Are you wanting to start a yoga practice, but not sure where to start?

Trust me, everyone’s been there.

I remember how intimidating it was in the beginning, but it’s important to remember: yoga is for every BODY.

Begin where you are, TODAY.

August 2016 crow pose
August 2016 crow pose
August 2018 crow pose
August 2018 crow pose

It can be quite discouraging to see the “experienced yogis” on social media doing badass poses that don’t even seem possible to you, but trust me:

they are achievable if you believe in yourself and your body’s capability.

In this post, I’ll explain how I came to start my yoga journey with no experience in gymnastics or sports, as well as some ways to kick-start your own practice without paying costly studio fees.

Let’s dive in to my personal story:

In 2013, I had my first son, Landon, and I was absolutely over the moon in love with him and with being a new mother.

However, the shadow of post postpartum depression crept in, and one day I realized how disassociated I was from the outside world.

I had become someone I couldn’t recognize anymore. I was constantly sad, and I felt truly lost as my own person.

I remember seeing a picture of Kino MacGregor doing a handstand and saying to myself: “This will be me.”

My journey started shortly after we moved to Wisconsin in 2015, where we lived for a year. I felt homesick, and the postpartum depression was still deep down inside of me, though I tried to hide and dismiss my emotions in hopes that it would go away. I decided to go on YouTube and watch yoga videos, thinking they would motivate me.

And they did. I came across Yoga with Adriene, and from that moment, I was hooked.

I dedicated a little time each day to my practice. In the very beginning, because I had absolutely no flexibility, I couldn’t even touch my toes. I’ll admit I felt defeated because I couldn’t do all the poses I saw on YouTube and Instagram. I read the quote “Practice and all is coming” and my mindset completely shifted. I came to realize that Yoga is not about ego, it has no destination. It is simply a journey of the self, to the self, through the self.

Dancer pose progress 3 years

I started to find more comfort in my own skin.

I started to truly take care of myself, and see myself.

I learned the acts of self love and self care, as they come hand in hand with the journey of yoga.

And then, I saw that it was OK to love myself, my body, my flaws.

It’s OK to take time out of your day for your own sake. It’s what keeps us sane. As mothers, and as humans.

We deserve that love, from ourselves.

Yoga has taught me so much in the past 5 years that I’ve practiced it.

I’ve learned patience, consistency, understanding of my body and of my emotions, and most importantly how to be a better mother and partner.

Some tips for getting started with your journey:

 

  • Watch YouTube videos. Yoga with Adrienne is a great place to start, and there are also hundreds of videos for yogis of every skill level.
  • Join Yoga challenges on Instagram (I highly recommend this not only to document your journey, but as well as learning fun poses and meeting other yogis that enjoy the same activities as you). Just search #yogachallenge on instagram and you’ll find a ton of different flyers/challenges for all skill groups.
  • TAKE PICTURES AND VIDEOS. The one is so important and I guarantee you’ll regret it if you don’t. It’s so amazing to look back on how far you’ve come in your practice and to see the progression of certain poses.
  • Invest in a good, sticky mat. You’ll want one where you can sweat on it and you won’t slip. I have this one by Toplus, and I absolutely love it as it is ecofriendly, has the perfect amount of grip, comes in different colors, and is super easy to clean! If you’re looking for a more heavy duty mat that’ll last longer, I recommend this one by Manduka, though it is a bit more pricey.
  • Use props. If you need to use a block or strap or if you need to use a wall for balance, that’s absolutely OK! My personal favorite props are my yoga wheel (I use this one from Gaiam), cork blocks (I use these ones from Gaiam as well), and a strap such as this one is essential as well if you have tight shoulders/hips.
  • Invite your kids to join you (you can find great YouTube yoga videos for kids here.)
  • Look for classes near you. Some studios do offer donation based classes. I recommend trying atleast a few classes to find the correct alignment of asanas, and to learn the Sanskrit names as well (if you’d like).

 

Helpful books that I’ve read along my yoga journey:

  • 2,100 Asanas (my absolute favorite book, the name says it all. It contains every asana imageinable, as well as modifications, information about, and how they help with certain ailments of the body).

 

 

  • Yoga Anatomy (provides a deep understanding of the structures and principles underlying each movement and of yoga itself).