Losing Your Yoga Virginity
I teach classes in New York City that are 45 minutes of indoor cycling followed by 30 minutes of yoga. Last week a new student says to me that he may not stay for the yoga portion because he’s never taken a yoga class before. I hear this a lot at the gyms, “I don’t want to take the yoga because I’ve never done it before.” Uh…didn’t everyone have a first time taking yoga class? Why not now? After all, you don’t want to be an 80 year-old yoga virgin.
No yoga instructor in their right mind would expect a newbie to know how to do the poses perfectly, which is why there are classes and it’s called “practice.” Even the seemingly most advanced practitioners are still working to open their postures up further, there’s never a finish line in yoga.
When you take your first class, get to the studio or gym a little early and tell the instructor that this is your first class (ah, be gentle) and inform her of any injuries or conditions you have. I always keep a special eye on the brand new beginners to make sure they are in correct alignment in the postures.
So find a yoga class near you.
Have fun!