I started yoga about ten years ago. I friend said she had a yoga instructor near you, so one that would work for me, and I went for my first session. I was a little sceptical as I had heard a lot about yoga but had never done it. I somehow thought that everybody would be standing on their heads and chanting ohm and that I would be looking and feeling a bit silly. Well, my first yoga class was far from that. It was a Hatha yoga class, and I have since learned that there are many different types of yoga, and it was a class with all levels. The yoga teacher was in the front, we were spread out around her on our mats, and she slowly went through all the poses. It was clear some people had been doing yoga forever and it was clear that there were many people like me, total beginners. And it was absolutely fine.

Yoga is not competitive

One of the first things that the yoga instructor had said was that yoga is non-competitive activity. You are not competing with anyone else. She spent a few minutes in an opening spiritual chant, and then did a little nose breathing. The nose breathing lays a foundation and I found it quite fascinating. Once we moved into the poses, and yes I learned they are called poses, the instructor would quietly help us with our movements. Because everyone is at a different level, and remember there is no competition, you do the pose as best you can, each time managing a little more. Or not, depending on your body. Safety was the most important thing and the instructor would gently adjust our bodies if we were slightly out of sync. When a person has had enough of a pose, like me as a beginner, you could move into child’s pose, the most restful pose. And then the next pose would begin.

Ten years of yoga

Since that first session I have been doing yoga for ten years. I still cannot stand on my head and that does not matter. Each body is different. I have got incredibly strong from yoga but it is not only my body that has changed. My outlook on life has changed. I am much calmer and I do things with though and attention. It is called mindfulness and yoga has definitely made me mindful. I go to yoga twice a week, sometime adding in an extra class if I have time or if I feel I need it. Yoga has balanced me in so many ways and it is the one exercise form that I would encourage anyone and everyone to do.

Yoga really is life changing and can benefit everyone, no matter the age or the gender. Do yoga with a qualified and gentle yoga instructor and find a good studio. If someone suggests you find a yoga instructor near you, say yes immediately. It’s a brilliant practice.