As I mentioned during my previous post, I taught myself Hatha yoga using a couple of comprehensive, books (written in the late 60s and early 70s). Those books were the foundation of my personal training. I learned enough from them to teach a short, beginners Hatha Yoga course in my sophomore year of college over the January "winter term."
As interest in yoga spread over the years, classes began popping up literally everywhere. In major metropolitan areas and even in smaller cities, you can choose from dozens of yoga classes. According to a 2005 study sponsored by Yoga Journal magazine, Americans spend $2.95 billion annually on classes and products and 16.5 million U.S. adults practice yoga, up 43% from 2002 (the numbers must be higher now). Wow! And, that's an even larger increase from about 6 million in the early 1990s.
I have to admit that I have participated in only a small handful of yoga classes over the years. Now, remember, I was rather uncoordinated growing up and that didn't change too readily as I matured into adulthood! (My son and daughter still consider me to be uncoordinated...)
When I took a modern dance class in my freshman year of college, the instructor asked me undiplomatically at the end of the first session if I had ever really exercised! Needless to say, I immediately dropped her class. I admit I find it difficult to follow along in a group (or from a DVD). This caused me to be apprehensive about enrolling in yoga classes or any type of group instruction for a sport or physical activity. Fearful of embarrassing myself, I consequently focused on learning and practicing at home. And home practice has many other advantages which I will discuss in future posts.
However, since yoga classes now abound with many wonderful, certified instructions, of course you should consider enrolling in one, particularly if you thrive on the camaraderie of a group activity.
I have a few suggestions to maximize your benefits from the class (I like to maximize the benefits of everything!) Just over a week ago on a Saturday morning, I attended a free beginners class at the Willow Street Yoga Center in Silver Spring, Maryland. What a beautiful, spacious, pristine studio!
The subtle scent of pleasant incense wafted through the front room as I entered the top floor facility. The free introductory class was held in a large, light-filled room amply supplied with blankets, yoga mats, belts, blocks, and eye pads.
The class, taught by an ebullient, smiling woman, a former public policy analyst who exuded genuine passion in teaching Anusara yoga, was the best taught of the few yoga classes I have attended. According to the center's definition, Anusara Yoga is "a powerful hatha yoga system that unifies a Tantric philosphy of intrimsic Good with Universal Principles of Alignment."
Unlike some other yoga classes I attended, the instructor began the class by explaining some facets of yoga philosophy and she provided guidelines for gaining maximum benefits from yoga practice. She then instructed the 25-30 class attendees (the class was larger than usual because it was free) in warm-ups followed by basic, introductory poses such as the the tree and downward facing dog.
I found the class appropriate and supportive for the absolute beginner, even a klutz like me (if I had never previously done yoga)! To select the right yoga class and maximize your benefits from it, I recommend the following:
1) Call ahead and ask questions concerning the introductory class - what approach is taken? Does the instructor plunge the students into poses with little explanation or is at least some brief, background information provided about the philosophy of yoga?
2) Arrive at the class extra early - get a spot preferably in the FRONT row. That way you can see the instructor the entire time (except if she moves to the side of the room). I arrived early, but not early enough and was in the third row. At least 4 or 5 times my vision was blocked when the instructor demonstrated poses. You can't learn too well if that happens.
3) Just relax and enjoy and don't even think that the people around you are paying any attention to you (my fear). They aren't.
4) Use an eye pad for the final relaxation pose - it helps you zone out in bliss (really!) and is soothing for the eyes.