If you have never been exposed to Ashtanga yoga and have just enrolled in a class at a local studio or yoga retreat or beginner’s workshop course, there is a chance that you are facing a bit of pre-yoga nervousness. The question is how you can tackle this and how you can ensure that your yoga experience is great and create a platform for better understanding in the future. Well, it is quite simple. Here are five tips to help you glide through your Ashtanga yoga session and make you enjoy every moment of this experience.
Relax, take it easy: This is the first and most important rule. Don’t worry or stress unnecessarily about yoga. Just follow the instructions and let yourself go. When you sign up for a class or retreat, remember that everyone around you is practically on the same level as you and, rather than excelling your peers, your goal should be to enjoy this yogic experience. So relax completely, and instructors are generally very aware of individual requirements, even in a large class, and will help you tailor your yogic experience based on your needs and level of stamina.
Slow & Steady wins the race: Don’t expect to perform like a pro on day one. Remember that it is only with practice that you can achieve the balance and expertise of yoga teachers. Take the time to tailor your system as best as possible to the requirements. What this will help is not only to improve your stamina, but you will also be able to hold your asanas for much longer without difficulty or extra effort. The easier your exercise program, the more benefit you can get from it.
Correct alignment is crucial: This is a fundamental mistake that most beginners make. Instead of mastering the techniques correctly, they focus on trying to complete the asanas like the masters. The downside of doing this is that your body is pushed into a state that it has not yet reached, and this can even lead to potential injury. This is exactly why it is very important that you pay close attention to the correct alignment techniques that yoga instructors would teach. These alignment techniques will allow a better performance of the yoga asanas and will allow the yoga enthusiast to draw the deepest energies and unleash the inner strength through them.
Breathing is primary: Ashtanga Yoga is, in many ways, the most advanced formula for controlling the breath and helping to develop an incalculable amount of inner strength and positive power. This is exactly why, whether you are in relaxation poses or in the middle of difficult asanas, never lose sight of the rhythm of your breath. Remember that if you can adjust your breathing correctly, your experience in the yogic postures will manifest automatically without too much effort. Correct breathing will also help you get rid of toxins much faster than you imagined.
Take care of your lifestyle and diet: Ashtanga Yoga is not just a few exercise routines, but an overall life-changing experience. Most instructors would give a diet chart in terms of the type of food that benefits your body the most. It is always wise to stick with this program and benefit from it. Your lifestyle should also be modified, as most hours of meditation and pranayama are recommended early in the morning. So if you need to get up early, you will also have to avoid night parties to some extent.
Yogasana is about reaching the point where your mind and body meet and become one entity. Its goal is to gather all the positive forces and help you channel your energy constructively. The trick is to go with the flow.
