Most people understandably feel a little nervous before their first yoga class. They don’t know what to expect and may feel self-conscious that they aren’t flexible enough. They may also worry that everyone is staring at them or that they aren’t doing the poses correctly.
Here are a few suggestions to help you relax into your first class:
Be on time – it’s difficult to relax when you’re rushing. If possible, get ready slowly so that your mind and body start to unwind.
Put your phone on silent (make sure vibrate is off). If you are expecting an important call (e.g. medical staff on call), then let your teacher know beforehand.
Drink water before and after class to keep you hydrated and help flush out your system afterwards (pregnant women should also drink water throughout class if necessary).
Try not to eat for a couple of hours before class – if you’re hungry, have a small snack such as fruit or a handful of nuts.
Let your teacher know if you’re pregnant or have any injuries or medical issues (heart conditions, glaucoma, etc.).
Wear comfortable, stretchy, non-restrictive clothing that is not too loose so that your teacher can check your alignment and so that you don’t end up with a ‘wardrobe malfunction’ during poses when you’re upside down.
It’s not a competition, so take it easy.
Yoga shouldn’t be painful – one of my favourite sayings for beginners is ‘if it hurts, don’t do it’. ‘No pain, no gain’ does not apply here – there is a huge difference between pain and feeling a stretch. If a particular pose hurts, let your teacher know and we can show you how to modify the pose for your body.
Don’t worry too much about doing things ‘correctly’ – your teacher will be watching you carefully and will correct your movements if necessary.
If in doubt, ask – there really is no such thing as a silly question – we’re here to help. If you’d rather not ask during class, you could ask before/after class or email your teacher.
Breathe! To begin with, don’t worry too much about perfectly following instructions about breath – just make sure you don’t hold your breath.
If you need to leave early, don’t leave during savasana (relaxation lying down) – leave before everyone lies down so that you don’t disrupt others.
Let your teacher know how you felt after class as well as at the next class in terms of how you felt for the rest of the day and the days afterwards so that we can adjust our teaching for you.
Tip: Find a teacher that you feel comfortable with in terms of their personality, teaching style and adjustments, which are when they physically use their hands to help you into a pose.
Tip: If you’re early, a nice pose to do while you’re waiting is Supta Baddha Konasana.
In short: Relax and have fun. Don’t stress about the details – remember, it’s called a yoga practice, not a yoga perfect.