🖤How to start a yoga practice if you don't know shit about yoga🖤
Start SLOW. There is a literally so much to learn you won't be able to wrap your mind or body around it all at once... so pace yourself. It's a journey not a destination.
Why are you interested in yoga? There seem to be two major ways of going about yoga in the west.... The more spiritual ones who are seeking balance and self reflection, or the more practical ones who are after the physical benefits. Neither one is better than the other and most people probably want both sides in some aspect, but knowing why you are starting a practice will help you know where to start (personally I'm more practical and am looking for hip and shoulder mobility, but also do some meditation to help with my mental health.)
You absolutely don't need to spent a ton of money. YouTube videos for beginners exist for a reason. Not to mention online classes. Introductory classes can be found for free or cheap if you check around, and yes, it is best to have an instructor get you started in person. If you're more spiritual, it will most likely be more important for you to have someone guide you through each class, but practicing yoga at home (safely) for free is better than no yoga.
Safety first. Only do what you are confident in, don't push yourself to injury, find a starting point that feels almost too easy and then double and triple check everything to make sure you are getting it right before you challenge yourself.
Create a space. Even if your home practice consists of meditation and a simple stretch routine, or only an occasional yoga video, or maybe a weekly class with a daily home practice.... Find what works for you and make a space in your home so yoga can be part of your life.
