Over 37 million Americans practice yoga, which shows it’s a popular pastime
Yoga has a range of health benefits, from strengthening your muscles to relieving you from stress. But if you’re not careful, you may make mistakes that could jeopardize your practice. Perhaps you’re excited to start your yoga journey but you’re worried about doing it incorrectly.
Sounds like you? Don’t worry, we’ve got your back. Here are six common beginner yoga mistakes to avoid.
Holding Your Breath
Breathing during yoga is a huge part of the practice, but newbies accidentally hold their breath in each pose. Whether you commit to 200 hour yoga training or one session, you’ll learn that focusing on your breath connects your mind and body. If you notice your breath has turned shallow, return to regular breathing and it’ll eventually guide you through each posture.
Comparing Yourself to Others
Aside from overspending on yoga mats and towels, a common mistake is comparing yourself to others, especially during class. Yoga is a personal practice so only focus on how far you’ve come as we all start from different places.
Whenever you start glancing at your neighbor, close your eyes, breath, and consider how you feel. This is the key to feeling nourished and inspired during your weekly yoga routine.
Being Inconsistent
You can only reap the benefits of yoga when you’re consistent. Sure, practicing every day may not be possible, but commit to at least three sessions a week. If not, it will take longer to see an improvement in your strength and flexibility, which are the major perks of this exercise.
Not Caring for Your Wrists
Different yoga poses target various areas, but most require strong wrists. During practice, your wrists support your body weight so warm them up beforehand. You should also spread your fingers widely when you’re in difficult positions and if you feel any pain, stop immediately.
Incorrect Alignment
The most common mistake is incorrect alignment, especially during warrior and high lunge poses. For instance, you may bring your knee too far forward or backward, which means you’re hyper-extending. To be safe, it’s wise to attend beginner classes until you perfect the basic postures.
Not Staying for Savasana
As yoga connects the mind and body, skipping savasana is a major no-no. In fact, savasana is equally important as the different poses. If you’re unfamiliar with this term, it’s the meditative pose at the end of practice where you lay supine and close your eyes.
But once you include it, you’ll leave feeling refreshed and ready to tackle your day.
Read More: Health Benefits of Adho Mukha Svanasana
Avoid These Common Beginner Yoga Mistakes Today
Hopefully, after reading this article, you know which common beginner yoga mistakes to avoid.
There are common issues such as holding your breath during the session, being inconsistent with your practice, and not correctly aligning your body. You should also avoid comparing yourself with others and always stay with savasana. Good luck!
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