When I first started at Breathe Together Yoga, I heard so many positive things from new and experienced students. This feedback often revolved around the people, the classes, and everything they had to offer. This allowed me to have a good idea of how beginner-friendly certain classes would be and gave me insight into where to start.
A friend had suggested we take a class together one morning for fun. On the schedule, I noticed a Foundations of Yoga class taught on Wednesdays. We decided to take this class, and even though we were taking it together, I was still quite nervous. Since I had never done a yoga class before, I was worried I would mess up, be judged, embarrass myself, and stand out as a beginner. This mindset prevented me from taking a class and trying out yoga altogether because I was afraid to try something new and be perceived.
However, when I went in for the class and started setting up, the environment was already beginning to feel very welcoming. The students were nice, there was a lot of space, and there was a common understanding that a good amount of us were new students. The teacher made sure all the students felt comfortable and guided us through each pose. We even shared quite a few laughs.
The class taught me a lot about the different poses, information about yoga, and my flexibility, which helped me explore outside my comfort zone. A few of us students were struggling to keep our knees touching the wall in a certain pose, and other students who had taken previous yoga classes could do it a bit better, everyone was accepted where they were. Once the class had finished, I immediately felt refreshed but also a little bit sleepy from the relaxing segment at the end. Even though I did not know what to expect going into the class, at the conclusion my mindset shifted – I could take other beginner classes and I would fit right in. I felt excited to try more classes.
Overall, taking that class was a wonderful experience and a great class to take as a first-time student of yoga. It helped open my mind to new opportunities and showed me the “limits” of my body currently, and how I can improve and work on my flexibility through more movements like the ones we learned.
