Hello Lovelies:
I don’t know about you, but I could gawk at gorgeously complicated yoga poses all day! There is something so beautiful about seeing an experienced yogi do their thang (thank you Instagram!) But man oh man can it ever be intimidating too! Which kind of kept me from considering yoga for way too long.
But, surprise surprise, yoga isn’t all about the poses. In fact, many yoga experts tell us that they are the least important part of the practice! I don’t know about you, but hearing that truth bomb blew my mind.
So if you’re anything like I was, intrigued by yoga but intimidated at the same time, fear not! I’ve invited Anavi, a yoga teacher, healthy lifestyle advocate, the creator of yogavi.com and one of the sweetest people you’ll ever meet, to talk to us about the true fundamentals of yoga. And to help us shake off any negative feels that may be holding us back.
Whether you’re a yoga expert or can barely touch your toes, Anavi’s 9 powerful tips about yoga for beginners (or experienced yogis, we are all eternally students after all) are invaluable. Check it out:
Why It Took Me So Long to Try Yoga
Before Anavi shares her powerful tips about yoga for beginners like us, I wanted to talk a bit more about why yoga and I didn’t become friends sooner.
I had so many preconceived notions about yoga before I started. I thought that it was mainly a form of gentle exercise. One that wouldn’t really help me with my fitness goals. I definitely had no interest in the meditation side of things (goodness, how that has changed!) And I figured that my inability to turn myself into a pretzel pretty well guaranteed that I would suck at it. So why even bother with that yoga for beginners class, ya know?
Boy I was wrong!
And the saddest thing is that I missed out on something incredibly awesome for so long because I decided (before really trying) that I wouldn’t be any good. Isn’t that too bad? It’s funny how sometimes we’re what’s standing in our way.
Yoga has been a beautiful part of my self care routine from the moment I got the go ahead to exercise again after my Graves Disease treatment finally kicked in. I’m still not good at imitating a pretzel. But, contrary to popular belief, that’s not a skill you need at all to be good at yoga!
I think a lot of us are intimidated by photos of incredibly complex poses and seemingly complicated ideals. I know I was! And yet there’s something so intriguing about yoga that it almost beckons you in.
Related: 6 Benefits of Yoga That Will Make You Want To Start Now
Which is why I excitedly invited my wonderful friend Anavi, a yoga teacher and healthy lifestyle advocate who loves to share that yoga is for everyone (and way more than a form of exercise), to stop by and share some tips about yoga for beginners (or anyone who needs a yoga pep talk.)
Her advice may surprise you!
For one thing, Anavi doesn’t even touch on poses (unlike most ‘yoga for beginners’ articles). Because, surprisingly, that’s such a small part of this beautiful practice. And knowing that removes a lot of the unnecessary pressure many of us (I assume it’s not just me) experience when we’re on the outside of yoga looking in.
But enough from little old me! Let’s hear what lovely Anavi has to share. Ready to feel super confident about your yoga practice?
How Anavi Became a Yogi
(Psst… that’s the gorgeous Anavi practicing yoga and showing off her beautiful baby belly <3)
I started practicing yoga nine years ago. I had been curious about the practice for a long time. It was my mother who first showed me what a sun salutation was, back when I was in university. I was amazed at the agility of my mother, moving from one posture to another.
At that time (as it had been since my teenage years), I was suffering from back pain due to my scoliosis and that strange and alluring dance seemed like a feat far from anything I would ever be able to do. “Touching the floor with my fingertips? Not with my back!” I thought.
I want you to really let these words sink. You see that negative self-talk made me feel like a failure in physical terms, for not being able to do at 20 years of age what my forty-something-year-old mum was so gracefully doing.
But I was also depriving myself of the experience of discovering a whole new world of possibilities.
When I think of that day now, I understand what the problem was: misunderstanding and a wrong attitude, not the fact that I indeed couldn’t touch the floor with my fingertips.
After all these years, I have learnt a lot. I have gone from being pretty limited in my movement range, to feeling free in my body. I have gone from exercising rarely, to establishing a consistent physical practice.
One could say that I have gone from being a beginner, to being on the other side of the spectrum, after completing several yoga teacher trainings (although that’s another matter I’ll talk about later).
