Q&A
Anonymous asked you:
Hi Ryann! I absolutely love your blog because of the inspiration that it brings me. I am most inspired by how comfortable you seem to be in your own skin. I want to get more in touch with my body and believe that yoga would be a great way to achieve this. How did you first start getting into yoga? Any tips for a beginner?
I first started practicing yoga my freshman year of college. I didn’t know anything about it, I just knew that it was a free class at my University’s gym. Slowly my practice began to grow into more than a workout and I realized that my body and mind were changing as I continued to go to yoga class. The beauty of yoga is that you have to first understand that you are as capable as you need to be and you will evolve in time (and so will your yoga practice). If you approach yoga with an idea of an end destination or posture, you will not really be practicing yoga at all. My suggestions for a beginner would be to begin taking note of your subconscious thoughts. Are your thoughts gentle, positive and loving? Not all thoughts will be- but noticing what energy you place where is a great way to tap into your inner self awareness, which will eventually lead to strong confidence in yourself. Being comfortable with your body begins with respecting it- right where it is right now. Once you are aware of your thoughts, begin to notice your breath. When you are able to control your breath you will be able to control the mind. Work on releasing your thoughts from your mind with the exhale of your breath. This will set you up for a grounded, focused practice!
As far as asanas or postures, I am not sure what type of yoga you are interested in practicing, but you could work on tying your breath into a Sun Salutation. I really suggest that once you are ready to begin learning the postures that you take at least a few classes with a certified instructor so that they can help you properly align your body. Many of the postures have amazing health benefits but it is important that they are practiced correctly! :)
I hope this helps! If you have specific questions about postures or the Sun Salutation, Let me know and I will try to answer those more specifically!
Om Shanti
-R
