Yoga has seen a rapid rise in popularity in recent years. Between 2012 and 2016 alone, the number of Americans trying yoga or regularly practicing it saw a 50 percent leap. Today, more than 36 million people in the U.S. practice yoga.
The beauty of yoga is that it’s accessible to everyone, regardless of athletic ability, flexibility, or even health or age. With so many styles of yoga classes to choose from, and adaptations or adjustments available to make poses possible for everybody, there’s no excuse not to give yoga a try!
But what if you’ve tried yoga, and find that you’re struggling to stick with it? If you find that you’re getting frustrated in class or don’t feel motivated to even get to the studio, it’s time to mix things up. It could be that you’re attending the wrong classes. Or that you’re putting too much pressure on yourself to be perfect. No matter the reason, it’s time to take a step back and analyze what’s causing your hesitation or struggles.
At Sun Rock Yoga, we believe that everyone can enjoy and reap the benefits of yoga. If you’re new to this engaging and restorative practice and ready to start your search for “yoga classes near me,” keep reading to learn a few simple tips for improving your practice.
Find the Right Yoga Classes for You
We truly believe that yoga is for everyone! But this doesn’t mean that every class or style of yoga is a good choice for beginners. When you start your search for “yoga classes near me,” don’t forget to make sure that there are classes available for those just starting their yoga practice.
A Mindful Flow class, for instance, is a good choice for beginners. This class is slower-paced and focused on being intentional with your body placement, rather than getting your heart rate up. By contrast, a fast-paced Power Yoga class might leave new yogis feeling lost and left behind.
If you struggle with flexibility or have limited mobility, a Chair Yoga class might be a better choice. This gentle form of yoga utilizes a chair to help give you support and greater confidence as you move through each yoga pose.
Perhaps the best choice for beginners is our Yoga Foundations class. These classes are designed specifically for new yogis, or for those who need a little refresher on the basics of yoga. The class pace is slow and focused on form and breathwork. This is a great starting point for building a strong foundation for your future practice!
Choose a Yoga Studio That Puts You at Ease
Finding yourself as a brand new beginner at a studio that clearly caters to experienced yogis can have you rethinking your next class. There’s nothing worse than feeling judged for your lack of experience. To keep yourself from giving up your new hobby before you’ve really had a chance to start it, it’s important to choose the right studio.
Beginners or those returning to yoga should look for a studio that welcomes individuals of every experience level. A studio and teachers that set you at ease and fellow students who help to encourage you can help you make your yoga practice a habit, and help you fall in love with it!
Make Yoga a Routine
Like most sports and hobbies, yoga takes practice, especially if you want to improve or master more difficult positions. It’s too often said that it takes 21 days to form a new hobby. But research suggests that it takes around 2 months for a new behavior to become automatic. Attending one or two yoga classes isn’t likely to help inspire you to make it a new habit.
If you want to improve your practice, make it a point to practice regularly right from the start. At Sun Rock Yoga, we offer a daily schedule of varied classes. Squeeze in a morning class on a weekday or a Saturday morning practice — just as long as you’re making a point to make yoga classes a regular part of your routine.
Practice Simple PosEs at Home
In addition to making yoga classes at your favorite studio a regular part of your routine, practicing simple poses at home can also help you to improve your practice. Avoid practicing poses that are difficult, or that you are uncertain of your posture for. The last thing that you want to do is wind up practicing the pose incorrectly.
However, practicing simple positions can help you to improve your flexibility and get comfortable with the feeling of moving your body from one pose to the next. Not ready to try a yoga pose on your own at home? You can also start stretching daily or practicing your breathing before your next class!
Relax and Have Fun!
There are plenty of health benefits that come with practicing yoga. But it’s difficult to reap these benefits if you’re worrying your way through every class.
Don’t get so caught up in trying to master a position that you forget to relax and have fun! If you want to enjoy benefits like less stress, lower blood pressure, and a boost in mood, don’t put pressure on yourself to be perfect.
Improving Your Yoga Practice
Whether you’re ready to sign up for your first session or have already tried several yoga classes and find that something isn’t quite right, these simple tips are a great starting point.
Before you can practice your breathing or get comfortable with new yoga positions at home, you need to find the right studio and classes for you. If Sun Rock Yoga appears when you’re searching for “yoga classes near me,” you’re in luck!
Voted Best Yoga Studio in Southern Utah 4 years in a row, Sun Rock Yoga offers a variety of yoga classes perfect for yogis at every stage in their practice. Our 30 for $30 pass allows new students to try any of our yoga classes for 30 days, for just $30. This is a great opportunity to try out a variety of classes to find the right ones for you. It also allows you to experience our beautiful studio.
Sign up today to start your own yoga journey!