In this yoga for beginners article, I would like to share with you some of those things that I have learnt along the way, in hopes that this ignites a love in you, to start this life-changing journey with a little understanding and a positive attitude.
9 Surprisingly Powerful Tips About Yoga For Beginners
1. Start Where You Are
People start doing yoga at different ages, in different life situations, for different reasons. Every yoga journey is unique. That’s the beautiful thing. You don’t need to be or have anything to start a yoga practice. There are no prerequisites.
In my yoga journey, the thing that finally pushed me into it, was what had initially kept me from it. The irony! Years after that first day that I saw my mother sun saluting, my back pain was getting even worse. It really was becoming a burden.
After some physical therapy, I decided I had to take matters into my own hands and made a commitment to visit a yoga class once a week so that I could slowly strengthen my back.
For me, my early days meant visiting yoga for beginner classes… where I asked myself if I had got it wrong and was in fact in a medium or advance class. Everything. Was. Hard. But that didn’t keep me from going. I simply took one pose at a time and tried my best. I learnt to accept that this was my physical state at the moment.
The early yoga days of other people may look very different to yours, and so they should!
Think that the path you are in now is unique, just as you are. Being the only person granted the honor to live your personal experience, you should try and enjoy it as it comes. And remember, yoga is not about touching the floor with your fingertips, but about what you learn on the way there.
2. Learn to Love the Practice
This is essential. For no one would get too far doing something they don’t enjoy. Motivation is very important and loving the practice will make it easier to come back to it, again and again.
I think something that lots of people love about yoga is how the practice makes them feel. It is a good idea to observe the changes in your body and mind during the practice. This focus is a great thing to take with you as you enter your first yoga for beginners class.
I used to focus on how my back felt at the beginning and end of each class. As we always started and ended sitting in meditation, it was easy to feel the difference. Any time I would feel my back hurt, I remembered the sensation at the end of a session and knew what I could do to feel better.
3. Find a Teacher You Resonate With
This next point is crucial. In the early stages of your practice, having a good teacher to guide you will have a huge impact, not only in your learning, but also in terms of motivation and inspiration.
I remember finding a teacher I absolutely loved a few months into the practice, and I just couldn’t wait for Fridays at 17:00 to go to her yoga for beginners class. I even remember riding back home happily humming my way sometimes, and I can still feel that sensation of wholeness and connection that she inspired in me.
This doesn’t mean that you’ll have to attend the same classes for the rest of your life. Your practice will evolve together with you and your circumstances. Such figures will help you keep going and thus, learn to love the practice.
In time, a self-practice at home will be of enormous value and a sign of your dedication and (again) love for the practice (seems like the previous point must be the most important one!)
But think of yourself as a baby, who is learning everything about life. Just like you wouldn’t leave a baby alone and ignore their needs, you need to give yourself the chance to get the help and guidance that will make you be a better yogi and in time, allow you to open your wings and take flight.
4. Try Different Styles of Yoga
Finally, while you search for your favourite teacher (or even after you have), don’t hesitate to try different styles of yoga. This will give you a bigger scope to experiment and a better understanding of what practicing yoga means to you personally.
5. Create Your Support Network
Finding people that share your interests and inspire you and creating a lifestyle that supports your practice together will just make things a lot easier.
If you have a friend who practices yoga, go to classes together! Having someone to share the practice with will provide you with motivation and endless profound conversations. But if you don’t happen to have a yogi among your friends, I can assure you that you’ll make some new buddies and acquaintances in your regular yoga class.
It seems like starting this journey has a snowball effect on other sides of life.
Practicing yoga strengthens your ability to look inside of you and listen to your heart’s desires. You’ll see more clearly what makes you happy and what doesn’t. You may realize that some habits or people in your life are not in tune with your pursuit of happiness and it’ll be an easier decision to let go of what’s not working for you in your life anymore.
6. Do Not Compare Your Practice or Progress
So, you get to yoga for beginners class, you place your mat (probably at the back), you begin the practice and inevitably you start checking what your neighbour is doing. We all do that, not only beginners!
Dismissing the negative voices of your ego is a hard task. The good news is that yoga will teach you once and again, that you don’t need to identify yourself with the ego this way. We are more than a body and thoughts.
