Yoga For Beginners – Fears

If you are out of shape and have lived a predominantly sedimentary lifestyle even beginning yoga classes can be slightly intimidating. Listen carefully to the instructor about your position and your breathing. You will be out of your comfort zone for the firsts few sessions and will not only have some physical limitations to overcome but mental or emotional speed bumps to negotiate.

The first thing to remember is that yoga takes practice and like most new activities in life you have to become accustomed to new feelings that your body and mind will have to work through. At times you will have those fight or flee feelings when your body is stretching and holding positions like the “down dog”. Just know that it will end just about as quick as it started so those feelings of fear will pass quickly as well.

The instructor of a “yoga for beginners” class understands what new students are going through and can help you with just about any resistance your body and mind are having when you start this new way of life. The benefits of pushing past your fears and reluctance far out weigh your initial discomfort. So don’t quit and just work through it knowing that your first few classes you are not going to be perfect in your positions and breathing.

What will you gain from yoga classes? The benefits far outweigh the effort:

a. Weight loss.

b. Greater range of motion.

c. Naturally improved energy levels.

d. Joints become more flexible.

e. Impeccable coordination.

f. Blood pressure is lowered.

e. Lower resting heart rate.

f. Overall increased cardiovascular health.

g. Immune system levels are increased.

h. Deeper restful sleeping at night.

Before signing up for a beginners class in yoga ask to speak to the instructor about any concerns you may have and any physical limitation you currently have and address them with him or her. You will find everything will be fine and you just have to take that initial newcomer step and get started.

Feeling self conscious in front of others when starting out is normal – The best way to overcome this is before each class get to know your fellow students and you will find that a large percentage have the same reservations about the seemingly initial awkward body positions they are putting themselves through in front of strangers. Now you are not strangers and will be helping one another instead of fearing each other.

Yoga is designed for a better connection of the Spirit, Body and Mind it just takes time and of course practice.