10 Things Every Beginning Yoga Student Should Know.
1. It doesn’t matter how flexible or inflexible you are. Really.
Being flexible won’t make you happier.
There’s no prize. Stop suffering and learn to love the bod
y you have!
2. Don’t get hung up on how you look in a pose. Everyone else
in class is focusing on their own pose. They don’t care how you
look (unless you’re wearing a thong). Let this be your first lesson
in ego management.
3. It’s OK if you don’t know what the Sanskrit words mean.
The only people in the room who do are teachers or big yoga dorks.
4. It’s not religious—unless you want it to be. Your practice should
be unique to you. You’re allowed to make it as spiritual, religious,
fitness oriented (or not) as you want. (If someone tells you otherwise,
please have them call me.)
5. Yoga is an art form, a science, a lifestyle and a philosophy. But more than anything, it’s a way to get to know
yourself better. And that’s something that benefits us all.
6. Everyone gets the left and right sides mixed up sometimes. Don’t be embarrassed when this happens. If your
teacher corrects you, just smile. There’s a good chance she’ll say “left” when she means “right” later in the class.
7. It’s cool to fall down. The first time I fell on my face while attempting an arm balance, I was mortified. Now, when I
get a big red mark on my forehead from diving head-first into my mat, I consider it a badge of honor. It’s how you
learn. Laugh at yourself and move on!
8. No one cares if you can do a Handstand in the middle of the room, or touch your foot to the back of your head,
or some other advanced pose. Just start where you are, and your practice will build over time. You’ve got the rest
of your life to master the poses — for now, just breathe.
9. Your teacher wants you to ask for help. No one understands the temptation to hide in the back row and pretend
to be invisible more than I do. But believe me when I say yoga teachers LOVE to answer your questions. Your
teacher really wants to help you with your pose, answer your question about philosophy or explain what that
Sanskrit word means. So if you don’t understand what’s going on, ask!
10. Keep coming back. When you’re new to anything there will be moments of frustration and discomfort. Despite
what you might see on TV commercials, hatha yoga is usually not the same as going to a spa to get pampered. It’s
hard work. It can be exhausting — physically, mentally and emotionally. At times you will want to throw up your
hands and quit (or at least curse out your teacher for making you hold that pose you hate). Don’t. This is where
the healing happens. Breathe into it, and come back tomorrow. You’ll be glad you did.
Erica Rodefer is a writer and yoga teacher living in Charleston, SC. As the former online editor for Yoga Journal
magazine, she lived and breathed yoga at work and at home. She practiced with amazing teachers every day,
went to yoga conferences, and had a supportive environment to live her yoga. Now, she's trying to navigate yoga
in the real world. This blog, Spoiled Yogi, is about her journey to find contentment and live in the present, no
matter what. Her loves include yoga, writing, crafting, her cat Gracey, and her dog Penny.
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