Related: 8 Ways to Love Yourself Fiercely (Your Health Will Thank You)
7. Set An Intention, Rather Than a Goal
One thing I love about yoga is that it doesn’t make any sense to be competitive, at least not to me. This practice is a very intimate and personal experience, where there is absolutely no need for showing great feats to others, or ourselves.
In fact, the funny thing is that yoga has more to do with being than doing. Therefore, measuring progress becomes personal too, as we are the only ones who can assess how we are feeling.
I am not opposed to having particular goals in the practice, for example, mastering a specific pose. But I believe that it is more enriching to work in the being, more than the doing.
That’s why I find intentions more interesting than goals.
An intention is a positive statement that we repeat to ourselves, where we express something we long for. This statement is normally done at the beginning and end of the practice, but it could be revisited at any point of the practice really.
Intentions are expressed in positive language, in the present tense, and have (of course) to do with being, more than doing. Here are some examples: “I am calm”, “I am focused”, “I am strong”, “I follow my intuition”, etc. Of course, you can (and should) come up with your personal intention.
At first it might take time to find what your intention is. But in time, you’ll be able to pinpoint what it is you are aiming for. Moreover, your intention may change in time. Maybe even every day!
This is an especially normal aspect of yoga for beginners and it is not a bad thing. As I say, you are training yourself in listening to your heart. Just give yourself time and you’ll hear clearer and clearer.
8. Be Curious About All Aspects of Yoga
In the early stages of practice, most people consider yoga as a physical activity. However, this is only the tip of the iceberg. I actually don’t like calling yoga “exercise”, because I don’t think it is about just moving the body. There are many more components to it, and this can be seen in the deep impact yoga can have, not only in our body, but in our mind too.
Asana (postures) is the starting point for the majority of us, but interestingly enough, as I came to learn during my training in India, it is the least important practice there.
Yoga can be practiced in many different forms: by breathing, chanting, relaxing, meditating, walking, helping others… To sum it up, the practice of yoga is really the practice of life. It’s all about bringing awareness to every aspect of your life.
Related: 5 Ways Mindfulness Meditation Supports Your Health And How to Get Started
9. Know That You Are An Eternal Student
Finally, the most important point of all: we are all here learning. From the yogi who has been practicing for 20+ years to the brand new student who goes to their first yoga for beginners class wondering what they are getting themselves into.
In fact, if you are able to stay curious and eager to learn, even after you have been at it for a long time, you have then learnt one of the biggest lessons. Because the moment you think you know it all and you have mastered the whole thing, you have let the ego take the wheel and you’ll miss on continuing the journey into the Self.
My message for you then is: stay fascinated and open-minded, don’t take anything for granted or make assumptions about the practice. And listen, always listen inside yourself. Everything you need is already there inside you.
(This is Sara taking back the wheel!) Thank you so much for teaching us such wonderful yoga fundamentals Ana! Wasn’t this awesome guys?! I know I’m ready to get on my yoga mat stat! How about you?
Do you do yoga? Are you excited to give it a go? Which tip about yoga for beginners from Ana resonated with you the most? Share your feels with us in the comments below.
Health and love,
Thought of the day: I will take the time to look within myself and see how truly amazing and capable I am.
About the Guest Blogger: Anavi Hernández, Founder of yogavi.com
Anavi is a mom, an animal lover, a yoga and meditation enthusiast and a freelance language teacher. She comes from Spain and is currently living in Germany with her little family.
Anavi has completed different teacher trainings since her yoga journey started: 250h Hatha Yoga in Kerala, India, 200h Yoga Works and 100h Yin Yoga, both in Munich, Germany.
She loves the transformative power of yoga and is always curious to discover new ways of self-expression through movement and creativity. You can find her in social media in Facebook, Instagram or in her website (links below).
Facebook | Instagram | Website
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A HUGE thank you to Anavi for stopping by and sharing her marvelous tips about yoga for beginners.
Tanya Connor
This is so useful, Ive always wanted to try yoga but its a little intimidating.
