Since the pandemic hit the world, most of us have made significant changes in our lives. Faced with lockdowns and social distancing, many people chose yoga as a way of dealing with stress.
This ancient practice takes a lot of time to master, but to some, it looks unattainable, making them wonder—how to get better at yoga? If you’re one of them, here are a few simple tips to up your game.
Tips on How to Get Better at Yoga
Recently published yoga statistics tell us that over 300 million people in the world practice yoga regularly. A lot of them know there are certain steps to follow in order to be even better at it.
Adjust your diet.
Eating light is one of the essential tips for yoga beginners because it’s a change that can completely turn around your yoga experience. Food generally remains in the stomach for up to two hours. So, make sure you give your stomach enough time to prepare before class/practicing yoga. Also, avoid heavily processed and spicy food, dairies, or anything that takes long to process and makes you uncomfortable or sick during certain poses.
Including dates into your diet is also a smart move. Dates are very nutritious, rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, so they’ll keep you energized throughout your session without burdening your stomach.
Keep your body sufficiently hydrated.
If you find this step somewhat challenging, here’s what a lot of yoga teachers share as one of their special yoga tips—add some flavor to your water. Vegetables and fruit will be your best ally in this effort.
Add cucumber, lemon, mint, or frozen berries to your water and let it sit for 15–30 minutes. Making water tastier will make it easier for you to drink enough liquids and be energized without reaching for unhealthy juices or energy drinks.
This yoga tip is generally foolproof but it may take you some time to find the right flavor. Cucumber slices give your water a fresh taste, but lemons/limes/oranges give it that extra kick. If you don’t have time to cut your vegetables and fruit, you can also try adding herbs like mint, basil, or ginger.
Invest in yoga clothes and props.
While many believe that sports apparel is just another trick to lure people into spending money, numerous yoga tips recommend that you invest in appropriate tops and bottoms. The reasons behind this are practical.
Yoga takes concentration, and you can’t focus properly if uncomfortable or baggy clothes are getting in the way of your movement. Form-fitting clothes will provide you with a better insight into and control over how your body moves.
Memorize yoga-specific expressions.
The most practical advice on how to get better at yoga is taking the time to learn the names of the poses, starting from the basics. While many yoga teachers do give more detailed instructions, knowing what the names signify will bring you one step closer to achieving perfection. Once you tune your mind and body, you will find yourself instinctually shifting through the poses.
Pretty much the same yoga tips go for beginners at home. Not knowing what the names signify will force you to frequently look at your app/computer/book, which can actually be frustrating.
Empty your mind.
Increased stress levels are pushing the world toward a mental health crisis, and many people choose yoga as a way to deal with it.
A yoga tip you should follow closely is calming your mind while you’re practicing. If you’re just focusing on everyday life problems, yoga turns into a mere stretching session, which is not the point.
When or if you feel your mind is restless, take a break. Then take a deep breath, and continue breathing slowly and thinking about the movement of your muscles.
Bonus Yoga Tips for Beginners
If you’re still not feeling confident enough or not sure if the previous advice will be enough to get you to your goal sooner, here are some additional tips.
- Stop comparing. When we feel we’re not good enough, we have a tendency to compare and analyze. However, this is completely unproductive when it comes to yoga and is simply a waste of precious time. One of the basic tips for yoga rookies is learning how to focus on yourself and your own progress.
- Be realistic. Never forget that developing skills and mastering yoga takes time and energy, as well as a lot of dedication. It’s crucial to bear that in mind, get to know your body, and not push it over your limits.
- Laugh. At the end of the day, happiness is what matters most. Approaching everything with a positive attitude will help you relax and even feel more optimistic about any skill or discipline you’re trying to perfect, including yoga.
Because of the therapeutic effects laughter has on alleviating stress and anxiety, this is also one of the most important tips for new yoga teachers. It’s especially helpful for those who might be feeling nervous about teaching or joining a yoga class for the first time.
Conclusion
Yoga is really challenging, but also highly rewarding once you start mastering it. Both physical and mental benefits are numerous, so it’s certainly worth the effort. We hope this short guide on how to get better at yoga will prove useful in getting you closer to your goal and bringing improvement in the near future.
