What I Wish I Knew Before My First Yoga Class
There’s a reason a lot of people don’t make it past the beginner stage when they’re trying out a new hobby. It can be uncomfortable to not know what you’re doing, and making mistakes as you learn can be disheartening. But sticking to hobbies is so rewarding — they give us a sense of identity, community, and new skills if we’re willing to commit. And according to this 2009 study, hobbies contribute to better psychological and physical well-being.
Being a beginner in yoga is no different, and unsurprisingly, there’s a learning curve for everyone who steps onto the mat. All seasoned yogis will remember the feeling of walking into, or pressing play on, their first yoga class and not knowing quite what to expect or how to do the majority of the poses. However, with time, their Tree Poses got sturdier, their Down Dogs looser, and the awkward beginner stage is now a distant memory.
We asked the yogis in the Alo Moves community: What do you wish you knew before your first yoga class? Here are a few beginner class recommendations as well as some advice from our community.
Try These Beginner Alo Moves Yoga Classes:
Discover Yoga Class with Jared McCann - This hatha yoga class is made with the beginner in mind as it moves through full-body stretches followed by a short breathing exercise.
Yoga for Beginners - Classical Vinyasa Yoga with Patrick Beach - This series is the perfect introduction to yoga and will teach you how to breathe through poses as you practice a Sun Salutation.
Nightly Stretch Class with Koya Webb - This restorative yoga class combines breathwork with stretching to bring you into a blissful state of mind for bedtime.
What I Wish I Knew Before My First Yoga Class
“To focus on the breath.” - Rachel B.
“To give it a chance because it would change my life.” - Stela S
“To not knock something until you’ve tried it. I used to make so much fun of people who did yoga way before I ever did it and now I’ve become the yogi I used to poke fun at.” - Mariel
“It is not about how it looks and everybody’s practice is an individual journey!” - Svenja B.
“I wish I knew how much it would change me. I'd have started it a lot sooner.” - Benjo M.
“Wish I’d known how yoga would become my solace from what’s going on in the world. It is the one thing I can do where I can be in the moment and not think about what’s next on my to-do list. If I’d realized this earlier on, yoga would have been an integral part of my life long ago!” - Amelia P.
“There is no such thing as perfection. It’s all yoga.” - Bradley
“I wish I knew how amazing backbends could feel if I stuck with it and gave my body the time it needed to get there without rushing it!” - Leasa W.
“You don’t need to know anything to go.” - Curtis K.
“Let go of the ego.” - Adriana
“Wish I started sooner! Would have been amazing during my adolescent/teen years.” - Meaghan M.
“Shape and flexibility don't matter! Only practice, practice, practice.” - Fani
“Don’t worry about missing one move. You’ll do it again like 1,435,768 more times in the next year. Breathe.” - Sarah S.
“Enjoy the process, because it’ll very well become a lifetime love affair.” - Joyce
“As a guy, you can go to a class without feeling out of place.” - Shaun F.
“I wish I knew it was a better workout than anything else I’ve ever done! Why did I waste 90 minutes a day in the gym? I spend 45 minutes on my mat and get a more well-rounded workout and a huge spiritual lift.” - Jennifer Y.
“Leave your ego at the door and cackle with laughter when you fall out of an asana as dramatically as you rocked at it the day before.” - J.S.
Ready to commit to making it past the beginner stage? Access unlimited yoga classes online with a free 14-day trial to Alo Moves.