I don\u2019t know about you, but my introduction to yoga wasn\u2019t quite that simple. It was easy for me to get lost in a class and end up on the wrong side, and I literally had no idea what Savasana<\/em> was or what I was supposed to be doing in that final rest at the end of class. And while I can\u2019t promise you\u2019ll find your inner peace, I can give you some basic tips to help you get started with a rewarding yoga practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In this post, I\u2019ll show you all the basics a beginner needs to know so you can show up at your first class ready to go!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yoga is an ancient practice that dates back over 5,000 years. The poses were originally designed for use with meditation. (Apparently, all those ancient yogis got bored meditating in Sukhasana or \u201ceasy seat,\u201d all day.) The practice evolved over time into the many forms of yoga we know today, with a focus placed mainly on the mind-body connection, breathing, and increasing flexibility and well-being. Enrolling in a Yoga TTC in Rishikesh by Himalayan Yog Ashram<\/a><\/strong> provides a deeper understanding of yoga\u2019s rich history, philosophy, and transformative practices, allowing students to immerse themselves in traditional teachings while refining their own practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are so many benefits of yoga that I won\u2019t list them all here, but here are a few you might find interesting:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2026and so many more. Yoga is proven to have amazing benefits to your health and well-being. It can be a great exercise for everybody, no matter your level of fitness. There are variations on almost every pose, and the more difficult poses can always be modified if needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the biggest stumbling blocks for new yogis is falling into the comparison trap. When you\u2019re in a yoga class, you do not need to look like everyone else in the class, and you certainly do not need to look exactly like the teacher. Their role is to model the ideal version of the pose for educational purposes, and a good teacher will teach progressively and offer variations for more difficult poses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The most important thing to remember is to make your practice your own. We are all unique, and our bodies all come with certain challenges and limitations. You know what is best for you and your body, and I promise that Sheila one mat over is not watching you or judging you for how you move through your poses. (And if she is, she\u2019s missing the point of yoga entirely.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n You will encounter students with a wide range of abilities, and instead of letting it make you feel self-conscious or insecure, know that they are more likely to be judging their own practice than that of others. Our bodies change from day to day, and so does our practice. Instead of placing judgment on your practice, put your focus on being present and noticing what is happening for you in the moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, now that you know what yoga is and what the benefits are, let\u2019s move on to learning some of the common lingo you\u2019ll be likely to hear in your first class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are going to a yoga class for the first time, you\u2019re most likely going to hear some words that might be new, and some of them will be Sanskrit words because that is the language of yoga. I\u2019m here to share the most common yoga lingo and what the words mean so you can start your first class or practice with confidence!<\/p>\n\n\n\n When broken down, Prana<\/em> means “breath” and Yama means “control,” so the practice of pranayama<\/em> you might find yourself doing at the beginning of class is simply teaching you different methods of controlling the breath. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some common breathwork might be box breathing (taking each inhale and exhale for a count of 4 or 6 to even out the breath), simple breath awareness by focusing on the sensations of the inhales and exhales, or more advanced breathwork like Ujjayi<\/em>, or Ocean Breath (breathing while constricting the back of the throat), or Kapalabhati <\/em>breath, also known as Breath of Fire (taking one slow inhale and several short, forceful exhalations). These breathing exercises are meant to help release tension, get centered, and bring you into a state of mindfulness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are two versions of Surya namaskar, <\/em>or Sun Salutations, which are a series of postures done as a warm-up before moving into more advanced sequences and poses. These beginning poses take you through a series of stretches, forward folds, and backbends that are designed to build heat, and they follow a rhythmic cadence that aligns with your breath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A sequence of poses where you coordinate movement with your breath. (Starting to see a pattern here?) Most common versions of vinyasa are a flow that moves from high plank pose and either lowering to the belly or hovering over the mat in Chaturanga (Four-limbed staff pose), then coming into Cobra or upward-facing Dog, and then into Downward Dog. This is where you will see students veering off into the many different variations because the more you flow through Vinyasas, the more you will learn which version you like the most.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This word simply means \u201cseat\u201d and refers to the physical poses and postures practiced during yoga. There are 84 traditional yoga asana.