New To Yoga?

If you are new to Yoga, it is good to bear in mind that sometimes when you first start practicing yoga you may feel a bit lost in your practice initially. If so please do not worry, and do what you can – you are learning something new. Remember every master was once a beginner. It takes the majority of people at least five to ten classes to be able to start to go with the flow. Forget about how strong or flexible you are, and work with your body’s ability – you will benefit from trying your best, and not pushing yourself too hard. If you see other participants seemingly finding everything really easy; remember they too were beginners once, and will have been practicing longer than you. I will be helping and assisting you along the way. Yoga is not competitive, so if you need a rest please take one – I always encourage participants to listen to their body, be in the moment, and work with your body regardless how deep you are able to go into a posture.  Postures (asanas) in a typical Hatha class are generally held between 5 to 10 breaths - sometimes less, sometime more in other types of classes.

What to Expect in a Typical Class:  The 5 Stages of a Yoga Class

Every yoga class follows a natural curve—starting slow, building up a little bit of energy, and then winding down into deep relaxation. Here is how your time on the mat is structured:

1. The Arrival & Centring (5 Mins)

What happens: You’ll start by sitting or lying down. The teacher will invite you to close your eyes, let go of your day, and focus on your breathing. You may be introduced to a particular type of breathwork.

The Goal: To transition your mind from the busy outside world onto your yoga mat.

2. The Warm-Up (5–10 Mins)

What happens: Gentle, slow movements to wake up the joints and muscles.

The Goal: To safely prepare the body for the bigger movements ahead.

3. The Main Flow / Postures (20–30 Mins)

What happens: This is the heart of the class. You will move through a series of poses (asanas) that build strength, balance, and flexibility.

4. The Cool-Down (5–10 Mins)

What happens: The intensity drops. You will move back down to the floor for deeper, longer-held stretches—often targeting the hips, hamstrings, and back.

The Goal: To calm the heart rate down and soothe the nervous system.

5. Savasana / Final Relaxation (5 Mins)

What happens: The best part of class! You lie completely flat on your back, close your eyes, and do absolutely nothing. The teacher might guide you through a brief meditation or leave you in quiet stillness, or listen to some relaxing music. Most teachers will also include a reading at the end of a class too.

The Goal: To absorb the benefits of your practice and leave the room feeling entirely refreshed.

Make use of the props given to you - they will enable you to achieve postures you may find difficult - I will guide you on their use during the class. Expect to be adjusted. It is normal practice in Yoga, for the teacher to make adjustments to your body, in order to aid your learning to mind and body connection, and for you to reap the benifits safely.  All postures are named in Sanskrit (an ancient Indian language), but I will also name them in English. Do not worry too much about remember the names - you will become familiar with them over time, if you attend on a regular basis. Enjoy the journey and breathe through it, and never feel afraid to ask questions.