Having a hard time with yoga!

Hello!
I started doing yoga recently and it’s hard! I was wondering: is it going to get any easier? Just doing a warrior pose gets me out of breath! Any tips for a beginner would be very helpful and much appreciated! Have a great day! :smiley:
Jessica

Hello Jessica,

As in all things, there is a learning curve. However there should always be a level of challenge in the physical practice of asana (postures) which is a tiny part of Yoga.

If you have lead a sedentary life or are an older adult (or both) then a physical practice of any sort might be “hard”. It is likely that the difficulties that face you now will not be the same difficulties that face you in your practice 6 months from now - presuming a mindful, dedicated continuing practice.

In the meantime you are likely to find parts of your body you were not finding before and have some muscle soreness, perhaps for several days at a time.

Enjoy. This too shall pass. :slight_smile:

InnerAthlete is completely right, as with anything, it is harder when you start, but be diligent, don’t give up on it, and you will find within just a couple of weeks you are not so out of breath, you are able to hold the positions just a little more easily, and this will also progress as you stay with it.
Good for you for doing something so good for yourself that will make your life so much better!

Aloha, Jessica! Be patient with yourself…yoga takes time. Building strength and flexibility takes time, too. Make sure that you are focusing on deep, full breaths throughout your practice. If you are running out of breath, slow down…breathe. breathe. breathe. Allow your breath to help you relax into each pose, deepening it with every exhale. Yoga should be challenging, but never painful…nor exhausting…after a good practice, you should feel strong, yet relaxed…and yes, your muscles will feel a little achy the next few days…but do some simple stretches, take a hot bath, and trust that you are building and healing your body.

What style of yoga are you currently doing? Each style is unique…some teachers like to push, push, push…some are too mellow…find what works for you. My students always comment that even though they sweat, they feel like they are floating and walking taller for the rest of the day…and I attribute it all to focusing on deep breathing and proper alignment throughout the class. I also do not hold the poses so long that you reach the point of nausea…just enough to really go deep, feel the release, and then move on… a gentle challenge is what I aim to bring to each class and it seems to work wonders for our final meditation and beyond.

Just as inner athlete said, with mindful, dedicated practice you will see the transformation taking place little by little…even on the most subtle levels of your being.
…and make sure you smile with each inhale; it sends good energy all through your body and lifts your spirits, too! : )

Best wishes…

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