Introduction to Yoga - Your First Class

Australian Yoga Life

by Laya Fisher

When people ask me what I do for a living, the response of 'yoga teacher' often evokes countless questions, a multitude of misconceptions and the inevitable admissions of many that want to try a yoga class but haven't gotten around to it yet. In this article I aim to answer those questions most frequently asked, demystify common misconceptions and encourage you to embark on an exciting expedition into the uncharted territory of your first yoga class.

The main concerns I hear from people considering taking up yoga is that they aren't flexible enough, that they won't be any good at it or they fear they'll look foolish in front of others in a class. The first fact you need to know is that yoga is for everybody . Whether you're stiff as a board, relaxed as a ragdoll, fit and coordinated as a competitive athlete or round and clumsy as a couch potato, there is a class out there to suit your individual needs.

A true yoga class contains a sequence of therapeutic postures designed to engage not only your body, but much more importantly, your mind and breath as well. It is just as much about inner strength as it is about outer muscles. While a yoga class is meant to challenge some of your comfort zones, it isn't meant to be a punishing, purely physical or competitive environment.

Before we begin to explore the numerous styles of classes available, it's important to understand that yoga is a highly individual pursuit whose underlying principles promote honouring, working with and accepting each individual exactly as they are in the present moment. Yoga is not a religion or attached to any particular dogma.

Prior to choosing and starting any class, you need to ask yourself what it is that you hope for from your practice. A common reason people first take up yoga is to prevent and ease their physical discomforts, such as chronic lower back pain, repetitive strain injuries and frequent headaches. Or they hope to learn strategies to help cope with and alleviate the symptoms of stress, anxiety or depression. Others want to tone up and look great. And then there are those who want to learn to relax, meditate or explore a more "spiritual" side to life, even if they're unsure as to what that means. These are all valid motivations. A consistent practice of yoga will reap many of these benefits to its practitioner.

Make sure, however, that you're not being unrealistic in your expectations and looking to yoga to be another quick fix. Only patience and regular attendance of yoga classes will provide you with that ever-increasing sense of self-control and gradual expansion of self-awareness on all levels. When practiced consciously, yoga encourages concentration, inner stillness, perseverance, patience, self-acceptance, objective self-observation and a sense of humour, all of which bring balance and harmony to the body, mind & spirit. If you think this all sounds a bit to good to be true, try it. I doubt you will be disappointed!

Okay, so now that you're armed with the basics and are eager to try your first yoga class. How do you choose which one is right for you? Below is a description of some of the more frequently encountered styles of yoga classes that are available to help get you started on the journey. There are many others that you can explore -- the internet is an ideal way.

Hatha Yoga: This is the physical path of yoga, the most common style known to the western world. All the classes listed here fall into this category. While classes described as simply "Hatha Yoga" do vary in their intensity levels from a relaxed to moderate pace and have minor variations in structure, this will give you an idea of what you can expect when you turn up.

A typical hatha yoga class generally lasts one and a half-hours. It begins with a brief centring/relaxation exercise incorporating simple breath awareness and is often performed while lying down on your back with your eyes closed in the classical relaxation posture called "Corpse Pose". This is to help you let go of external concerns and sensory impressions so that you can become more focused and sensitive to how you are feeling internally and to the effects that the breath has on your body.

After this you will move on to bodily postures that address issues of mind-body-breath coordination, blood circulation, strength, balance and flexibility. The emphasis is on gaining flexibility throughout the entire spine. In yoga we believe a flexible spine can equal a flexible mind. All postures encourage release of toxins and blockages from the physical, mental and emotional levels of our being.

Most classes then move on to specific breath control exercises usually performed in an easy cross-legged position or any of the other classical seated postures. Paying attention to your breathing is one of the body's most powerful ways to cleanse, relax and recharge, and these exercises generally help to prepare your body and mind for the guided relaxation to follow.

The end of the class usually consists of a guided relaxation. It is usually done while lying in the corpse posture again and varies from teacher to teacher. Quite often you are guided through a rotation of consciousness through the different parts of your body, learning to relax each one in turn and eventually coming to a point of complete surrender. Visualisation may also be incorporated into the relaxation.

The following is a very brief introduction to some of the different "styles" or "schools" of yoga that you may have seen written about, some of which have the names of individuals - such as Iyengar and Satyananda attached to them. There are many others. Most classes they will follow the structure outlined above to varying degrees.

Iyengar Yoga: Iyengar yoga classes provide and incorporate the use of props like bolsters, blankets and blocks to help assist those with any special needs such as injuries or skeletal imbalances. It also focuses intensely on precise alignment and the subtleties of each posture, thus holding them for longer periods of time than in many other hatha yoga classes. BKS Iyengar developed this style.

Ashtanga yoga: This rigorous yoga style is the one you hear about favoured by the more athletically inclined individual. It's more of a fast-paced aerobic flow, moving quickly from one posture to another with the aim of building flexibility, strength and stamina. This style is based on the teachings of Sri K.Pattabhi Jois.

Dru yoga: a gentle and graceful flowing style suitable for people of all ages and abilities. It focuses on the subtler energetics of the body within the postures and sequences.

Bikram yoga: A set sequence of 26 postures performed repeatedly in a room where the temperature is turned up 35 to 40 degrees for the purpose of cleansing the body from the inside out.

Satyananda yoga: Classes in the Satyananda tradition are gentle with a careful progression and is ideal for someone wanting to start a softer practice. A typical feature of this style is the longer guided relation sessions and regular sitting meditations.

Yoga in Daily Life: This is a classical style yoga that includes gentle asanas, breathing, relaxation and meditation. While remaining true to its authentic Indian roots it has been developed to meet today's modern lifestyle.

Due to the numerous styles of classes available and the fact that many yoga teachers combine techniques from the various schools, it's important that when you find a style you think matches your needs, you speak to the teacher before joining the class. Ask them what happens during their class. This will give you a better idea if the class leans toward vigorous and athletic or more relaxing and meditative. If you let the teacher know what you're looking for in a class and if they don't feel they're the right teacher for you, most will be happy to refer you on to someone more suitable. You may need to explore several different styles and teachers before finding what feels right for your needs and personality. Make sure you tell all teachers about any pre-existing injuries, illnesses or conditions like high blood pressure, slipped disc, recent surgeries, obesity, pregnancy and so on.

Class sizes vary and the majority of yoga classes on offer range in price from $10 to $15. Another aspect of cost to consider is that some teachers accept casual attendance and payment while others require bookings or payment for a set term of classes. Some studios provide yoga mats and others require you to have your own.

To find out what kinds of classes are available in your area, consult your local paper, Yellowpages or noticeboard or search the internet.

Last words of advice before you set off on your search - remember that yoga isn't about any destination or end goal, it's ultimately the journey that counts.

May your journey be bountiful and beautiful. Bon Voyage!

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