Tips and Precautions To Take During Yoga Practice
Whether you are new to yoga or looking to deepen your practice this article will share beginner-friendly yoga tips and precautions to take during yoga practice.
In this article, we will cover:
- Prerequisites To Starting A Yoga Practice
- Yoga Gear Essentials For Beginners
- Precautions To Take During Yoga Practice
- Yoga Breathwork Precautions
Let’s dive right in!
Prerequisites To Starting A Yoga Practice
Try starting with these prerequisites before diving into the deep waters of yoga.
Read Up On The 8 Limbs Of Yoga
The 8 Limbs of yoga are guiding principles for an aspiring yogi. Asana which are the poses we often associate with yoga is only ⅛ of the yoga pie.
- YAMA – Restraints, moral disciplines or moral vows
- NIYAMA – Positive duties or observances
- ASANA – Posture
- PRANAYAMA – Breathing Techniques
- PRATYAHARA – Sense withdrawal
- DHARANA – Focused Concentration
- DHYANA – Meditative Absorption
- SAMADHI – Bliss or Enlightenment
Get familiar with them to gather a deeper understanding of yoga and its teachings.
Choose Your Yoga Setting
It’s important to choose a clean environment with little to no noise pollution.
It can be as simple as the space right by your bed at first with your favorite candle placed somewhere intentionally.
Find A Yoga Teacher
The internet is your friend with this, especially when starting out. We recommend yoga with Adriene but we’ll let you choose.
Home yoga and home workouts are officially the most accessible way to develop a daily fitness routine right from your living room or home gym.
Yoga Gear Essentials For Beginners
Although you technically do not need anything other than your body and breath here is some yoga gear that might aid you in committing to daily practice and guaranteeing safety.
Your Bare Feet
Socks are slippery so we recommend you take them off when practicing and using your bare feet.
A Non-Slip- Yoga Mat
Choose a non-slip and sturdy yoga mat- this will be key in ensuring you are practicing safely and taking care of yourself. If you are more interested in a little extra padding and room, the GXMMAT extra-large yoga mat collection is a great option for optimized room to stretch out, sweat, and sink deeper in their poses.
Lots And Lots Of Yoga Props
Use a lot of yoga props at first such as blocks, blankets, and bolsters. If these are not available to you books, towels and pillows make great substitutes.
Precautions to take during yoga practice
Yoga is as much about being safe and comfortable. The goal is not to become a pretzel but rather to see if we can find the perfect balance between balance and ease. Practice these precautions during your yoga practice to ensure maximum safety.
Warm The Body
It’s important to adequately prepare the body for movent by practicing gentle stretching before your yoga practice.
Use Non-Slip Yoga Mat
While it can be tempting to choose the cheapest mat available, the cheaper mats are often made with lower-quality materials which can be very slippery. Try the GXMMAT clean non-slip yoga mat, which is not only grippy right out of the box, it’s also eco-friendly.
Keep Your Eyes Open
Practice with the eyes open at first while you learn the yoga poses and practice mastering your form and alignment.
Ease Up On Alignment And Be Safe- Yoga Is A Lifelong Journey
No need to worry about getting it “right” just by showing up to your yoga mat you’ve already done enough.
Do Not Practice Yoga Right After Eating
This Can Cause Discomfort And Difficulty Digesting Your Food.
Do Not Practice Yoga Asana While Healing From Injury
Avoid putting strain on the body while healing or recovering from any type of injury especially those involving the neck, shoulders, back, or knee.
Yoga while pregnant:
Talk to your doctor about taking up a yoga practice. For more information visit this page by the mayo clinic on practicing yoga while pregnant.
Yoga Breathwork Precautions
Yoga involves working with controlling the breath known as Pranayama (the 4th limb of yoga) but remember these important tips when working with the breath:
- Connect with your breath but never force or strain it.
- Breathe in through your nose and avoid breathing through your mouth.
- Never force yourself to breathe in any type of way if you are uncomfortable. You should never experience shortness of breath or hyperventilation.
Above all, remember to have fun. Happy and safe practicing!
