I can remember when I first started to learn yoga. There were so many things to think about; the postures, the breath and trying to stay present whilst at the same time trying not to fall over. I wasn’t naturally flexible, so yoga was incredibly challenging physically and mentally. Some of the names of the poses were in Sanskrit which was totally new to me, so I spent many a lesson slightly confused, just copying other students and feeling like I was ‘winging’ it.
I was told yoga wasn’t competitive but my only way of gauging how I was doing was to compare myself to the other students in the room. My downward dog did not feel like a resting pose and I was too nervous to ask questions, as I didn’t want to disrupt the class or stand out as the beginner.
This is why I love teaching the beginners course at triyoga because I know what it feels like to be perplexed, confused and sometimes even embarrassed in a yoga class. A beginner’s course can provide a safe environment from which to ask questions and, therefore, an opportunity to fully understand and experience just how awesome yoga really is. Don’t let the language or the challenging postures put you off. Whether you are completely new to yoga or have been practising for a while, an opportunity to go over the fundamentals can be hugely beneficial.
We start with some basics, such as what the blocks, straps, blankets and bolsters are for and how we can use them in classes to make us steadier and more comfortable. We then move on to breathing techniques (ujjayi breath) and then into the movements themselves. Finally, we will look at how we can combine breath and movement so that they function as one.
During the six weeks of the course, we break down each pose to understand not only the alignment, but also what the specific benefits of the pose are and what we are trying to achieve more broadly.
Each week we have time to break down the postures and find modifications so that each student can make the postures work for them and their body. We look at the standing poses that help us build a balance between strength and flexibility, twisting postures to help us cleanse, nourish and energise the body, forward bends to calm and soothe, back bends to open up the front of the body and energise us, then seated postures and some inversions.
There is no “one-size-fits-all” in yoga. We are all fabulously unique, so our experience of yoga will be different. Yoga gives us the opportunity to be aware of our imbalances and to build strength and flexibility. Lots of the postures take time and patience, allowing the tight areas of the body to open and release gradually. Once you understand the fundamentals of the poses, you can start to notice how the breath can change. We can use the breath to move deeper into those tight areas and also to nourish the body and create a sense of calm.
Click here to view our upcoming six-week beginners course starting on Wednesday 24th June at triyoga online.
