Have you considered taking a yoga class but aren’t sure where to start? If so, you’re in luck. Before joining an Arlington yoga gym, it may be helpful to educate yourself about what to expect. Yoga is a wonderful practice with a lot of great benefits, both physical and mental, and it is important to remember that everyone starts in the same boat. While it can be intimidating the first few times, you will become increasingly more comfortable as time goes on. Here at Fitness Nation, we offer a wide range of yoga classes for all levels. Our beginner’s classes are designed to help people ease into their practice and build a foundation that enables them to feel the joy and the health benefits of yoga. One of the things we like to remind people of when first starting out is that everyone has a different experience and learns the practice at a different pace. Learn to own the practices yourself and don’t compare yourself to where others are at with their poses and their practice overall. And most importantly? Smile and have fun!

In order to prepare you for your first Arlington yoga class, we’ve come up with a handful of helpful tips for beginners. If you have any questions or would like to speak with one of our yoga teachers before participating in a class, contact Fitness Nation today.

Here are several tips we’ve discovered to help you get started with your yoga practice:

• Invest in a Sticky Mat. This may seem like a minor matter, especially for newbies, but the security that comes from firm footing is hard to beat. If you don’t have any experience with a mat, rent one or ask to borrow a friend’s so that you can feel the difference. You may want to attend a few yoga classes before purchasing your own mat, just to make sure you end up with the right fit for you.

• Understand the Names. Most yoga classes may be labeled with names like Bikram, Power, Vinyasa, Yin, Hatha, Iyengar, or Forrest (to name a few). A good way to look at this is that each different class is a branch off the same tree. These styles can be vastly different, and you will most likely find that you prefer certain ones over others. When first starting out, do your research and go to a few different classes to get a good idea of which you like best.

• Recognize That Yoga is a Mind and Body Practice. Yoga not only has many great physical and health benefits, but it is also a practice that uses the mind. In yoga, you will learn to let everything go and quiet the mind. Yoga is the practice of linking breath to movement, which will help clear your head and allow you to focus on your practice.

• Keep a Practice Journal. Yoga is a practice, which means you it’s all about paying attention to the little signs your body gives you as you embark on the journey. Some days you will find getting into certain poses is easier, whereas other days you may be surprised at your inability to hold a pose you did with ease the day prior. Keeping a practice journal will allow you to keep track of your observations – both of yourself and the classes you are taking.

• Quiet Your Internal Critics. Everyone has doubts about themselves, but if you let those doubts get the best of you and become a constant source of contention, you are only hurting yourself. Recognize what an achievement it is in itself to go to class, and thank yourself for doing something that has many wonderful benefits.

If you are considering taking a yoga class, try Fitness Nation! We offer a wide range of options that aim to provide people of all skill levels the opportunity to deepen their practice.