It is not uncommon to feel a certain feeling of inertia or uncertainty whenever we start something new.
Fortunately, in most cases, it is entirely unfounded, and we get on with things very quickly and easily.
In cases when it isn't, the little mishaps could cause an entirely negative first impression and or even refusal to try an activity again.
As we know it, Yoga has many health benefits, on both a physical and mental level.
Thus, it would be a tragedy for one to miss out on practice because they could have avoided a simple blunder on their very first experience.
So let us focus on the three common pitfalls of a new Yogi, and how to make sure you do not become a victim of circumstance.
1. Not knowing what you want from your Yoga Practice.
There are infinite different styles and forms of Yoga, and each has various benefits and disadvantages.
Firstly, you must ask yourself what brought the interest of Yoga to you.
Then you can investigate a form or style that contributes more particularly to your benefit.
If you like to set goals, whether physical, mental or spiritual; then it may be a good idea to discuss that with your instructor before you start.
Most Yoga instructors are very approachable and happy to talk about your physical, mental and fitness goals.
They can assess your needs and let you know if you are realistic and also guide you with how you should begin your practice safely.
Also, make sure your goal includes a time-line, so your efforts can be broken down to smaller steps over time.
2. Making a big package purchase upfront.
After deciding to give this Yoga practice a try; many newbies take a plunge and commit themselves into long term class packages.
Most yoga studios have an upfront payment policy and are based on subscription and credit class balances.
This is in fact a fantastic way of learning Yoga as you can determine how many classes you would like to attend in a period as your body becomes adapted.
However, you may choose sessions that do not fit your fitness or health levels.
A right way around this is to join beginner yoga classes or try to purchase their your yoga studio's trial passes to gain an invite to their studio.
Sometimes in these classes, you will notice a high turnover of newbie students as new people join and more experienced practitioners stay on.
And many of these classes will also give you a very general feel for the different types of Yoga styles.
You can notice that the standards of the students in these classes also vary so you can expect the instructor to keep up with the more beginner practitioners.
Another significant benefit of trying classes this way by way of trial passes is that the prices to entry are cheaper, and may not bring on a substantial financial outlay for you.
You can then finally decide the type and style of Yoga that best suits you for the long term.
Additionally, you are also not bound to attend every class.
With the advanced sessions, you can fall behind quickly if you miss a week or two in a row.
With beginner-friendly classes, you will find how each type of yoga style differ, and how these level stays quite moderate as newer people join in while you progress.
3. Not Choosing the Right Teacher
Traditionally, a Yogi must have been an apprentice to a skilled Guru for many years before he or she is allowed to teach any yoga techniques.
Fast forward to Today, a 30-day Yoga Teacher Training course is deemed sufficient by many people's standards.
However, there will be a vast difference between what you will achieve.
Your goals depend on the skill and experience of the teacher you are learning.
Recent Yoga injuries are become a common category in the sport injury list, and a significant reason for this is that many instructors have not learnt enough lessons on safe yoga practice.
So a qualified teacher won't necessarily be fantastic.
Yet an under-qualified teacher sometimes will not necessarily be terrible - but usually the odds are in the other direction.
Thus it is all always recommended to survey your instructor's background and qualifications before you begin studying with them.