If you have never attended a Yoga class but were interested in finding out what might happen, then this is the post for you. Perhaps you have been recommended Yoga by someone, say a friend or even your GP, but they have no idea that the idea of attending a Yoga class might be a little, or very, scary to you? Maybe, you have read about it for a while, as it seems to be everywhere these days, and want to take the plunge? You may have been struggling with an injury and feel you’d like to see if Yoga can help. Or it may be even simpler; a New Year’s resolution to perhaps get a little fitter?
For many people, walking through those doors for the first time to a class is probably the biggest hurdle. I know this from experience, my first class was a very anxious affair. I have always experience social anxiety and add to this the fact that I knew absolutely nothing about Yoga, and my fears were quite significant.
Whilst I can’t remove anyone’s social anxiety, what I can do is to share what you might expect from a Yoga class with me.
Inclusivity
Including everyone is at the heart of my teaching and was the primary motivation for training to teach. Yoga is for everyone, but the reality is that it isn’t always accessible. I always aim to include everyone to the best of my means. If someone requires a little more help to support them, then that will always be offered. This is also in an understanding way that doesn’t single people out or draw attention to them.
Stretching
Well, of course! You can’t have Yoga without a good stretch! Can you? Admittedly, you will do some stretching and for the stiffer people, myself included, probably quite a lot. Some schools of Yoga focus on this a great deal. As an Iyengar teacher, we view stretching as a part of Yoga rather than it being at it’s core.
Strengthening
This is more what Iyengar Yoga can do for you; make you stronger. This is not necessarily strength in the same way as going to a gym and lifting lots of weights but more in a gentler and kinder way to your body. Lifting weights at a gym will certainly build lots of muscle, but Yoga muscles will be of a different type. Because you will have used your own mass to increase them, they will build strength that supports your bones and joints.
Balancing
There are some balancing poses, but in most classes, we teach balance as an all round topic. Balance is important for our general health and wellbeing, and there is proven research to show how it can extend our lives. When we come to the balancing poses, as Iyengar teachers, we use props and the wall to help achieve balancing poses.
Props
Bricks, blocks, belts, blankets, bolsters, chairs, the wall, wedges, and so on! There are many different props available to buy on the Internet, but generally we work bricks, blocks and belts. These are initially to assist people to achieve poses, such as when there is stiffness or injury. They can also be used as an educational tool; standing with your back to the wall can teach you a lot about how your posture is when you stand.
Relaxation
There is always a part of the class, usually at the end, where you get to relax. For some, this can be the hardest part, as stopping and letting go can be difficult. Yoga can help, if this is something you struggle with. The pose at the end is called Savasana, which literally translates as corpse pose! It should ideally be at least 10% of the class time, and the purpose of all the activity leading up to that point is to have some awareness of the physical body to then be able to relax it.
Feeling better
I hope that you would feel better after a class. I will admit, you might have a few aches the next day. That was certainly my experience. I also know that immediately after my first class, I experienced a significant sense of accomplishment. Those aches reminded me that I had been to a Yoga class, which to me was a major achievement.
Learning and understanding
I have included this at the end of what you might expect, although I rate it as the most important. We aim to teach people an understanding of their body. Whilst this may not happen in the first few classes, eventually you will start to pick up some basic anatomy, which will be based upon your own body. Perhaps you had some stiffness that has eased with Yoga practice, and you know how to ease that stiffness in the future. Having a better understanding of our own bodies helps with longer term health and wellbeing.