Beginners should Heed a Few Rules before First Yoga Class

But while you may possess the eagerness to dive right in to yoga, take a moment to prepare yourself for the class. Most yoga classes have established a rhythm and pattern, as well as a set of rules, designed to let the participants get the most out of the experience. Before your begin your first yoga class, take a few moments to read some of these suggestions designed to help you enjoy your yoga experience from the first class into the future.

For starters, try not to eat for at least two hours prior to the class. Having a meal for going to a yoga class can cause cramps, nausea, discomfort, even vomiting, particularly when combined with the more vigorous yoga poses involving twists, bends and inverted positions. Also, the energy your body needs to help digest food is energy that could be used to perform yoga.

Next, try to get your yoga class at least 10 minutes before it begins so you can situation yourself and find a comfortable spot. Getting to class late and trying to play catch-up can make it hard to calm down and settle in to the rhythm of the class. Getting to the class with plenty of time to relax, do some light stretching or chat with a friend for a few moments can help you get the most out of the class and put your in an open, calm state of mind.

On the other side of the coin, don't leave the class early. Only in an emergency should you leave the class early, otherwise you will disturb other members of the class.

Come with a purpose. Do you want to use yoga to increase your flexibility and ease the strain on your muscles? Is it to clear your mind and help you to forget the problems at work and at home? Whatever the reason you have decided to enroll in a yoga class, focus on that during your workout to create the proper mindset to address the problem.

Turn your cellphone off, or better yet, leave it at home. People have become so used to having their phones and pagers with them at all times that they sometimes feel that they can't be without them. But a phone can be a distraction in many places, especially in a yoga studio where even a "quiet" conversation can be a distraction. Even though you think you're being quiet and discreet, you're probably not. Bottom line: leave the phone off or at home.

On a related note, keep your conversations with other members of the class to a minimum, or better yet, have them it before or after class. You may be enthusiastic about finally mastering that new position, but save your self-congratulation for after the class when you can discuss it with your classmates.

Bring all of the things that you think you'll need for the class and have them handy - yoga mat, towel, water, etc. Having someone walking back and forth through the class for water, their towel on the other side of the room is a distraction. It isn't fair to not let others reap the benefits they are seeking from yoga by disturbing them. And when you're finished with your session, collect all of your belongings and take them with you. There may be another yoga class after yours.

If you are recuperating from an injury or have any doctor-recommended physical restrictions, let your instructor know before you begin the class. He or she can suggest poses or motions that are suited to your condition and can tell you of poses that you should not do and suggest an alternate version.

While participating in your first yoga class may be exciting, don't overdo it. Perform only those poses that you can do without putting too much strain on your body. Your body will tell you what it can and cannot do. With time, you will be able to go deeper into a pose or move. But until that time, go slow.

Finally, allow yourself to fully experience the yoga class. Because of its ability to bring the mind and the body into one, it can be like no other activity in which you have participated. Let yourself be open to the lessons of yoga, from the very first class onward, and you might be amazed at the possibilities the present themselves.

Linda Adams really loves all things that have to do with health.

One of the finest health websites Linda has found is Kamloops Yoga Instructors, which is a extraordinary mix of yoga and exercise.

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