Yoga is fantastic for stress relief, flexibility, and overall health. It can be a little bit intimidating for newcomers, but that's no reason to shy away from the exercise and miss out on all of the health benefits.

Here are 3 common mistakes to avoid that beginners often make.


#1 Being overly anxious, stressed, or self-conscious
Do everything you can to leave your worries at the door when taking a class. Don't compare yourself to your classmates, don't worry about what happened at work today, and don't fret over being judged as a newcomer. Relaxation is one of the keys to reaping the full rewards of this workout.

Working to become familiar with it in the privacy of your own home is one way to get your feet wet without worrying about being a complete newbie. The only disadvantage to doing it at home is that you wont have an instructor there to ask questions.

If you would like to try it in the comfort of your own living room, check out these home videos:
15 Minute Total Body Toning Yoga Workout


#2 Improper form
Yoga is good for the body, mind, and soul but you can do harm to all three if you aren't doing the exercises with the proper form. If you are new to the scene, talk with your instructor both before and after class about any poses that you think you may be doing wrong or that don't feel right. A good instructor is always happy to help their students achieve and maintain proper form.


#3 Forgetting to breathe
The way that you breathe is as crucial as the exercises themselves. Ultimately, breathing is the primary method through which the exercises lower stress levels.

Some poses are more difficult than others and can make relaxed breathing more difficult; this is when you need to be most aware of your breathing and put in the most effort to stay connected with the rhythm of your breathing. Focus on this and make a conscious effort not to hold your breath.


Now that you are armed with insight, you can walk into your class confidently. Don't forget that every pro (at anything in life) was once a beginner themselves!