The Beginner Yogi Course

Launching January 31st 2024 – circle your calendars! 🗓️

Hello 👋 and welcome to Yoga for Beginners.

Next week the new paid mini course is launching. 🥳 We start from the ground up in a 10-minute yoga class, with a wee little debrief before we begin.

I’ve simplifed the “What you need to know” in the blog pose below – and if you’re ready to try it for yourself … stay tuned for the upcoming course release!

What Equipment Will I Need?

Having your own yoga mat is great, I’ve made a few recommendations in this blog post.

However! You don’t need a mat to get started, test out some poses on your living room carpet, or a folded blanket for some cushion.

When practicing a pose, try to breathe deeply three times while holding that posture. In through the nose and out through the mouth (or nose).

While you get started, use chairs, couches, counters, and walls as you build balance and confidence in poses! As you progress, you can utilize props like yoga blocks (swap out for textbooks if you don’t have) or a yoga strap (swap out for a scarf or a dog leash in lieu of).

But the only true equipment you require? Yourself. Yourself, and your own attention!

What Do I Need to Know About Yoga Before I Begin?

1. Yoga poses are made up.
2. If it hurts – don’t do it.
3. The deepest breath is always the goal.

Yep, that’s right. All yoga poses were made up, so if you need to adjust them to better suit your body – that is both okay and encouraged!

Some styles of yoga (Ashtanga for example) are quite strict in their alignment cues – other styles of yoga (Kundalini for example) are all about working energy through the body.

Here at WLE, we sample Vinyasa (where breath and movement are linked) and Hatha yoga (moving at a slower pace and focusing on breath and controlled movements). But we always follow the next two golden rules:

If it hurts – don’t do it! Not every pose was made for every body. Not being able to do a pose in a specific alignment – doesn’t make you a bad yogi. Promise.

Each body is unique, not only that – each unique body is different on different days! So always be “feeling into” the body when in a pose … new or old! Feel where there is tension, see which muscles are fired up, which ones are being a little lazy.

Know the difference between a sharp, shooting pain – a sign to back up right away! And the slow, warm stretch of muscles that are stretching and spreading out.

Lastly… the deepest breath is always the goal. In every single yoga pose, always reach for the deepest breath. You heard me – we aren’t reaching for the toes … we’re reaching for the breath!

Flexibility is awesome, and as you practice – it’s sure to increase! But the strongest base of a yoga practice, is deep belly breathing. That oxygen is what will support both your strength and your stretch. 😉

There you have it, you’re all ready for yoga! I can’t wait for you to try the class!

Wishing you an incredible weekend and please – leave me your questions and comments below! I would love to hear if you have any lingering wonders about yoga as you kick off your own practice.

With Love,

Esta