Sara
I hope that this helped to remove some of that intimidation Tanya! Yoga doesn’t expect us to be perfect. We only need to be present :). You’ll rock at it! I hope you give it a go and tell me what you think! Wishing you the best as you begin your yoga journey <3
dani
being on the heavy side, it’s a bit challenging to continue practicing Yoga but I can now feel the difference since I started. I got more motivated to keep on doing it because of your article. =)
Sara
I’m so happy you’re feeling the motivation Dani! That’s awesome :D. Personally there are certain poses that I can’t do (or at least can’t do well) because I’ve got larger breasts. I feel ya. But I just figure that those poses aren’t for me :). I still rock it!
I’m sure that we all face certain challenges when doing yoga and that there are poses that are more difficult for some than others. But that doesn’t mean that we can’t still benefit from the goodness yoga has to offer. It’s for everyone.
If a pose isn’t doing it for you there are so many more to choose from. And just like Anavi said – the poses are pretty well the least important part. You’ve got this <3
Gikonyo Leah
I agree with her when she says ” Be Curious about all aspects of yoga. ” This post just inspired me to keep on Meditating
Sara
That’s so wonderful Gikonyo! Meditation is too good to miss out on <3. And I absolutely agree with you. That's a wonderful piece of wisdom from the lovely Anavi. I'm so grateful she stopped by to share her wisdom with us :)
Lydia Young-Samson
Great post! The hardest part for me was getting started and not comparing. I now do it almost daily and love to meditate and let go of stress, which i NEVER knew was possible before I started doing yoga.
Sara
I’m so glad that you’ve gained so much goodness from yoga Lydia! That’s marvelous <3. I hope you enjoy your next yoga session hun!
ajj77
I started practicing yoga a little over a year ago, and I absolutely LOVE it! It is so great for not just your body, but also you mind, soul and overall well being!
Sara
Yaasss! It’s the trifecta of awesome, right? I love when something provides you with so much healthy goodness, mind, body and soul. You can’t ask for anything better :). I’m so happy yoga has been such a fantastic addition to your self care routine too <3. Enjoy your next session!
Jamie
Such a great post and so fun getting to know Ana and all the wonderful ways to get started with yoga. It’s one of my favorite ways to exercise and I can’t wait to have time again. Definitely bookmarking this for when I begin my yoga journey again <3 Jamie
Sara
Aww thank you gorgeous! I’m so happy you enjoyed Ana’s post too <3. I was overjoyed to have the opportunity to share her goodness.
I hope that you have the chance to treat yourself to a little yoga again soon Jamie! You deserve it. And so much more goodness because you're flipping awesome :).
Sending you tons of love hun! xox
Vox
While I don’t actually do yoga, I took a dance class last year that have an extensive stretching routine at the start of every session. I don’t go to the class anymore, but every morning I do the quiet, mindful stretching after my cardio and it makes me feel great. When I don’t do it, my day does not start as well. Thanks for sharing more about yoga.
Sara
That’s wonderful Vox! While it might not be yoga in form, the mindfulness is certainly a big part of it ;). It sounds like you have created such a beautiful routine that makes you feel awesome and that’s what truly matters most! I hope you continue to treat yourself to it!
Emily Anne
Yoga is such a beautiful practice and I’ve always wanted to try it but I guess I’m just nervous to do it! This was such a great post and I loved all of these tips! I’m definitely going to give yoga a try and I just need to remember to start where I am and keep practicing!
Sara
Yes! That’s exactly right Emily Anne! All you have to do is start and you are already rocking it. I’m so, so incredibly excited for you! Let me know how it goes :). There’s so much to gain and nothing at all to be nervous about <3. Have fun!
imterrah
yOga is so hard for me it is insane
Sara
I’m sorry you’re struggled Terrah. It definitely doesn’t have to be hard! Remember what Anavi said – start where you are. Yoga isn’t about rocking a crazy pose. It’s about what you learn along the way (even if ‘along the way’ simply means reaching for your toes). 🙂
healthyfitcouple.com
We are beginners and appreciate all of these tips.
Sara
I’m so glad to hear that! I hope that you have so much fun discovering yoga <3. Enjoy every moment!
thecheapskategirl
Great points here! I just started getting into yoga this year when I found a teacher that makes me understand the practice of yoga! Now I am absolutely in love with it. The most important thing for me is the intention of yoga…it truly is something special and if you realize the intention then everything falls into place. Thanks for sharing!
