- We recommend beginning your practice in a class and buying a book afterward for home study. A class is a great way to feel the yoga "vibe," or to ask your teacher about any physical concerns or limitations you might have.
- At first, you will want to shop around to find out what styles, schools and teachers are right for you. Many health clubs offer yoga, so do check if yours has a class you can try out. However, you may also like the quieter, pure-yoga feeling of a specific yoga school.
- It would be impossible to list every single yoga class in the country. We simply recommend that you go to your local gym and ask where you can find a good one. And if you don't belong to a gym (or even if you do), you should also ask your doctor to recommend a yoga class. Doctors, being slightly interested in health, will have plenty of recommendations for you.
- Another idea is to check out YogaFinder Online. This web site will tell you all about the yoga centers right near you (even if you don't live in the U.S.). Go there.
- Each teacher has his/her own style. Some are playful, some are serious. Some place more importance on hands-on corrections than others. If you are not comfortable being corrected, speak up. It's your body, and you are not getting a grade in class, so always let the teacher know if you do not want to be touched, or if his/her readjustment is hurting.
- If you are new to class, it can be helpful to not sit in the front row. This way you can watch other students if you are unsure what the teacher is talking about. Still, don't sit so far back that the teacher might not notice to correct you.
- Many teachers offer private lessons, so feel free to ask if you want one-on-one attention or if there's some pose you feel you just can't "get."
SoYouWanna know more? Check out our full-length article SYW learn the basics of yoga?
