The Three Most Common Mistakes Made by Those New to Yoga
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It’s perfectly natural to experience a feeling of trepidation and uncertainty when we start something new, but in the vast majority of cases we soon get over it. However, on the rare occasions when we don’t, we are all too often left with a bad first impression, and of course this can mean that we never want to try the same thing again. When one considers just how many benefits there are with regards to yoga, both on a spiritual level and a physical level, it would seem like such a waste if someone chose to never do it again simply because they may a foolish mistake on their first day. With this in mind, let’s take a look at the most common mistakes people make when they first begin doing yoga.
Mistake No.1 – Not sure what you hope to achieve.
The first thing to bear in mind is that there are several different types of yoga, and of course they all have their own advantages and disadvantages. Essentially, you need to ask yourself why you are attracted to yoga in the first place and only then can you begin looking into the different styles in order to determine which style is more in tune with your line of thinking. If like so many others you intend setting yourself certain goals, then it’s always a wise idea to discuss them with your instructor before you even begin. The great thing about yoga instructors is that they are for the most part very approachable, so of course they are usually more than happy to discuss matters with you. Discussing your goals with your instructor will mean that they can in turn advise you as to whether or not your goals are actually realistic.
Mistake No.2 – Jumping in the deep end.
Another common mistake newcomers make is that they immediately sign up for a twelve month period and of course this type of arrangement usually means an upfront payment. Admittedly, this is a fabulous way to learn yoga and to advance from one stage to the next, but the downside is that there’s a strong possibility you’ll choose a class which is not ideally suited to you as an individual.
The best way to prevent this from happening is to join a yoga class for beginners. You can be rest assured that you’ll see many people coming and going as new people join and others fall out. The nice thing about these classes is that they are specifically designed to give newcomers an opportunity to experience different types of yoga. Another advantage is that you will usually only be expected to pay as you go, so of course if you find it’s not for you, you won’t end up being out of pocket. Furthermore, you won’t be obligated to attend each and every class, bearing in mind that with the twelve month courses it’s easy to fall behind if you end up missing a few classes in a row.
Mistake No.3 – Choosing the wrong instructor.
In days of old, a Yogi had to have been practicing for many years before they could begin teaching others, but of course this has changed, and today a three day course is often considered to be sufficient. Remember however, there can be a phenomenal difference in the amount you learn, and in the skills you develop, depending on your instructor’s teaching ability. Something I find rather disturbing is the fact that there seems to be an increasing number of injuries involving yoga, and of course this is because there are so many teachers out there nowadays who hardly have any experience themselves. It would be unfair to tar everyone with the same brush, in that not all unqualified teachers are bad, and not all qualified teachers are good, so you’ll need to take it upon yourself to check your instructor’s background before you begin.
Written by: Editorial Staff
Submitted May 7th 2010 & consists of 644 words.
Located in our collection of yoga articles.
The Three Most Common Mistakes Made by Those New to Yoga
It’s perfectly natural to experience a feeling of trepidation and uncertainty when we start something new, but in the vast majority of cases we soon get over it. However, on the rare occasions when we don’t, we are all too often left with a bad first impression, and of course this can mean that we never want to try the same thing again. When one considers just how many benefits there are with regards to yoga, both on a spiritual level and a physical level, it would seem like such a waste if someone chose to never do it again simply because they may a foolish mistake on their first day. With this in mind, let’s take a look at the most common mistakes people make when they first begin doing yoga.
Mistake No.1 – Not sure what you hope to achieve.
The first thing to bear in mind is that there are several different types of yoga, and of course they all have their own advantages and disadvantages. Essentially, you need to ask yourself why you are attracted to yoga in the first place and only then can you begin looking into the different styles in order to determine which style is more in tune with your line of thinking. If like so many others you intend setting yourself certain goals, then it’s always a wise idea to discuss them with your instructor before you even begin. The great thing about yoga instructors is that they are for the most part very approachable, so of course they are usually more than happy to discuss matters with you. Discussing your goals with your instructor will mean that they can in turn advise you as to whether or not your goals are actually realistic.
Mistake No.2 – Jumping in the deep end.
Another common mistake newcomers make is that they immediately sign up for a twelve month period and of course this type of arrangement usually means an upfront payment. Admittedly, this is a fabulous way to learn yoga and to advance from one stage to the next, but the downside is that there’s a strong possibility you’ll choose a class which is not ideally suited to you as an individual.
The best way to prevent this from happening is to join a yoga class for beginners. You can be rest assured that you’ll see many people coming and going as new people join and others fall out. The nice thing about these classes is that they are specifically designed to give newcomers an opportunity to experience different types of yoga. Another advantage is that you will usually only be expected to pay as you go, so of course if you find it’s not for you, you won’t end up being out of pocket. Furthermore, you won’t be obligated to attend each and every class, bearing in mind that with the twelve month courses it’s easy to fall behind if you end up missing a few classes in a row.
Mistake No.3 – Choosing the wrong instructor.
In days of old, a Yogi had to have been practicing for many years before they could begin teaching others, but of course this has changed, and today a three day course is often considered to be sufficient. Remember however, there can be a phenomenal difference in the amount you learn, and in the skills you develop, depending on your instructor’s teaching ability. Something I find rather disturbing is the fact that there seems to be an increasing number of injuries involving yoga, and of course this is because there are so many teachers out there nowadays who hardly have any experience themselves. It would be unfair to tar everyone with the same brush, in that not all unqualified teachers are bad, and not all qualified teachers are good, so you’ll need to take it upon yourself to check your instructor’s background before you begin.
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