Whats your best advices to a newb?

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

I would like to know what’s your best advices to a newb when preparing to learn yoga. What are the most important things I need to know?
Are there any danger factor? This is so new to me and Im afraid to fail and give up.
Thanks.

edit:
I would like to know also which are the best techniques for a beginner like me, and why?

#2

I had two students in class tonight who had never taken a yoga class before - ever. And so they showed up together to go through the process. It was very sweet.

I don’t think new folks should get all that much advice. How can you advise someone on something they have no idea about, have never tried, and is so vast. How would I advise a kindergartner about 12 years of education?

However, if there were one morsel that might be the germinating seed, to me it would be direction on how to find the right practice, venue and teacher for that person. Just as you place a kindergartner in the right school then let them go.

So I suggest choosing four of the local studios, determine in what style or lineage they teach (ask them, read their web site, talk to friends), find the style that seems to suit your intentions for pursuing yoga, then call and ask four questions of each of the studios. I like these four though you can pick your own.

  1. What is your teaching philosophy?
  2. In what ways are your teachers trained (hours of training, continuing education, certifications)
  3. Does the practice cover asana, pranayama, meditation, and philosophy?
  4. How should I expect my life to reflect my practice (over time)?

Hear their answers and feel their tone. Or feel their answers and hear their tone.
Narrow the list to two. Take five classes at each studio with at least three different teachers at each place. Then pick one.

#3

Welcome to yoga. I always tell my new yogis the following Zen parable:

A man was walking across a field when he encountered a tiger. He fled, the tiger chasing after him. Coming to a cliff, the man caught hold of a wild vine and swung himself over the edge of the cliff where he dangled between heaven and earth. The tiger sniffed at him from above. Terrified the man looked down only to see that there was another tiger sitting, waiting to eat him. As the man comtemplate his predicament two mice started the eat away at the vine. Then the man saw this luscious strawberry near him growing out of the face of the cliff, the man reached with his one hand, plucked the stawberry and ate it while thinking how sweet it tasted.

So is it with the yoga path as well. It might look terrifying initially and full of the unknown, but the end result is so sweet and lusious and delicious, if you persist and persevere.

If I can offer you another piece of advise: then it will be to cultivate awareness and stick to your practice no matter what.

Good luck.