It was a beautiful morning when I realized that there should be a proper guidance for the beginners in Yoga.  Typically, most of the people have doubt on yoga – how to, when to, etc. I think of writing a good article every time I get the query on the tips, tricks, and advice for beginners interested in Yoga. Now the time has come and one of such enthusiasts came and asked me on how to start the practice. I too felt interested since it was my long time wish to record the advice.

As a prelude to the whole concept of yoga, I just started with some history and how it was perceived in ancient times. She seemed curious to listen to me. Over millions of years, the practice of yoga has been established as one of the best means to lead peaceful and harmonious life. That said, I would say, it is a lifestyle. It is not meant only for one-time duration alone. Millions of people across the globe started practicing yoga as part of everyday routine from time immemorial. It is seen as part and parcel of everyday life. Even if you look at it as some holistic exercise for the body, it is perfectly fine. The reason is that for a common lady like you, yoga practice can start with practicing of asanas. The practice of yoga essentially means an everyday practice of asanas, kriyas, and mudras for advanced practitioners, that too for some amount of time. But as a beginner, you need to practice only for 30 to 40 minutes every day. There is always a doubt and confusion among the youth like you, whether the practice of yoga can you too much into religious practice or spiritual practice. You have to understand that it is fully a misconception. Both spirituality, religious thoughts, and similar activities are completely different from the objective of yoga practice.

As a beginner in yoga practice, your focus should be on the following points:

• The quality of practice and the punctuality of maintaining the time.
• Perhaps you may be able to do only two or three asanas in short time. Even then, it is important that it is practiced properly as per the instructions.
• A focused spending of 30 minutes at a stretch for practicing yoga with fully concentrated mind benefits much more than spending too much time without a good focus.
• Your punctuality in practice time helps to build up confidence and concentration in all your actions throughout the day.

Choosing time and place:

Early morning hours are the best recommended time for practicing yoga. This time is the best because, mind is fresh, body is free after a long rest. Make sure that the bowels are evacuated before practicing asanas. While choosing a place for practice, select a place where there is no sound or air pollution, there is a free flow of air and the atmosphere is natural. It helps a lot for the mind to be focused on the body movements. If you choose to do it in the evenings, it is better after 5:00, but before 7:00. And, mind you, don’t take heavy meals or food before doing yoga. 4 hours is the recommended time interval after food intake for doing asanas.

Not how much time you spend, what you did.

As a beginner in yoga practice, one factor is important: don’t give due importance for the time you spend. Focus on the asanas you practice. Concentrate on the body movements and breath. Don’t put strain to complete the position of asana. For most of the asanas, you may not be able to reach 100% perfection in the beginning. But 50% is more than enough to instill confidence and get the taste of the benefits of practice.

Don’t practice on the bare floor. Use a yoga mat or a good carpet. Make sure that while doing standing asanas, your legs doesn’t slip. Wear loose clothes, preferably sleeveless and shorts.

Start with simple asanas you feel is comfortable. Here are some indications:

• Asanas are either forward bending, backward bending or twisting.
• While bending forward, exhale and while bending backward, inhale.
• Asanas are practiced wither by standing, sitting or on the knees.
• The final posture may not be perfect in the initial stages of practice.

Have you done yoga before? 🙂 I hope you liked my post!

Yoga