Sara
Isn’t it amazing how a great teacher helps to bring everything together? I’m so glad that you found someone who resonates with you so strongly! That’s marvelous :). I especially love that she has you setting intentions instead of goals. It really is a magical practice!
Danika Howell
Thank you for sharing!! Learnt a lot through this post :).
Sara
That’s so awesome to hear Danika! I hope that this helps you in your yoga practice (or help you get started ;)). Wishing you well! <3
kulturalkreations
I really want to try yoga again. These tips really help. I just need to find a class and go for it!
Sara
Oh I’m really excited for you to discover the awesomeness yoga has to offer! Have fun diving in :). I’d love to hear what you think <3
Yukti
I loved your post as it has many tips. I love Yoga and would love to follow your advice
Sara
I’m so glad you enjoyed it Yukti! I hope this really inspires your next session <3. Have fun on the mat!
determinedtotravel
Hey 🙂 I really liked your post. I´ve started with meditation and want to start with yoga aswell. I will re-read your blog as soon as i start.
Sara
Isn’t meditation so incredibly special? I’m glad that you’ve added that to your self care routine. I could gush about meditation all day! <3 And yoga is really a beautiful extension of that! I'm so excited for you to dive in! Please let me know what you think :)
Heather LeGuilloux
I love the tip about trying not to compare your practice to others. It can be tough when you see Instagram posts of these incredible Yoga poses and think ‘Wow, I could never do that’ but it’s so true that even the yoga gurus started with the basics! Wonderful post. 🙂
Sara
I absolutely feel ya Heather! That stopped me from considering yoga for a long time. And while I have come a long way, I still certainly can’t turn myself into a pretzel. But I’ve realized that that doesn’t mean that I’m not rocking it! I’m just rocking it my way :D. It can be a hard conclusion to come to but so incredibly powerful at the same time <3.
I hope that you have fun during your next yoga session! Or that you're feeling excited to try it if you haven't. Let me know! Sending you so much love!
Jaemie
I am still trying to work up to being able to do inversion poses
Sara
One step and one pose at a time! Have fun Jaemie :). You got this!
TheDailySunlight
I had to do yoga for a gym class and boy was it hard for me. I had to practice a lot. These are some great tips. This is so helpful. Having a good focus can really help. Thanks! 🙂
Sara
I’m happy to hear that Anavi’s post was so helpful! Are you going to keep up with your yoga practice? I hope that this helps to make it easier and a ton more fun :).
Blogashopper by Natasha Lalwani
i have been doing yoga since over a year but the lovely tips you have mentioned here are so important, some of which i never pondered on. great post
Sara
Aww that’s wonderful Natasha! I think Anavi’s words are wonderful and so helpful for all of us :). We’re all eternally students and there is always more to learn. I hope that this adds a ton of goodness to your practice <3
La Shell
I started yoga off and on too many times to count. It is so beautiful and I know I’m missing out by not being a part of it. Thanks for the push!
Sara
We all need to create a self care routine that works for us! If you don’t always have space for yoga that’s ok. As long as you’re making time for the things that make you feel awesome you’re rocking it!
And yoga is so much more than the time you spend on the mat. The mindfulness, the meditation, the connection both with our gorgeous bodies and the world around us… all of these wonderful aspects of yoga can be tapped into at any time. 😉
Even if you only get the chance to do it monthly and you adore that then you’re working your magic! I hope you have fun next time you get the chance to treat yourself to some yoga! I’m so glad this post inspired you <3
yasmina
I thought for a long time that I was not flexible enough to do it and a friend introduced me to yoga mindfulness and I love it!!! Thank you for the lovely article and guidance
Sara
Oh yay Yasmina! That’s wonderful! Your friend rocks (and so do you!) Enjoy every second of your beautiful yoga mindfulness practice. I’m so happy Anavi’s words further inspired you <3
Sheila Price
Love these tips! I also had a lot of hangups about trying yoga, but once I finally did, I fell in love! I love the way that practicing yoga makes me feel, and I have gotten much stronger (much to my surprise!)
Sara
It’s got so much goodness to offer! I’m really glad that you got over your yoga hangups and dove in too! I couldn’t agree more – it really does make you feel amazing. <3 Enjoy your next session!