How do I begin doing yoga?  

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I bet you've heard a lot about yoga. Maybe you've been encouraged to take a class by a friend, spouse or your doctor. They've told about the wonderful benefits of yoga.  

 

But you're nervous and don't know what to expect.  Get a feel for yoga props, mat and chair yoga class structures by watching the videos for demonstrations. 

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Yoga meets you where you are and adjusts itself to your needs.  Here's some helpful information and what you can expect when you take my class:

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• Getting to know Me: I'm very friendly.  I was extremely reluctant to take my first class, so I know how it feels. I like to get to know my students individually. During class I've been known to tell a few jokes! I want my students to have fun.  I describe the poses we're doing, what part(s) of the body we're stretching and the benefits of the stretch.  ​

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• Clothing: No spandex or fancy yoga clothes required. I don't wear them either.  Wear something you feel comfortable in and gives you freedom of movement. Shorts, sweats and a tee shirt are fine.  Even if they're a bit dirty.  It's best to practice in bare feet. If you have socks on, your feet don't stick that well to the yoga mat. 

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• Yoga Mat: If you haven't purchased a yoga mat, don't worry. I have extra mats. If you decide to stay with yoga, it's best to have your own yoga mat. I recommend a 5 or 6mm thick mat. The thickness creates a nice cushion for your hips and knees.  Mats can be purchased in almost any store such as Walmart, Target or on-line at Amazon. 

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• Eating: It's best not to eat at least 2 hours before class. If you have to eat, eat lightly. We practice on an empty stomach. This way your class doesn't interfere with your digestion. If possible, bring a bottle of water to class.  You might get thirsty.

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• About You: Tell me if you have any injuries, illnesses or concerns. I would like to understand your needs. 

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• Flexibility: Don't worry if you're not flexible.  I couldn't reach down to my knees when I started. Imagine how embarrassed I was! Flexibility comes with doing yoga. You gain more flexibility with each class.  You might be a little sore after your first class because you're not used to stretching this way. 

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• Doing Poses: No two people will ever look the same in a yoga class.  Every body is different and every body has a different history.  Nearly 90% of students in a class are dealing with a injury or illness. Including me.  I have low back issues. We never worry about what we look like or what our neighbor looks like.  It will take a few classes to learn the pose names and how to do them. You didn't learn to ride a bike in one day, did you?

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• Names of Poses: Each pose has name. Yoga began in India over 5,000 years ago.  The poses were written in the ancient Indian language of Sanskrit. Once yoga was introduced to the United States in 1893 English names were adopted.  I teach using the traditional and English names interchangeability. So you'll become familiar with both.

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• Time: Classes are typically an hour. Sometimes we're having so much fun we run over. There are over 2,000 yoga poses. It's hard to fit them all in during a one hour class. Only kidding!

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How I Structure My Group Yoga Classes

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• We begin in a seated position, working on meditation and breathing techniques to center (calm) ourselves.

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• Next we move into some poses to warm up the body.  These are done seated, laying down or on hands and knees.

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• Once the body is warm, we stand up and move into standing poses.

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• Next we sit again and begin cooling down.

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• Traditionally the class ends by laying down in "Savasana" a practice of gradually relaxing the body. After Savasana, we sit up and put our hands together in a prayer like position. We bow to our hearts and say "Namaste".  Namaste means "I bow to you" and is seen as a gesture of respect and gratitude.  You may hear students joke "I'm only here for Savasana."

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* I teach many different types of yoga classes, so I might do a slight variation of the above.

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Private One-on-One Sessions

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Some of my students preferred to start yoga in a private class with me before attending a group class.  In a private class I can offer personalized attention and specifically address your needs. Students have varied reasons why they considered a private classes first: 

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• Before attending their first group class students were interested in a deeper understanding of yoga's history, poses, props and terminology.

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• An illness or injury was keeping them from trying yoga and they needed individualized attention.

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• Several were recently released from physical therapy and yoga was suggested as an extension to PT.

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• There are many different styles of yoga. Students were seeking a better understanding and sampling of the styles to determine what's best for them.  

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• Some students suffer from anxiety induced stress and wanted to learn how meditation and yogic breathing can help them.

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• Some students travel a great deal and a group class does not fit their schedule. But they are determined to practice while they're traveling.

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• A few are claustrophobic and prefer not to be in a group setting. 

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Would you feel more comfortable beginning yoga with a One-on-One class? It's easy to contact me and set time up. One-on-One sessions can be done virtually through Zoom or in-person.

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