7 Tips For Your First Hot Yoga Class
So it’s your first ever class and you’re kinda freaking out? Don’t worry! With these 7 tips you will know everything you need to know to attend your first hot yoga class.
- Pace Yourself
Instructors say it takes about 10 classes for your body to acclimate to the heat. Your only goal for your first class should be to stay on your mat for the entire duration of the class. Simply lay down on the mat if you get too hot! The first few classes should be focused on being present on the mat and managing your breath.
- Arrive Early
Arrive 15-20 Minutes early so instructors can give you a full tour of the studio. Settle into the heat and meditate briefly before class starts. This will set you up for a fulfilling first class.
- The Block is your Friend
While adding a prop on the first day may seem scary, the prop is an amazing tool to aid in balance or make a deep stretch less intense. Using the block in balanced poses will alleviate the muscular strain, allowing you to focus on your breath and posture first. Keep a block (or two!) by your mat and experiment using it as a balance aid or stretching tool.
- 24Hr Pre-Class Prep
In the 24 hours before you attend your first class you should drink as much water as possible and eat lots of protein. You will lose a lot of water as you sweat and that protein will be essential during your recovery.
The morning of, you might want to give yourself a carbohydrate and sugar boost with an apple or orange, that will give you immediate energy to use during class. Another great tool are electrolyte packets, which will ensure you leave class feeling energized rather than depleted.
- Focus on Breath
Yoga is intense physically, but it is also a deeply meditative, spiritual practice. The breath is the most important facet of connecting our mind and body, so be sure to listen to your teacher’s breathing cues as you move through poses. A great rule of thumb is that if you are unable to breathe through only your nose, you are exerting yourself too hard and should take a break on the mat. If you are used to pushing yourself to the limit in fitness classes this may be a difficult lesson in restraint, but it will give you the building blocks for a mindful and meditative practice in the future.
- Consistency > Perfection
In yoga, 10 minutes a day matters so much more than 1 hour a week. Becoming an expert yogi like those you see online is a slow process. Relish every moment of your practice and do not feel the need to rush into anything. Showing up a little bit everyday and giving what you have will be so much more beneficial than coming once a week and completely exhausting yourself.
- Dive In!
Starting a yoga journey is a truly life altering experience! We here at HMY urge you to learn everything you can. There are plenty of teachers and regulars at the studio that love to give their expert tips to beginners. Yoga will teach you how to bring mindfulness and non judgment into your everyday life. Dive into the yogic teachings of humility, compassion and contentment!
Sign Up For A Beginner Class Today! Check out our “Class Schedule” Tab to see what classes we offer. Hot Hour or Candlelight Flow are excellent classes for beginners to learn the foundational poses in a judgment-free environment.