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Yoga offers a wide range of benefits for men of all ages. Not only does it helps relieve stress, but it also aids in weight loss, builds muscle and strength, boosts work productivity, and even enhances one’s sex life.
Still, despite all these health benefits, only 28% of all yoga practitioners are men.
If men are more aware of yoga’s life-changing benefits, then this number may increase.
In this post, we will walk you through some of the things you need to know to help you prepare for your first yoga class.
1. Prepare physically
This is an excellent rule of thumb that you can follow every time you practice.
Try not to eat at least 1-3 hours before your yoga practice.
Drink water throughout the day so that you’ll stay well-hydrated, well prepared for movement and stretching.
It also helps that you get a good shave using high-quality razors, just like ones from Straightface, before your class.
2. Choose the right clothing
Since yoga is a practice that involves a lot of stretching and bending, you need to pick proper clothing. It should be comfortable, easy to move in, and can absorb sweat properly.
Ideally, it would be best to choose stretchable clothes and won’t hinder your movements when you do yoga poses.
Men who often go to beginner classes wear loose (but not too loose tanks, muscle tees, or shirts.) For bottoms, you can either wear shorts, cropped, or long stretchable pants.
3. Invest in your own mat and other materials
Before you head to class, you might buy or borrow a non-slip yoga mat.
You can ask other students, instructors, or a knowledgeable sales staff for recommendations.
You might also consider bringing a closed water bottle so that you can start hydrated throughout the class. Finally, you can get a rag or sweat towel when needed.
4. Focus on your breathing
Here’s something you need to remember during your first yoga class: Focus on your breath and then sync it with the movement for the whole sequence.
The correct breathwork, also known as pranayama, lets you stay in a state of calm and mindfulness. This enables you to understand why other people come back after their first yoga class.
The most important thing that you need to learn is to be aware of your breath.
Whether it’s filling your chest with fresh oxygen or taking a forceful breath in the mouth, noticing the connection between the awareness and your breath is one of the most important aspects of yoga for beginners.
Because it’s your first yoga class, you might find things a bit of a challenge at first. But continuing to practice yoga on and off the mat allows you to reap its health benefits in the long run.
5. Understand yoga etiquette
If you’re in your first yoga class, make sure that you arrive early. This gives you enough time to talk to your instructor, telling them that you’re new to yoga.
If you’re running a bit late, then enter the room after the meditation part is over. Try to follow along the sequence, and then rest if needed. The child’s pose is often an excellent option every time you want to take a break.
Also, make it a habit to put your phone into silent mode as soon as you get to class. This can be a major distraction, not only with the instructor but also with other students. Also, never answer your phone, or send a text message throughout the class.
6. Understand the core of yoga
Yoga isn’t all about flexibility or twisting the spine and your muscles into impressive shapes.
On the other hand, yoga isn’t all about breathwork, either. It’s about finding your inner strength through meditation and creating that freedom from within through yoga poses.
So, try not to worry so much about losing weight or how you can be flexible enough to bend backward, as these things will come later. Remember that yoga is both a process and a lifestyle.
7. Learn basic poses
Once you feel that you’re ready to embrace the physical side of yoga, you can start familiarizing yourself with a few basic poses for beginners.
There’s no pressure to jump to more complex poses.
You can start with postures, also known as asanas, like savannas, child’s pose, or downward-facing dog.
When doing these poses, turn your attention to pressing your hands and feet on the floor, lengthening your spine, and then relaxing your hips.
See to it that you keep these things in mind when doing your yoga practice since you’ll be doing every pose the same way devoted yoga practitioners do.
Over to You
After the class:
- Try to reflect on the physical, mental, and emotional benefits that yoga brings to you.
- Take these lessons with you and figure out how you can incorporate your practice into your everyday life.
- Strive to be consistent and celebrate small victories along the way.
Good luck!
Meredith Davis has years of experience as a content writer, helping businesses promote their products and services through storytelling. She is also a certified Mindful-based Stress Reduction (MBSR) practitioner, a mindfulness practice that helps manage stress.
