Scared to Give Yoga a Try? Don’t Be.

Lauren Reeves
3 min readJan 21, 2020

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Photo by Anupam Mahapatra on Unsplash

Now it is easier than ever to try yoga. Studios are popping up all over the United States. But, are you newbies too afraid to give it a chance?

Yoga has been around for many, many years. Some argue that it’s been around for centuries. Documents have been located that prove people were actually practicing the art about 5,000 years ago. Amazing, right? No matter how long it’s been in practice, ancient and modern yoga is definitely for everyone. All walks of life, from babies up to the elderly, participate in this fitness program every day. It is one of the most enjoyable forms of exercise out there.

Yoga proves to be good for your health. It reduces stress, makes you flexible, and allows you to be one with your environment. Most people who do yoga on a regular basis are strong and nimble. It is actually quite impressive how yoga gets you toned and in shape pretty quickly.

Another plus? It doesn’t take any fancy equipment or expensive outfits to do yoga. You can use a towel for a mat and wear comfortable clothing for maximum ease. No extra expenses!

Whether you do yoga at home or a studio, you are sure to reap the benefits. As previously stated, not much is needed for you to enhance your practice of yoga. You could join a studio and take a class or do it in the comfort of your own home. There are so many YouTube videos where normal people teach mini-classes for all levels. This is especially helpful if you weren’t ready to commit to a gym or studio just yet. Try it out and see how you like it. More than likely, you will be hooked.

Photo by Zen Bear Yoga on Unsplash

The best thing about practicing yoga is that you can start as a beginner and work your way up to being an experienced yogi. Each pose has a modified version and an intermediate version. Therefore, no matter where your starting point is in your practice, you are sure to fit right in.

There’s no need to feel intimidated by the others in the class. You’re always doing what is best for your body and not competing with others. One day, you may get to the point where you are as advanced as the instructor. Imagine that!

Photo by madison lavern on Unsplash

If you’re starting out, try these three basic poses:

  • Mountain pose — Stand tall with feet together. Raise your arms above your head and have your hands come together like you’re saying a prayer. Bend your knees very slightly and breathe
  • Downward facing dog — Stand tall. Then bend and place your hands in front of you on the floor. Walk your legs back and try making an upside-down V with your body. Your goal is to have your feet flat on the floor, but don’t worry if that takes some time.
  • Bridge pose — lay flat on your back as a starting position. Make sure your feet are flat on the floor and your knees are bent. Raise your buttocks towards the sky as far as it can go creating a ‘bridge.’ Hold and take slow breaths.

Hold all positions with three deep breaths. Breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth. Complete three rounds of each pose to get a taste of what so many love. Experience the positiveness and relaxation that is yoga.

You can finish your mini-workout with child’s pose, which is everyone’s favorite. This one, you begin on your knees In a sitting position. Place your arms in front of you on the floor and then lean back. Breathe deeply and relax. Feel the rejuvenation that is going through your body.

Starting out is no sweat…well, maybe a little. Yoga is a positive force that gets you on your way to being healthy for life.

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Lauren Reeves

Former paralegal and teacher turned writer. I have a lot to say about a lot of things.