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Beginning yoga... Slowly.
This is one of two main things (look below for the second). Here is why.
Sure, if you come to a good Yoga center and meet a good teacher and nice people around - you would likely to feel excited and very inspired when you beginning yoga. In one week or so you are likely to buy a few books, a yoga mat, some clothes for practice. You would look for Yogic teas in supermarkets, possibly would try to switch immediately to vegetarian diet, etc. That is all great... Just be aware of excitement and don't let it use too much of your energy in one-two weeks and then hit the wall of apathy, laziness, and finding excuses not to go for practice...
All this happens with almost everybody beginning yoga practice. It's natural. We get inspired, we promise ourselves to become "a good person" (whatever it means), practice for 2 hours everyday and we put a fence around ourselves of "not allowed, not appropriate things for a Yogi" and obligations "which Yogi is supposed to apply to his or her life".
But if you are aware of the effect in advance (I'm telling you now ;-) ) - you may want to choose to be aware about the game of your mind. - So, you've started your practice. Take it slowly: 10-20 min per day (per day here - means regular, it's important!) of practice at home and one or two one-hour sessions in a group or (better) individually with a teacher per week - is more than enough to start. It will slowly become a part of you. Give it some time! Increase practice intensity gradually. Read slowly your books and don't rush to apply everything what you've just learned to your life.
Sure, you may also switch to a vegetarian diet - just educate yourself in advance. Get advises from experienced, long-time vegetarians. Read a few books and materials in the Internet. And then try step-by-step to decrease the amount of meat. And follow this pattern with other changes too. No rush. Then it will come without fight. And it will be yours! - And not just an effect of excitement from some "outer" inspiration.
One very good Yoga (a swami) teacher told me once: Yoga is a very slow path. - Don't rush it, don't rush such things. In return they will become your natural way of life and you will get all the benefits... Good luck!
There is another thing when you beginning your Yoga practice.
- Your first experience with Yoga, a center, a teacher - may be quite opposite. - You may not like it.
It happens and just be aware of it and keep it in mind. There are not very well suited for teaching teachers. And there are people who would say they are Yogis and practitioners, and all that, but they are not, or they are sincerely misunderstanding Yoga. This may happen.
There are bad doctors, bad scientists, bad football players. - For all kinds of reasons people make mistakes. Just keep it in mind and move on! If you decided to try Yoga and didn't like the first experience - try another center, another teacher, read another book - give it a try, give it a chance! Commit yourself for a while and then see. If you still don't like it - oh, well! - that is how it is for you and you will have something else good in your life...
Beginning Yoga is easy if you don't push yourself over the limits out of excitement and if you give it a fair try.
P.S.
I know, that you probably wouldn't pay much attention to this and you will hit your own walls and live your own life. - That's fine. But maybe, just maybe, there is a chance your memory will record some of this and play it for you in a right moment... ;-)
LINKS:
Back to the top of the "Beginning Yoga: how to start?" page
Further reading:
Yoga for beginners (main article)
Beginner Yoga: first steps (with yoga video)
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