Start Doing Yoga Today with the Best Beginner Fitness App
If you’re brand new to yoga, choosing where to begin can be daunting. The majority of studio yoga classes are geared towards ‘all levels’ which does little to help a true beginner who’s never been in a Downward Facing Dog. It’s intimidating to join a public group when you’re not even sure what ‘savasana’ means. Thankfully, there is an easy way to start doing yoga. Learn why FitAtom, the best fitness app for beginners, is the perfect place to begin.
All You Need is a Yoga Mat
- Purchase a quality yoga mat
- Substitute props for items found at home
To begin a yoga practice, all you really need is a yoga mat. As a beginner, choose a mat that offers a comfortable level of cushioning. At various times during the class you’ll be on your knees, elbows, hands and feet. Choosing a mat specifically made for yoga versus fitness is more likely to offer you a stable, non-skid surface. It’s hard enough to balance as a beginner. The last thing you need is a mat that scrunches up or slides around underneath you. Yoga is practiced barefoot, which also prevents slipping.
What About Yoga Props?
Some beginner yoga classes make use of props such as bolsters, blocks or straps. Normally, these are provided by the yoga studio. If you’re doing yoga at home, you can just as easily replace these with pillows, blankets or a belt. After your first 3–6 months of practice, you might decide to invest in the real thing.
Start Doing Yoga with A Few Basic Poses
- Use a fitness app for beginners to learn some basic poses
- Prevent injury with proper alignment
To get started with yoga, it’s a good idea to learn a few basic poses. Familiarizing yourself with foundational postures helps yoga seem less foreign when everything is moving faster in a group class. It’s not uncommon for a teacher to say, ‘let’s begin in Mountain Pose’ without explaining what Mountain Pose is. It’s socially awkward to look around the room at others for clues. And if your class is online, it’s not always convenient to keep your eyes glued to the screen.
FitAtom, the best fitness app for beginners, teaches the most common foundational yoga poses at your pace, in the privacy of your own home. First, you’ll see photos and a video of someone else doing the pose. Then, you can try it on your own by following verbal cues. FitAtom’s AI watches your form just like a teacher would, and offers feedback to correct your alignment.
What’s Alignment?
We each have a unique body. Alignment in yoga is less about doing the pose exactly like the person next to you, and more about following general principles of safety. Each posture can be practiced at differing levels of depth, without being wrong.
Feel Confident in Group Yoga Classes
- Join a group class sooner rather than later
- The best beginner fitness apps offer virtual group classes
Eventually, you’ll feel confident enough to join your first group class. But don’t wait too long to get started with group yoga. There’s no need to hold a headstand or to perfectly execute a full wheel pose. A good instructor will guide you through a sequence that includes some challenges, but will give you the freedom to move at your own pace and your own level.
Yoga offers more than just the physical postures. Joining a group class is a good opportunity to become aware of where your ego gets in the way of enjoyment. Let go of the need to do things perfectly or the need to keep up and be the best. Enjoy the opportunity to move your body and get to know your mind. Let the practice meet you where you are.
Group Classes with FitAtom
You can find group yoga classes for beginners at your local studio, or live via FitAtom. It helps if you’ve previously used the app for 1 on 1 instruction. With a few basic postures under your belt, you’ll be able to let go of what everyone else is doing and focus instead on your own personal, internal experience.
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