Yoga has several unique benefits that no other form of movement or exercise can offer you. The best thing about YOga is that it works on both body and mind. Therefore, it works at a much deeper level. After a yoga class, you can feel fresh and rejuvenated because it helps in aligning y our breath with your body. However, no one can be perfect at Yoga from their first class onwards. There are many minute details that you need to keep in mind, and it might get overwhelming if you are going for your very first yoga class.
Hence, to avoid this, you can simply remember these common Yoga mistakes and avoid them in your next class to reap the maximum benefits of your Yoga class.
- Holding Your Breath
One of the most common mistakes that most practitioners make is that of holding breath while practicing asanas. You must understand that your breath helps you go deeper into your asanas, and holding breath means holding tensions in your muscles. That tightens your muscles and stop you from going further deep in your practice. Therefore, you must always remember to breathe during yoga. Remember, breath gives you energy, and if you use it well, you will feel energized during your class. Sometimes, teachers might provide cues to inhale or exhale while practicing a particular asana. However, as a beginner, it might be challenging to finish the entire practice in one breath so you must take one or more extra breaths because holding breath is more harmful. With practice, you can always learn to finish one asana in one long inhalation or exhalation. But as a beginner, you must not stress about this and keep breathing all through your class.
- Locking Your Knee
One of the biggest misconceptions that most people who go to Yoga classes have is the practice of locking their knees. You must note that it is more important to keep your spine straight and go deeper into your asana practice than keeping your knee straight. Many times, people keep their knee straight in forward folds and try to touch the toes. However, it is more important to give support to your back and keep it straight. For example, in forward folds, you can keep your knee bent and bring your stomach to your thighs and then try to touch the toes. This will keep your spine straight and will also support your lower back. Moreover, locking your knees can also cause knee injuries or lower back injuries if you are not warmed up well before starting your practice. Therefore, it is just safe to keep your knees soft when you are practicing yoga.
- Not Using A Prop
Another common mistake of yoga practitioners is that they avoid using a prop while props can help in taking the practice to the next level. Moreover, they can also help you avoid injuries. Using simple blocks, bolsters, straps, blanket, walls, and any other prop can enhance your practice immensely. You can modify your asanas with the help of the props and go deeper into your stretches. For example, a strap helps you pull your legs higher up and feel a deeper level of backbend while practicing “Dharnurasana†or the bow pose.
Similarly, you can use the wall if you find it hard to practice the balancing asanas. Little by little, you can go deeper into your practice and let go of the props later. However, in the beginning, they can help you immensely.
- Comparing Yourself With Other Practitioners
Another common and a big mistake in a yoga class is to compare yourself with another practitioner. Yoga is all about finding your balance and seeing where you are in that particular moment. This cannot be adequately achieved if you compare yourself with other practitioners. Therefore, you must never compare yourself and keep your focus on the right things like your own practice and be in the moment. You must cherish your body and accept it wherever it is on that particular day. Pushing too much can also lead to injuries that might make you stop your practice too. Therefore, one of the most important lessons to remember when entering a yoga class is to be where you are on that day and never compare yourself with anyone.
- Confuse Between Inhale And Exhale
Confusion between inhale and exhale is also a common one. You must pay attention to your teacher and carefully hear the cues about inhalation and exhalation for each asana instruction. However, if it becomes too overwhelming, you can simply remember that whenever you have to open up your chest in an asana, you inhale and take in the air and whenever you have to close your chest, you release and exhale. These are the basic breathing principles in Yoga. So, if you find yourself on a yoga mat next time, remember to inhale when you open up and exhale when you close down. This will help you feel the asanas even more in your next Yoga class.
Final Words
Finally, you must note that yoga is fantastic and has several benefits. However, if you try to avoid these common mistakes next time, you will reap the benefits in a deeper and a faster way. These are some straightforward things and does not require a lot of efforts to follow them. Breathing is definitely the most important of all so if you align it well with your asanas; you will not just feel it more but also feel your practice all through the day even after finishing your yoga session. Also, the point about not comparing yourself to others in your yoga class is essential because that lets you accept your body the way it is and is also a part of the practice that you must take away even after the session. Remember, yoga is not just a set of asana practice but a lifestyle that can help you enhance your quality of life.
Author’s Bio:
Akash is a Content Writer at Diet Chart which is a leading Nutrition, Diet, Health and Fitness Blog. He is passionate for connecting human hearts through words and sharing resourceful knowledge, health and wellness tips like Yoga for Digestion. Through his work, he aspires to serve people, educate them and help them understand the significance of Diet, Yoga, Nutrition and Exercise to lead a healthy and fulfilling lifestyle.