A consistent yoga practice improves physical and mental health, and even one class will leave you feeling relaxed and more flexible. Yoga’s benefits come naturally, simply by engagement in our practice. But there are some things you can do to optimize each class that you take. Showing up to class is the first step, but your level of engagement determines the level of healing you receive. Being actively involved and present can help you get the most out of class and motivate you to deepen your practice.
Use these tips to get the most out of your next yoga class!
Yoga Class Tip #1: Don’t Compare Yourself to Others
This is so important! Comparing yourself to others in a yoga class takes you away from the experience; simply put, you’ll get less out of the class. Time spent worried about how your downward dog compares to the person on the next mat is time that could be spent learning about your own personal challenges and limits. No two people in any given class will be at the same place with their yoga journey and as a result, no one will be at the same level of experience.
Yoga is often done in a group setting, but it is internal work. To get the most out of a yoga class, focus only on yourself and the instructor during the practice. Focus on your breath, and on paying attention to how your body responds to the poses you try. Don’t worry about how you look and how what you’re doing compares to others. Instead, think about the courage and dedication it took to get you to class, or how every move you make is doing wonders for your physical and mental health.
Yoga Class Tip #2: Research the Class you Are Taking
This is especially important if you are new to yoga. Class titles can be confusing if you’re not familiar with certain yoga terms, so make sure to do your due diligence when choosing a class. There are styles of yoga that are very different from the traditional asana classes we think of when we think of yoga.
Here’s a great example. One of the very first yoga classes I took was a kundalini class. If you’re not familiar with what that is, let me put it very simply: it’s a yoga class with a lot of really weird (if you’re not familiar with what it is!) breathing, chanting, and sometimes singing (click here for details about kundalini yoga).
At the time, I was completely new to asana (the postures of yoga) and I had no idea about the importance of the breath and how yoga utilizes it as a powerful healing tool. Everyone is different, but a kundalini class might not be the best introduction to yoga for a complete newbie. When looking at your studio’s schedule, read the description of the class to see if it sounds like it would work for you, and so you know what you’re getting into! Most classes will indicate whether any experience is recommended.
Yoga Class Tip #3: Set an Intention
Yoga instructors will often invite participants to set an intention at the beginning of class. An intention is something you want to dedicate your practice to. It could be something you want to manifest in your life like compassion, or something you want to let go of like resentment, or a quality you’d like to increase like gratitude. An intention is what we direct the energy of our practice toward, and it can serve as a valuable anchor during a yoga class.
Setting an intention at the beginning of class gives us something to come back to when we find that our minds have wandered. Like the breath, it is something that is always there and available for us to connect with to bring us back into the present moment. When we find ourselves distracted in class, we can remember our intention and return our attention to it. An intention can help us refocus, and mindfully direct energy toward its realization.
Yoga Class Tip #4: Focus on Your Breath
Even though there is a lot to pay attention to during a yoga class, your mind will still wander. When it does, even if you’ve completely forgotten your intention, the anchor of the breath is always there. We don’t often think about our breath because it’s involuntary, but when we bring it into our conscious mind it can be used as a tool to redirect our energy.
Noticing the breath helps bring us back into the present moment, even if what you notice is that your breath is shallow and uneven, or maybe you’re holding your breath altogether. Simply acknowledging the current state of your breath at any point can help you refocus and relax so you can get more out of the class.
One of the main reasons I hesitated to start doing yoga was because I was intimidated to walk into a studio. I assumed I’d be the only person with zero experience, and that there was a very good chance I’d fall over. At Inspiring Actions, falling over is seen as progress, and everyone is welcome regardless of experience. Our studios in Hudson and River Falls, Wisconsin offer a class for every level of experience, and an event for every interest!
With our welcoming and nonintimidating atmosphere, you can focus on getting the most out of class. Check out our schedule for a full list and descriptions of all our classes, and to register online! Some of our classes are offered online. If you are new to yoga, consider taking our Yoga 101 series, designed specifically for the person with no experience, which introduces basic yoga postures and philosophy. If you have a question or would like to know more about our studio or classes, send us a message!
