General Preparation
Welcome to your first encounter with yoga.
Yoga is taught in many different ways, so try out a few different styles and teachers to find one that suits you. Take a look at our Styles pages to learn more about what to expect from some different styles.
The first thing you should know is that you should never do anything that hurts. Yoga should make you feel great. Yoga will relax and re-energize you, and it will make you stronger and more flexible. Of course, you are going to exercise your body, so you will feel your muscles stretching and strengthening, but that generally feels like a good sensation – the ache of exertion, not the warning pain of injury.
If you feel pain, ease off. Either the pose you are practising isn’t right for you right now, or there could be something wrong with the alignment of your body. Either way, when your body tells you to stop, listen to it. Yoga is taught in many different ways, so try out a few different styles and teachers to find one that suits you. Take a look at our Styles pages to learn more about what to expect from some different styles. The first thing you should know is that you should never do anything that hurts. Yoga should make you feel great. Yoga will relax and re-energize you, and it will make you stronger and more flexible. Of course, you are going to exercise your body, so you will feel your muscles stretching and strengthening, but that generally feels like a good sensation – the ache of exertion, not the warning pain of injury. If you feel pain, ease off. Either the pose you are practising isn’t right for you right now or there could be something wrong with the alignment of your body. Either way, when your body tells you to stop, listen to it.
Before you start practising, there are a few small things to do:
- Are you ready for your yoga journey?
Yoga is generally suitable for everyone, but people with chronic or serious illnesses should consult their doctor before engaging in any physical activity.
- Find your level and search for the appropriate yoga videos
With such a wide range of yoga videos, styles, and teachers, it can sometimes be difficult to decide. It helps to know what level suits you at the beginning. We also recommend this article on how to search for videos: How to search for videos?
- Find your yoga space
Before you start practising, set up a yoga space. The area should be quiet and undisturbed, with enough space for your yoga mat. Make sure you can easily see your laptop/PC or tablet/smartphone (with internet connection).
- The right equipment and accessories
If you don’t have a yoga mat, you can try practising on the floor, but it’s better to get a non-slip mat made from non-toxic material (like natural rubber). It’s also helpful to have a firm cushion for sitting and a soft blanket for relaxation at the end. For some advanced videos, you might need a yoga block (a thick hard cover book works too) and a yoga strap (or simply a belt) – but you can get these later.
- The right yoga outfit
… is mainly comfortable. Gym pants or soft yoga pants are suitable, along with a T-shirt or sweatshirt, and you’re all set for yoga.
- A note for beginners
Once you've selected a video, watch it calmly before following along. This will help you observe how the exercise is performed, and you’ll find it easier to follow along when you practice later.