3 Mistakes Yoga Beginners Made And How To Address Them

In this article, I will be highlighting and addressing 3 common mistakes by most Yogis beginners.

1. Not Knowing What They Want From Yoga

There are many different types of yoga and each is appealing in its own way.

Think about what attracted you to yoga in the first place, then select a program that matches your goals.

Discuss any feedback within your course with your instructor before beginning.

They are usually approachable who are willing to talk to and help you determine if you are being realistic as in aiming too high or too low in your goals.

Most importantly, ensure you have a timeframe for them so that they come reachable and attainable over the long run.

2. Entering Too Fast And Thinking Too Far Ahead

Having made up their mind to go into yoga workouts, most beginners approached like a race. 

Even if the course gives them 12 months and the fees may not be within their financial means due to the recent events of pandemic, lockdowns and inflation we have been facing. 

What they don't realize is that initial phrase - say the first 2 to 3 months require an upfront payment.

And the balance is required if they are able progress from one level to the next.

It can be hard to find the right class to learn Yoga. 

It is possible that a student will choose what they assume to be best for them. 

Simply because they read their favorite celebrities endorsing them as ambassadors or read somewhere in social media.

If you are a newcomer to Yoga, the best solution for you is to take a beginner class.

The high turnover of students will be clear as new people join the course and old people leave. 

The rapid succession of newcomers means that you should time your classes accordingly to ensure continuous availability of class space.

Such classes should give you a broad understanding of yoga, different types and which one suits you best based on your schedule, personality and fitness.

The instructor of this class is also expecting all levels of students, which is why he is very open-minded to listen and address any issues. 

If your schedule is uncertain as you are constantly on the go for example, pay-as-you-go classes could be the best for you. 

For there is no upfront financial commitment while you decide on the type and style of yoga that best fits you.

It is also not compulsory to attend every class.

Longer courses can make it hard to catch up if you miss 1 or 2 weeks in a row.

New classes have a low level, because people in the class may be new. 

With pay as you go classes you never need upfront payment to reserve a spot.

3. Selecting Unsuitable Instructor

Traditionally, an individual could not teach yoga to others, unless they had spent many years as a student of a skilled guru.

The key problem with people - especially those living in cities and are accustomed to quick easy results - tend to be impatient. 

They assume that  a 3-day course over a long weekend is more than enough to get beginners to master all they learn. 

What they don't realize is that different people have different speeds and levels of undersanding, comprehending and applying what they learn.

Unless the majority could not catch up which is usually not the case in reality, the instructor does not like to repeat what he already said more than once. 

This creates a major hurdle for slow learners who ended up being frustrated, quit the course and having to learn on their own through possibly even more trial-and-errors.

Instructors who are not properly trained in patience and empathy to those learning slower or even managing large class size of 20 and more students - can end up doing more harm than good.

The greater consideration you should have before studying would be to first explore the background qualifications of your instructor.

Having shared with the 3 mistakes yoga beginners and how to address them, I hope you find this article useful and share with others who are interested in yoga as well.