Bob’s friends are interested in getting started with yoga.
Bob’s buddies have discovered that he is more relaxed these days. He seems to be more flexible and less stressed. He has a more positive attitude and he is complaining less about injuries.
Bob said “I have been doing yoga for the last six months with my wife and it has made a big difference in my life.”
Some of Bob’s friends are interested in trying out yoga, but being guys they are reluctant to try out something new.
Bob suggested some things that they could do that would help them get started with yoga:
- Get familiar with some yoga poses
- Learn the jargon
- Get a practice buddy
- Check out the yoga studios
You will be surprised at how many yoga poses you already know.
Get familiar with some yoga poses
Before going to a yoga class, check out some books on yoga from the library or bookstore. You can also check out the yoga poses on YouTube.
Try a few of the easier poses at home. You will be surprised at how easy some of them are.
You will also discover that you are already doing yoga poses in your daily life. Standing up, laying down, sitting on the floor with your legs in front of you and sitting on the floor with your legs crossed are all yoga poses.
Once you become familiar with some of the yoga poses going to a yoga class will seem less scary.
Before you start searching for a place to take your yoga classes it will help if you know some of the jargon.
Learn the jargon
Think back to a time that you first started to learn a new sport. Everyone seemed to be talking in a different language from you.
Ace, Serve, Fault, Double Fault, Volley, Love, Break point. All the jargon for tennis seems familiar and common place now, but when you first started to learn tennis it was all new and strange.
Yoga is going to be the same way. Bundha, Asana, Drishti, Pranayama are just a few of the many yoga terms. Once again, back to the books and videos. Pay attention to more than the poses that they are doing. Become aware of the terms that they are using.
You can learn a lot about yoga by reading a few books and watching some videos, but even better would be to find someone that has already been there and they can help you to get started.
Get a practice buddy
Find a friend that you can take with you. A guy or a gal, it does not matter. If they are already going to yoga all the better. Having a friend with you will remove a lot of the stress about going to a new place, meeting new people and learning something new by yourself.
You and your friend can share the experience and afterwards you can compare notes about the studio, the teacher, the class, the atmosphere and the other people in the class.
Check out the yoga studios in your area
There are a wide variety of yoga styles. There are a wide variety of yoga studios available and there are a lot of yoga teachers out there. Check them out.
You will know when you have found the right style of yoga and the right place for you. You will feel instantly comfortable with the studio, the teachers and the style of yoga will speak to you.
You will find that you can not wait to get back to the studio to continue and deepen your relationship.
Keep searching until you find that perfect match for you. Not everyone will like the same style of yoga, or the same studio or a particular teacher. Keep searching.
Summary
Like Bob you can become less stressed and more flexible when you start a yoga practice.
Find a friend and start looking for a style of yoga and a place that works for you.
