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Yoga Benefits: Inspiring Guide for Rusty Beginners

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From intimidation to liberation: My first time with yoga

If you're new to yoga, you may initially feel overwhelmed or intimidated by the practice. However, it's important to keep in mind that it's never too late to start. With patience and consistent practice, you can reap the numerous benefits that yoga has to offer. So, don't be afraid to give it a try, my sex-ible friend!

I remember my first encounter with yoga - my sister had a book on it which I kinda read, but it appeared to be more complicated than assembling an Ikea bed with missing instructions. That deterred me from trying it out for many years, despite my interest in it.

However, after sustaining injuries from lifting weights, my doctors recommended yoga as a way to help with the recovery process. The warm-ups before gym sessions weren't sufficient, particularly for my shoulders.

Cozy Practice with Yoga Online: How I started my Mind-Body Routine on Youtube

When I decided to give yoga a try, I opted for an online class to start with. I stumbled upon the Yoga with Tim YouTube channel and began a 30-day challenge (recommended by Ryan, who’s a veteran comparing to me), committing to practicing once a week. But there are plenty of other great courses online to choose from as well. A bonus is that these online courses are totally doable if you travel like us.

What surprised me the most was that yoga was not just a physical workout, but a mental one too. As I continued to practice, I started to experience the many benefits of yoga and found that I missed it when I skipped a session. Especially when the pain from weightlifting began to return.

Starting with yoga online allowed me to practice in the comfort of my own home, without feeling self-conscious or intimidated. It was the perfect way to ease into the practice and build my confidence.

Yoga studio in Bali Yoga studio in Bali

Yoga is a mind and body practice that has been around for thousands of years. It originated in ancient India as a means to achieve balance, harmony, and inner peace. To start yoga, you need comfortable clothing that allows for movement, a yoga mat, and water. You can usually find or rent these items at classes. Yoga mats provide a non-slip surface for poses and cushioning for joints. It's also important to stay hydrated during yoga, as it is a physical practice that can cause sweating and dehydration.

Thanks to ClassPass and Urban Sports Club, an app for sports activities, I tried different yoga classes in Germany. The online course helped me not feel lost in live classes. It's important to find a teacher or class that suits your needs and preferences. Some teachers may focus on the physical aspect of yoga, while others may incorporate more meditation and mindfulness practices. I discovered that There are many types of yoga, including Hatha, Vinyasa, Bikram, Restorative, and more. Each type of yoga focuses on different aspects of the practice, such as strength, flexibility, relaxation, or meditation.

What follows is a brief list to find Your Flow with These 7 Popular Types of Yoga:

  1. Hatha Yoga - focuses on physical postures (asanas) and breathing techniques (pranayama) to improve flexibility, balance, and strength.
  2. Vinyasa Yoga - a more dynamic style of yoga that links movement and breath together in a continuous flow. It's often faster-paced and can be a great workout.
  3. Restorative Yoga - a slower-paced and more relaxing style of yoga that involves using props (such as blankets and bolsters) to support the body in gentle stretches and poses (may also be referred to as Yin yoga)
  4. Ashtanga Yoga - a physically demanding style that follows a specific sequence of poses and emphasizes a strong connection between movement and breath.
  5. Bikram Yoga - a style of yoga that takes place in a heated room and consists of a set sequence of 26 poses, each performed twice.
  6. Kundalini Yoga - focuses on breath work, meditation, and specific physical postures to promote spiritual growth and inner transformation.
  7. Iyengar Yoga - a style that emphasizes precision and alignment in each pose, often using props to help students achieve proper alignment and hold poses for longer periods of time.

Ryan and Fabio after a bikram yoga class Us after a bikram yoga class, totally destroyed, but happy

Making Yoga a Healthy Routine - Tips from a Beginner's Experience

Now, yoga is part of my routine. During my one month as a digital nomad in Bali, I did a lot of yoga. I tried several different types of yoga, including hot yoga and organic yoga flow. While these were very cool experiences, I found that as a beginner, they were not fitting entirely. In hindsight, I recommend keeping it simple and starting with a beginner-friendly style like Hatha or gentle yoga. Now, yoga is an essential part of my week routine, I try to do it at least once a week. And the benefits are undeniable. Not only has yoga helped me reduce stress and improve my flexibility, but it's also given me better posture, balance, and strength.

In conclusion, if you're new to yoga, don't be afraid to give it a try. With patience and practice, you can discover the many benefits of this ancient practice. Whether you prefer to practice at home or in a class, there are many resources available to help you get started on your yoga journey.

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