HEALTH

Yogi? Isn’t he a bear? Well, yeah, but the term "yogi" refers to an individual who practices yoga. If you’re new to the yoga mat, don’t worry...we all gotta start somewhere! Just read below for 5 essential tips all yogi beginner's need:

Take a beginners class

Many yoga classes describe themselves as “all levels,” which can be a blessing and a curse. Joining an all levels class means you get to learn from seasoned yogis. But if you’re not up to speed on all your basic yoga moves, you might end up left in the dust during class. To keep up with more advanced students, take a beginners class prior to your all levels class so that you can lock down essential moves before more difficult ones.

Do it at home

If you can’t afford to attend yoga classes, then you’re in luck. Simply search “yoga for beginners” on YouTube and you have a wealth of classes at your fingertips...for free! Workout gurus like Yoga with Adrienne or Meghan Currie will help you master difficult poses and understand yoga in quick 10 minute videos.

Bikram? Power? Hatha?

Did you know that there is more than just one type of yoga? Well you do now, babe. Yoga is unique just like you and me. Some styles, like Ashtanga, move through a specific series of intense pose sequences, while Restorative yoga allows you to spend up to 20 minutes in relaxing, cleansing poses. Not every type of yoga is perf for you though. So if you can’t master a certain style...it’s totally okay to move onto another. 

Inhale, exhale

Breathing correctly is one of the most important things you can do as a yogi. There isn’t a “right” way to breathe per se but there is a right way to breathe for the type of yoga that you’re practicing. If you want to improve your yoga skills it’s necessary to get your breathing down pat. Go here to check out different types of breathing techniques to see if you need to change things up. 

Practice, practice, practice

Just any other sport, practice makes perfect. If you want to become fluent in all things yoga, you have to set aside time to do so. Mastering certain yoga poses can be taxing on your body and mind, too, so make sure you pick a calming space when you can get your yoga on uninterrupted.

So, have you tried yogi before? Share you experience in the comments below! 

by Sydney Adamson | 2/1/2016