Beginners Yoga Thornbury

Top tips to prepare you for your first class

Planning to attend a yoga class for the first time can feel like a daunting step in trying something new. If you’ve never practised yoga before but are interested in coming to a class then take a minute to acknowledge that you’re doing a brave thing here, as well as setting yourself up for something that will support your mental and physical health. I’m excited for you to be experiencing yoga for the first time!

Below are some key tips for getting the most out of your first class that will help you feel more prepared and hopefully you’ll find it won’t seem as scary as you think it might!

Wear comfortable clothes

Often, knowing what to wear or not feeling like you have anything ‘right’ to wear can feel like a real barrier to attending yoga classes, especially if it is an environment that you are not used to. Social media has given an image of a standard yoga outfit as being expensive branded leggings and sports tops but this is not at all a requirement. Wear something comfortable that you can move in, whether this is leggings or looser trousers and a vest or longer sleeved top.

If you are uncertain then test out your outfit in a few different positions making sure that you are happy with it – you want to be able to focus on the class rather than worrying about your clothing. My classes are hatha yoga classes taught in a gentle way with a mix of standing, seated and lying down postures so I’d suggest something that feels comfortable in a variety of positions.

Note also that yoga is practised with bare feet so factor this into your planning. Pro tip – skip the moisturiser. My friend once moisturised her feet directly before a yoga class and spent the whole time slipping all over the mat unable to properly get purchase on it! So save the pedicure for when you get home.

What to bring

In my classes I recommend bringing a mat if you have one but I will have some spares available if needed. Aside from a mat I’d suggest bringing a jumper and warm socks to help you relax as part of savasana at the end of the class, a hair tie if you have long hair, a bottle of water and a snack just in case you need it, and always make sure to bring any medications you regularly carry.

Arrive early

It is a good idea to arrive 10 minutes before the start of your first class to give yourself some time to get comfortable in the room and set up your mat. It also allows us time for a discussion if needed about any injuries or medical conditions.

To facilitate this, allow plenty of time for your journey, allocating time to find the location and for finding a parking space, if needed. Arriving feeling calm and unhurried will help you ease into the class and get the most out of your practice!

Come and say hi!

As I’ve mentioned it can be really important for us to have a discussion on any injuries or medical conditions that have come up in your health questionnaire, but it can also help you to settle in if you come and speak to me, especially if you are feeling nervous that it is your first class. I will do my best to reassure you and give you some guidance on what is likely to happen within the class to help set your mind at ease. I love speaking to new people at the start of my class and it really helps to know if someone is feeling nervous or wants some extra reassurance.

Speak to someone else

Smile and say hello to the person on the mat next to you. If one of your motivations for attending a class is the social aspect, this may help set up a conversation but, even if it doesn’t, it makes a big difference to how comfortable we may feel in a new situation to have some form of connection or human interaction. It helps to see others in the class as people rather than feeling intimidated by them. I always aim to foster connection within my classes, by which I mean both connection within ourselves via the practice and also connection and community within the group.

No one is watching you

This leads neatly onto my next point – no one is watching you. I’ll say it again: no one is watching you. It is tempting to assume that everyone else is judging your practice and thinking how you don’t know what you’re doing. Well, firstly, remember there’s nothing wrong with not knowing what you’re doing! Somehow we are conditioned to think we should be good at everything right away but in yoga we learn that it isn’t about how deep into a posture you can go, but about the changes that take place within us as we practice. As a beginner you are allowed to be learning, and indeed there is always something new to learn no matter how long you have practiced for. Secondly, everyone else in the class will be focusing on their own practice and their own experience and not thinking about what you are doing at all. Everyone else there either is or has been a beginner themselves too and, in my experience, people are usually incredibly supportive of those who are starting out, so try and let go of any worries or comparisons and enjoy the practice as it is.

You don’t have to do everything

You will often hear yoga teachers say ‘listen to your body’ and this can seem a strange instruction if you are not used to it, but what it really means is to pay attention to how things feel during your practice and follow your own intuition. Don’t push yourself further into a posture than feels comfortable and always stop if you feel pain. If anything doesn’t feel right then modify or simply skip it. Just because an instruction is given you do not have to follow it if it isn’t for you. Child’s pose is always a great option if you don’t want to do a posture that is being recommended. I’m always really happy for my students to adapt their practice to what suits them best and I will remind you of this during the class.

Have fun

Finally, try to enjoy your class as much as you can. Yoga can be a serious practice but one that should also be enjoyable and rewarding. After your class, notice and enjoy how your body feels and it will hopefully make you want to keep coming back!