their students to be ok with physical adjustments. From my point of view, consent is sadly a highly underestimated issue in the yoga community and I wish more teachers would either teach hands off or give their students simple ways to invite or reject adjustments. If you don`t feel comfortable, there is absolutely no shame in telling your teacher that you´d rather not be touched at the beginning of the class.
The things yoga will teach you
What you want the goal of your practice to be is of course entirely up to you. Most people get stronger and more flexible, but many find that yoga teaches them far more than that. Very often practicing yoga asanas is a reminder of how important self-care is and what really matters in life. Our emotions on the mat are very often in some way a reflection of what`s going on if our lives – the tension between our shoulders can tell tales of long days at the desk, our competitive thoughts might relate to the way we’ve been raised and the places our minds wander to for comfort in meditation can reveal lots about the wonders of our subconscious mind. Listen to these things and you might find that yoga really does change your life.
Hang in there
If it has taken you a lot to show up for your first class and it turns out to be not your kind of thing, I would really encourage to hang in there and try another class. Every teacher is different and there are so many ways to do a killer sun salutation, so give someone else a try. Check out some teacher`s websites in your community, ask questions and watch some free videos on Youtube to get a sense for the different styles.
If you´ve had a negative or challenging experience, for example because you´ve been put on the spot, someone misgendered you or it just felt impossible to follow the class, do give feedback. There is a kind, loving way of letting a yoga teacher know that they could do more to be inclusive. Remember that they might simply not know what its like to not be able bodied, cis or very flexible. A good teacher will challenge and empower you while respecting the fact that you are the only one who actually knows what is best for your body, so give them a chance to be the best they can be.
Bodies, bodies everywhere you look
One of things I love the most about the physical aspects of yoga is that it is a non-competitive exercise. Also I am scared of balls, but that is a whole other story, my little kittens. Anyway! Try and stay on your mat as good as you can. What other people are doing or how they look in their yoga pants really has nothing to with how you feel and how you can make the most of your practice. For most of us, when we hit the mat after work it will be the first real moment of stillness in an otherwise hectic day, so make that your priority and remember that this time is just for you and no one else. When your mind wanders off and you start looking at the bum of that cute girl full of jealousy, try to remember that every body is beautiful. We are all on a journey and we all deserve to be happy, healthy bunnies regardless of our size, shape, color, gender, flexibility or sexuality.
DIY – Yoga at home
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The yoga studio is still freaking you out? You only have imaginary money? While its great to practice with like minded people and meet a teacher who can support you with adjustments and inspiration, it its totally possible to establish a beautiful, regular practice at home. There are many free videos on Youtube and lots of teachers offer their classes as a download. There are even great resources like yoga for depression, pregnancy, back pain, children etc etc online that are just waiting to be discovered by you. YogaGlo for example lets you stream yoga videos with lots of different themes.
I will travel lots from next month on, but I teach whenever I can. Visit my yoga-website SarahShantiYoga.com to read about my latest yoga adventures. I am planning a one-off Queer Yoga Workshop in London in August and another one in Brighton in December. I´d love to see you there!
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