It’s been over 2 years since I’ve gotten utterly smitten by the yoga bug. From the first time I rolled out a mat, till today where the universe has gifted me with the skills to guide others with their firsts, this roller-coaster journey has been nothing short of spectacular. However, over the course of myriad classes(as a student), there were a lot of junctures where I was brimming with questions, most of which I should have asked but didn’t. Interestingly, as my class experiences progressed to a level where I could view sessions from the other end of the spectrum(as a teacher), answers for a majority of the erstwhile confounding questions effortlessly materialized.

So yes, what better way to celebrate this day than to shed some clarity into this magical world. As the title goes, this piece will be a compilation of a few of these NFAQs (Not-so-Frequently-Asked-Questions) which might pop inside a novice yoga practitioner.

1.What items do I need to start yoga?

If you are planning to start a steady practice, investing in a good quality mat is essential. Many poses require good gripping and many others require cushioning for your joints. These criteria can be satisfied only by a proper yoga mat and not a makeshift one with blankets or sheets. Other basic necessities are – a bottle of water (will be used ‘just-in-case’), and a sweat-absorbent towel (will definitely be of use). Forget fancy props like ropes, stretch bands and blocks for the moment. Lets first get your body groovin’!

Of course, this goes without saying -The absolute must-haves for starting yoga is an effervescent attitude, an open mind, and limitless courage to dive deeper into your internal spheres.

2. What should I eat before a class? Or should I eat at all?

It is highly recommended to do yoga on an empty stomach, i.e after major portion of your digestive cycle is complete. Average time to digest a meal ranges from 3-5 hours. So, it would be ideal to start your session with a minimum gap of 3-4 hours from your last meal. To avoid this confusion of timing your sessions, it would be better if you can squeeze some time in the wee-hours of the morning. Your stomach will be empty, you’ll take in the fresh morning air and the best part is that you’ll be fully-charged and running around like that Energizer bunny, whizzing past your routine activities with a new-found gusto!

All said and done, if you still feel the need to grab a bite before a session, take a light snack, such as fruits or nuts (but that too with a minimum gap of 10-15 minutes before starting). Your poor tummy will cry out loud during the contorted postures if you don’t pay heed to this advice.

3. Can I keep my phone nearby? What if I get important calls?

Despite popular belief, our smartphones are not our third-limb, so they need not accompany us to the session. This time is exclusively for you and you only. So what if you miss some important calls? Is it more important than the time specifically reserved to enhance your mental and physical health? Wailing phones during sessions completely defeats the whole point of doing yoga. This time is meant to tune out all external distractions so as to aid you to establish that subtle communication with your body which is very sensitive to mental and physical disturbances. Keep your phones away, or in silent mode (or both!) and keep them electronic cries from ruining your super special ‘me’-time.

4. What kind of clothes should I wear?

Don’t let Instagram fool you into mandatory trapping yourself into branded sportswear to perform a session. If your clothes are ill-fitting, restrict your movement, or if they make you conscious throughout of whether they are going to stay put, then its time to head to the changing room. When choosing the right kind of yoga-wear, comfort should take precedence above all. Opt for moderately fitting clothes made of breathable fabric which is neither too tight (else your breathing could get restricted), nor too loose(else your clothes might not do the job they are meant to do!). Yoga is all about accepting, embracing and ultimately celebrating your self, and this applies to your physical self as well. So pay heed to what your body feels most comfortable in, for it to express itself unobstructed.

5. Is it okay to frequently run out of breaths during sequences? Is it okay to not be able to hold inhale-exhale counts as per instructions?

Of course yes. It is completely alright to feel out-of-breath while performing asanas. But instead of worrying about whether you have reduced lung capacity, just focus on taking deep and slow fuller breaths through your nose (unless otherwise specifically instructed) while doing the asanas. It is but natural to want to hold your breath while doing few balancing or strengthening poses, but it is best if you fight off this urge and breathe steadily, for conscious and aligned breathing is the foundation of all yogic practices. In sequences (such as Suryanamaskar), if you feel that you aren’t able to keep up with the instructor’s counts, don’t fret. Take your time and try doing the postures to the best of your abilities. Proper alignment, technique and breath-work is way more crucial than rushing through the sequence merely to keep up with the class.

6. Is there risk of injury?

Let me give it to you straight. Yes. There is as much risk of injury with yoga as with any other physical activity. But it is dependent upon a host of factors, few of them being:

• the style of yoga,
• the complexity of the pose,
• your instructor’s experience and expertise,
• whether you have an instructor at all (i.e – you practice on your own),
• your personal health, fitness and strength levels,
• your weak areas (due to overuse or prior injury),
• whether you have warmed-up adequately.

If you are a beginner, I cannot stress enough on developing your practice under the guidance of an experienced teacher. The scope for potential injury shoots up if you decide to tackle tricky poses on your own or from a YT video. Trust me, many an easy-looking pose could actually be pretty intricate. And the nuances to help you get it right can only be offered by a person who has done that very pose a gazillion times. I often joke to my students that if you are not feeling challenged in a particular pose, chances are you aren’t doing it right;)

 

[About the Author]

Prathi Balasubramanian is a yoga instructor from Chennai. She’s a budding vegan chef, depth-of-field shots aficionado, arbitrary doodlist, macrocosm freak and basically just a human who prefers peace over pandemonium. She is a certified instructor from International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center. She also completed her fellowship in Sustainable Living from Bhoomi College and currently resides in Bangalore.

Check out her blog site here: https://prathibalasubramanian.wordpress.com/

From EcoChimp:

Prathiba was my class mate in Bhoomi College from 2018-19. I have had the wonderful privilege of attending her yoga sessions in the morning. It helped me kick start my confidence to go ahead and try doing it on my own. I probably wasn’t the best student but she was a wonderful teacher – calm and patient!

I hope you enjoyed the article and please do share with those who are looking to start or have started doing yoga. Of course all views and tips expressed here are not mine so if you have anything to share, comment below.

Happy Yoga-ing!