Yoga is a great way to begin or accent an exercise routine. Since its practitioners focus on both body and mind, joining a yoga class is not only likely to increase your strength, broaden your flexibility and improve your posture - it also tends to teach discipline, coupled with a sense of well-being, creating an attitude conducive to healthiness.
This can all be quite enticing to a beginner, but then, yoga asana (yoga posing) is from a non-Western culture, and can seem quite alien. How can a newbie approach her first yoga class in a way that helps her get the most out of it?
Choosing a Class
Don't ever be afraid to ask questions. You'll find more than one kind of yoga class at a studio - some take place in hot conditions, some are fast-paced, some are slow and meditative, and some are for beginners. You want to make sure you choose what suits your goals - are you looking for a workout that's more physical, or more mental?
Speak with the representative who is helping you register for the class, ask for definitions of any words you don't understand (yoga language can be specialized), and explain what experience, if any, you're coming into this with. If you've never taken a yoga class before, say so. The representative should be able to help you choose a suitable class. If not, find a way to get in contact with your potential teacher - possibly by arranging a phone call.
Getting Ready
Class should be attended on a near-empty stomach: yoga is, after all, a workout, and you don't want to make yourself sick. If you're hungry, a serving of fruit or raw vegetables should do the trick, filling you up enough to survive until the end of class, without weighing you down or stealing your energy for digestion. As for drinking - drink water before and after class, but not during.
Your clothing should be somewhat loose fitting, but unlikely to fall off or get in your way while you move. Some yoga asana fans like tight leggings and exercise gear. It's up to you what you find comfortable, but it doesn't need to be anything special. Especially for a beginner, who isn't even sure if she'll remain interested, a medium-sized t-shirt and jogging pants are just fine. Further, be prepared to bare your feet, and wear as few pieces of jewelry as possible.
The Social Aspect
If you're worried you might back out of the classes, or get too lazy to go, try to find a friend to sign up with you. If you can't find one, you can always make friends in the class - but always remember to keep respect your classmates and your yoga teacher a priority.
The yoga studio is not a social gathering in the familiar Western sense. People often attend yoga for peace, quiet, tranquility, meditation, solitude, and the chance to learn a foreign physical art form. Try to avoid making small talk with classmates while posing, but if you must, use hushed tones and whispers.
Just as in any classroom, the yoga teacher is the only one who should be talking during class, unless you have a question. Pay attention to what your teacher instructs - every little detail. Good teachers will use just the right words to convey the way a pose should be held.
Show respect by arriving early and staying until the class is finished. This allows you time to ready yourself and then gather your things and leave without interrupting anyone else's practice. Also, always turn off your cell phone!
You might notice that some students are far more advanced than you are: more flexible, more graceful, or more knowledgeable. It might seem silly that they're even in a beginner class. Don't worry about them - they're here to enjoy yoga, not to compete, and you shouldn't compete either. Nor should you feel bad about yourself for being less advanced, as long as you do your best and mentally congratulate others for doing their best, too.
After class, there's nothing wrong with being open, friendly, and conversational. Yoga class is a great place to make friends if you time it right.
Your Practice
Beginners often sign up for a once-weekly course, just to get acquainted with yoga asana, but their learning shouldn't end there! Even brand-new beginners should have a place in their homes where they can practice the yoga poses learned in class. If obtainable, a large mirror is an added bonus.
Before starting your series of poses, either at home or in class, give yourself time to relax before you begin. Push yourself so you feel the stretch in all the right places, but don't push to the point of pain - that's not something you have to do with yoga, as stretching alone will gradually increase your flexibility. It is normal to experience a little soreness after practice, especially when you first start.
If you notice that over time, you are getting bored with the same old poses, investigate yoga poses on-line and in your free time, try adding one or two. Hopefully you won't have to do this - yoga teachers usually introduce new poses throughout the course.
When practicing, try not to let your mind wander to everyday things like cooking dinner, helping the kids with homework, or your next midterm exam. This is your break from all that. Instead, focus on what you are feeling and doing physically, and listen to your breathing. Listen to it as though it were telling you something important. Give it your attention, and it will give you a great deal of relaxation, and even a sense of tranquility.
Allow your sense of your spirituality to flourish with your practice. Focus on your positive wishes, like peace, unity, fearlessness, and maybe even the abolishment of self, during yoga asana, and plan to carry out your intentions. If you focus all of your energy and attention on contributing to great yoga practice with great meditation, you will succeed and feel great about it.
Once Classes are Over
Once classes are over, you can sign up for a new class right away, or you can give it some time and instead practice at home with DVDs, books, or your memories of what you were taught. But don't wait more than a month or two before signing up for a new class, and never stop your personal yoga practice, whether you're in a class or not! You could fall out of shape, and out of discipline, if you do this.
If or when you do sign up for a new class, ask your previous yoga teacher for advice. What does she think of your skill level, and what class should you take next? Your yoga teacher is very trustworthy, having observed your progress over a long period of time.
Finally, don't go in over your head. While it's understandable that you may be excited about yoga, having just finished your first course, you still have a long way to go before you become a master. Take it slow, and enjoy yourself.