After one week of yoga - wanting to share my experiences and my excitement

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

Dear all,
today, one week ago, I started my yoga practice, asana practice, I should say. I’ve tried several classes with different teachers:

  • my very first class was a vinyasa class in a yoga studio. I clicked immediately with the teacher, and I loved the class (today I went again). The class is based on a few, “easy” poses, mostly the elements from the sun salutation and warrior poses. I love it, 'cause it’s not too complicated on the one hand, but on the other, doing even these poses right is very demanding and almost impossible. The instructor also pays a lot of attention to breathing and alignment; in short, I love the class.

  • an intro class at my (college) gym , taught by an Iyengar yoga teacher. Very very basic so far, but at the same time the teacher is super super correct, which again makes even the basics very challenging and demanding. She also told us a lot about the history of yoga and provided a lot of background info on the why and how. It also seems to be a very good class which I like a lot. Unfortunately, cause of “budgetary reasons”, the intro class takes place only once per week.

  • a mixed Hatha yoga class (takes place 2x per week), again at the college gym. The instructor has a very good reputation and the class is very popular, but I fear it’s not for me. Although the instructor is very nice, it didn’t click; and I left the classes with a feeling of dissatisfaction so far. Maybe the class is simply too advanced for me right now, but since it was a pre-register, I have to stick with it for the next weeks. :wink:

All in all, I love what I’ve seen from yoga so far, but apparently the person and style of the teacher is very important to me. Do you have similar experiences? Or shouldn’t one be too focussed on the teacher but on the practice itself?

Best,
Anke

#2

…I had some issues with the other ones in my previous class. The teacher was really good, strict and so. But the other ones in the group were really annoying and not serious. So… I quit after a while. Now I am in another class with new teacher. This teacher is not so strict but the other ones are serious and so. This teacher have more personality, she is fun and so also. Everything feels quite ok, nothing particular is more better than something else. Just that everything together is really ok. Hope it will stay that way :slight_smile:

I feel that, that is the important thing. Try get an overall feeling of all factors. It’s hard to find something perfect. But if the overalll feeling is good then stick with it :slight_smile:

#3

I think everyone has clicked with some teachers more than others! I definitely have my favourite teachers. It’s just important to keep an open mind and not get too “stuck” on one teacher. Of course you’re gonna have your fav teacher(s), but some practitioners get so fixated on one teacher that they don’t go to any other teachers, and if they know their teacher is going to be away, they won’t come to class… And that’s not very yogi-like if you ask me!

In the beginning of your practice, your teachers are very important. There’s a lot to learn-as you are already learning!- and teachers can really help to get your body used to the correct alignment, transitions, breathing, all of it!:slight_smile: If you actually like your teacher then you’re much more likely to stick with the practice, and get more out of it.
Once you become more used to the practice, it won’t matter as much who’s teaching. The teacher will become more of a guide through your practice, and you will start to listen internally to your own inner teacher.

Anyway, have fun! Glad you are enjoying your first week of practice!