5 Tips for Yoga Beginners

1. Don't Worry About Being Perfect: Along with your yoga mat and your towel, bring a sense of humor to class. Students who get hung up on doing everything 'perfectly' are less likely to come back.

 

2. Don't Force It:Don't force your way into yoga. Adapt your movements to accommodate your level of strength and stamina, so that you avoid injury and feel comfortable in every pose." -- Baron Baptiste, founder of Baptiste Power Vinyasa Yoga.

 

3. Connect to the Pose:Watch out for what I call 'self mutilation' -- spending your time talking to yourself about what you can't do. This will make your practice dismal. The more you stay connected to feeling the pose -- to breathing into the pose -- the better your experience will be." -- Ana Forrest, founder of Forrest Yoga

 

4. Go On a Retreat:"To jump-start your practice, go on a yoga retreat. By temporarily shelving all the distractions in your normal life, you'll learn enough in just two or three days to make a big difference in your weekly yoga class experience." --Richard Faulds, former president .

 

5. Be Open: "When you get to class, keep an open mind. Tune in to your own infinite possibilities. And drink water." --Guruatma Singh Khalsa, co-owner of Franklin Yoga; yoga instructor for 32 years