How To Do Yoga Correctly? 10 Tips To Elevate Your Practice
From weight loss to stress reduction and heart health, the benefits of Yoga are never-ending.
But to truly reap these benefits, you need to be aware of certain Yoga tips and tricks.
So if you’re a beginner wondering how to start Yoga or someone who’s been practicing Yoga for a while but looking out for the best Yoga tips to level up your game, then this blog is for you!
In this blog, we’ll share with you the top Yoga tips that’ll help you get the best out of every Yoga session.
Top 10 Yoga Tips
1. Don’t be hard on yourself
One of the best Yoga tips for beginners? Accept that you’re a beginner!!
That means you can’t walk into your first Yoga class and expect to be as bendy as Alia Bhatt:
Understand that everyone’s body is unique and it takes time to reach a certain level of flexibility. So just let go of all your expectations of being perfect at Yoga, and focus on the moment. With time your Yoga practice will evolve and you’ll be amazed at what your body can achieve.
2. Get your basics right
You can’t attempt a Surya Namaskar without first mastering the basic Yoga poses including downward Dog, cobra pose, plank, etc. So, ensure that you master the basics when you’re a Yoga beginner.
Another excellent Yoga tip – Don’t rush through your poses and move slowly and mindfully. This will help you maintain proper alignment and prevent any unwanted injuries.
3. Invest in a premium Yoga mat
One of the top Yoga tips that we recommend is getting a superior-quality Yoga mat.
Choose a Yoga mat that provides enough padding and support (4-5 mm thick is ideal), is dense, is anti-slip, can be cleaned easily, and is preferably bacteria-resistant and toxin-free.
Trust us, the last thing you want is to be slipping and sliding all over the place during your Yoga practice.
Related: What's The Difference Between A Gym Mat And A Yoga Mat?
4. Don’t shy away from props
When you’re starting, it might be difficult for you to sink deeper into a pose, achieve proper alignment, or hold a pose for longer. That’s why one of the top tips for Yoga beginners is to invest in Yoga props such as blocks, bolsters, and straps.
These props can give you the support (and the confidence) you need and make your Yoga practice much more doable.
Related: How Long Should You Keep A Yoga Mat?
5. Breathing is key
Breath awareness is an integral part of Yoga. Focusing on your breath helps you stay in the present moment, and cultivates a deeper connection with your body's movements, and alignment that in turn translates to an effective Yoga practice.
As a bonus, you’ll notice your stress levels dropping and your sleep quality improving! Win-win!
6. Practice on an empty stomach
One of the top Yoga tips is to practice Yoga in the mornings after you’ve emptied your bowels and bladder and before your breakfast. This prevents discomfort or indigestion during your Yoga practice and helps you bend and move easily.
If you can’t fit in your Yoga sessions before breakfast, ensure that you practice only 2-3 hours after a meal.
7. Do your warm-up
Perform a few warm-up movements including neck, shoulder, and ankle rotations, hip circles, neck tilts, etc. to enhance your flexibility and range of motion and also to prevent injuries during your Yoga session.
Sukshma Vyayama is also a great warm-up exercise that can make your joints super flexible and prep your body for more intense forms of Yoga.
You might like: Can We Do Yoga And Gym Together? Answered By Experts
8. Listen to your body
Another pro Yoga tip is to never force yourself into a pose. If you experience pain in any part of the body, especially your knees, spine, etc., modify your poses or come out of it, if necessary.
Be particularly careful when you’re transitioning between various poses as this is when you’re more prone to injuries.
9. Be consistent
Did you know that even 12 minutes of Yoga a day can fortify your bones and prevent osteoporosis?
So, if you can’t carve out 1 hour, twice a week for your Yoga sessions, don’t sweat it! Just do 15-minute daily sessions instead. The key is to be consistent.
10. Don’t skip your Shavasana
A lot of us are tempted to ditch the final Shavasana and just get back to our daily routine. But here’s why you shouldn’t.
Shavasana helps activate the parasympathetic nervous system thus bringing you to a calm, stress-free state. It also helps your body and mind to assimilate all the physical and mental changes that occurred during your Yoga practice, thus making your session an effective one.
This means a Yoga practice without a final Shavasana is as good as not doing Yoga at all.
Conclusion
We hope these Yoga tips will help you savor every moment that you spend on your Yoga mat and experience the profound benefits of Yoga.
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