Taking Our First Steps

Can you remember your first yoga class? 

I can, it was with my dear friend Sam and we tried out a class held in my local school, many, many years ago. 

I remember feeling quite nervous and having no idea what to expect. I remember us walking into the wrong class (the one for those with some experience, when we were meant to be at the beginners' class). I remember thinking that people chanting was rather odd (our confused faces helped the teacher steer us towards the correct, beginners' class). I remember being surprised that the teacher was wearing skinny jeans (I now appreciate she had probably forgotten her yoga clothes as I did a couple of months ago! it turns out you can do yoga in jeans when you need to).

But what I remember most was that I walked out of there feeling so much better than when I arrived. Even if I didn't quite understand why. 

Doing anything for the first time can feel daunting, particularly when in a public setting like a class. With yoga particularly social media images can start people off with unhelpful misconceptions such as that to be 'good' at yoga you need to be able to pull big, bendy shapes. Even as a yoga teacher I find some yoga studios quite intimidating. It can sometimes feel that you should be wearing the 'right' thing, have the 'right' shaped body, be the 'right' kind of person to participate. 

It's partly for this reason that I love teaching those who are new to yoga. There is something about meeting people at the start of their journey and dispelling some of the unhelpful myths.

I love watching people discover how they can use their breath to feel both energised and calm, how re-connecting with their body can help quieten their busy minds, how being flexibility can be much more about adaptability (adapting a practice to their own unique needs - both mind and body) and how precious rest can feel when we are able to drop into it deeply. 

Most of all I love showing people that they don't need to be bendy to have a beautiful and beneficial yoga practice. 

My next Beginners' Workshop takes place on Saturday 2nd October at the lovely ARC in Islington. I love these workshops. Many who come have never stepped on a mat before, others have been practicing for a while but would like time to explore the foundations, some have been practicing online on YouTube and would like some reassurance that they are doing it right (and a few have been booked in by their partners which always makes me smile!) 

In the words of a previous participant: 
 

"I came to Anna's workshop having done online yoga during lockdown, and wanting hands-on guidance to improve how I held poses. The session covered that and much more including helpful insights on the underlying principles of yoga. Anna was very knowledgeable and the session was friendly and relaxed, I highly recommend it."
 

So ... if you feel you could benefit from visiting or revisiting the foundations in a friendly setting in which you can ask questions, see demonstrations, break down some common poses as well as understand how to practice and adapt mindfully and compassionately to your own needs, it would be lovely to see you there. 

Or if you know anyone who you think would like to try yoga but is a little nervous about starting, please do spread the word.