It’s rare to start something new with a confident feeling like you know what you’re doing. It takes time to get to the stage where you feel like an expert. Of all the things that should stress someone out in life, yoga shouldn’t be one of them. After all, it’s meant to destress and relax you!
Many beginners agree that sitting through the first class can evoke feelings of inadequacy and insecurity. Whatever your nerves may be saying to you, we have compiled useful tips on how you can stay confident even though you are a beginner yogi!
- Don’t stress if you are unable to get the poses right. No one starts as a master of yoga. We all grow in phases, and telling yourself you have time to get it right will work wonders for your self-esteem. Leave the hard poses for the veterans. Concentrate on achieving, first, a connection between your body and mind.
- Use affirmations. One of the tenets of yoga is helping practitioners achieve a state of mindfulness. Being in this state means you understand yourself and the phases you are going through, and you appreciate virtues that culminate in the kind of person that you are. By being mindful, you can access the resources that will make you into who you want to be. If you tell yourself you are bold, confident, and able to do it, then you can.
- Release the tension. It is normal to be a bit tense, mainly because it might be a terrain you are not familiar with. As you allow the tension to decrease, you will be more relaxed, and of course, comfort will follow. Soon enough, you will find it easier to do what you are being asked to.
- Breathe!
- Trust your instructor. You have sacrificed time, effort, and money to come all this way. So why don’t you set the nerves aside and trust your instructor?
Being a beginner is beautiful. This is your time to explore and make mistakes! Being jittery at your first class is fine, but do not let that hinder you from having an excellent time!