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Also known as \u201ccorpse pose,” savasana is the final resting pose at the end of practice. Typically taken lying down with the legs extended and the arms along the sides, palms facing up, this pose allows you to absorb and integrate all the benefits of your practice in a peaceful, relaxed way. The teacher may turn down the lights and play soothing music. Sometimes you rest in this pose in silence, and other times the teacher may lead a guided meditation for total relaxation. While lying down can seem like a simple thing, this can be the most challenging part of a practice for some people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are some more tips on how to prepare for your first class:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wear clothing that is comfortable but not too loose. You will be exploring poses that have you bending over, stretching, and moving in all different kinds of ways. You don\u2019t have to buy any special clothes to do yoga, but you should wear something that has a tighter fit while still allowing you to move comfortably. A loose t-shirt should be avoided as it will have a tendency to slip up or fall over your head in poses like Downward Facing Dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We practice yoga barefoot for a few reasons. Yoga mats are designed for bare feet and hands, so wearing socks could cause you to slip during practice, and the last thing you want is a pulled muscle. Also, when your feet are in contact with the ground, you\u2019ll be able to feel how<\/em> you are standing on your feet and find more stability in your poses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When the stomach is full, some movements, such as forward folds, twists, and inversions, will not be very comfortable. If you do want to eat before class, eat a snack or a light meal one to two hours before class. This will ensure you are more comfortable during your practice. When it comes to water, it\u2019s a good practice to drink fluids before class to keep yourself hydrated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Leaving cell phones and smart devices in the car or in your cubby is the best practice, but with our busy, modern lives, you will see many people bringing them to class. Please be respectful of your fellow yogis and turn off or silence your cell phone or smartwatch. Use your practice to focus on yourself and as an opportunity to leave the stresses, responsibilities, and demands of life at the door. At a 200-hour yoga TTC in Rishikesh<\/a><\/strong>, students are encouraged to cultivate mindfulness by disconnecting from distractions, allowing for a deeper, more present yoga experience that nurtures inner peace and self-awareness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is very little you actually need in order to start your yoga practice, but helpful equipment you might want to consider would be: a mat, a bag or sling for your mat, and a towel. Most studios will have straps, blocks, bolsters, and blankets that you can borrow, but if you plan on having a home practice or practicing online, these are some other accessories you might want to consider buying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No one is perfect, and there is no final competition or \u201cperfect\u201d pose. You will have good days and not-so-good days on the mat (just like in life). You are practicing and will always be practicing yoga. We\u2019re all humans. Just get on your mat and meet yourself wherever you\u2019re at. The most important thing is to listen to your body and just keep going.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are thinking of starting yoga or are just beginning, give yourself a high five for getting out there and starting something new. Remember, everyone was a beginner once. Before long, you\u2019ll find yourself becoming stronger, more centered, and flexible. We can\u2019t wait to meet you on the mat!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Being new to yoga and starting a practice can be intimidating for a lot of new yogis. You can search the internet and find an overwhelming amount of information related to poses, must-have tools or accessories, and the latest fashion and trends. These articles tell you how easy it is to become an en…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2161,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.himalayanyogashram.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2158"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.himalayanyogashram.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.himalayanyogashram.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.himalayanyogashram.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.himalayanyogashram.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2158"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.himalayanyogashram.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2158\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2165,"href":"https:\/\/www.himalayanyogashram.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2158\/revisions\/2165"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.himalayanyogashram.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2161"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.himalayanyogashram.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2158"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.himalayanyogashram.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2158"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.himalayanyogashram.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2158"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}What Is Yoga?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Benefits of Yoga<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
![\"Yoga](\"https:\/\/www.himalayanyogashram.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-03-08-at-12.02.28-PM-1-1024x512.jpeg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n5 Elements of a Yoga Class For Newbies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Pranayama<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Sun Salutation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Vinyasa<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Asana<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Yoga](\"https:\/\/www.himalayanyogashram.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-03-08-at-12.02.29-PM-11-1024x512.jpeg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nSavasana<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What To Know For Your First Class<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Wear Comfortable Clothes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Go Barefoot<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Practice On An Empty Stomach<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Turn Off All Devices<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Equipment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Yoga](\"https:\/\/www.himalayanyogashram.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-03-08-at-12.02.29-PM-2-1024x512.jpeg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nRemember That Yoga is a Practice<\/h3>\n\n\n\n