Tips for Yoga Beginners: Prepare For Your First Class

As a yoga beginner, you may have many questions about what to wear, what to bring to class, and how to prepare yourself. We all want to know ahead of time what to expect and what works, and these will help you get a better start in yoga.

Here are a few things you should know before you attend your first yoga class.

What to Wear

You may think that brand designer yoga clothes are a must for yoga classes, but this is far from the truth. When you first start practicing yoga, you don't need to dress very professionally. It's enough to keep it as simple as possible. Here are a few tips.

Yoga pants come in many different styles and prices vary a lot. But you don't have to buy an expensive pair of professional yoga pants at the novice stage. You can choose loose or tight yoga pants, or you can choose shorts, just make sure your pants have enough stretch.

We recommend trying different styles and brands. After practicing in different yoga pants for a while, you may have a better idea of which ones are most comfortable to wear. This is a good time for you to buy new yoga pants. Choose the ones that fit you best rather than the most famous.

A slightly fitted shirt is best for yoga. Wide t-shirts, or even loose sweatshirts, are not great because they slip down and interfere with your movements every time you bend over.

You can choose short-sleeved or sleeveless yoga tank tops because they allow free movement of the arms and shoulders. And remember to change into a sports bra to provide better support.

What to Bring

In general, the only things you need to bring to your first class are a positive attitude and an open mind. Sure, there are lots of fun accessories you can add to your yoga gear over time, but start small and keep it simple.

1. Accessories

If you are going to class for the first time, don't worry about bringing a mat if you don't have one. Most yoga studios will offer a rental mat service. However, we do recommend that you have a yoga mat of your own, as this will help keep it clean and you can do your own practice at home.

While you may find many low-priced mats in stores or online, if you are really committed to your yoga practice, investing in a quality yoga mat is worth it. A supportive, well-made mat that provides good traction and long-term durability makes all the difference.

In addition to the yoga mat, there are yoga balls, yoga tiles, elastic bands and other yoga accessories. Beginners may not be able to use them skillfully, but for those who want to become yoga masters, these equipment can help practice more and more difficult techniques.

2. Water Bottle

If you are going to hot yoga, make sure you bring water with you. For other types of yoga, you can wait until after class to get a drink.

3. Towel

If you tend to sweat a lot, or you're trying out hot yoga, bring a hand towel with you to class.

How to Prepare

1. Get familiar with the right poses for beginners

The first time you do yoga, it can be overwhelming with all the different poses. Fortunately, with the help of the Internet, you can easily research common poses so that they will seem familiar when you first hear your instructor's cues. You don't need to practice the poses ahead of time, but read through their names and look at their pictures to get an idea of what you will be asking your body to do.

2. Avoid eating a large meal before class

Don't eat a big meal before you do yoga. When you start exercising, everything gets stirred up and if your stomach is too full, you may start to feel sick. You can have a small snack an hour or two before class.

3. Get in touch with the instructor

If you are completely new to yoga, make sure you let the instructor know before class. This way the instructor will know to keep an eye on you throughout the class and provide additional posture cues as needed.

The wonderful thing about yoga is that it requires little but your own body. Preparation is simple, hope this article will help you with a better start in your yoga life.