Try a beginner yoga video

Trying a beginner yoga video at home removes the two things that stop most people starting: the cost and the self-consciousness. The main pitfall is choosing badly, since a video labelled beginner may still assume you can already hold a plank. Style names tell you more than the beginner label does.

Why try a beginner yoga video is worth an hour

Yoga combines mobility work, isometric strength and breath control, which is an unusual mix in one session. That breadth is why people who dislike conventional exercise often persist with it. Practicing at home also removes the comparison that makes group classes intimidating, which for beginners is frequently the real barrier rather than the physical demand.

How to try a beginner yoga video step by step

1. 1

   Choose a style, not just a level

   Hatha and yin are slower; vinyasa and power flow faster. Beginner vinyasa is still considerably harder than beginner hatha.

2. 2

   Pick something around twenty minutes

   Long enough to be worthwhile, short enough that you finish it. A ninety-minute first session rarely gets completed.

3. 3

   Set up near a wall

   Balance poses are much easier with something to touch. Using it is normal rather than a failure.

4. 4

   Follow the breathing cues

   The breath timing is part of the practice, not decoration. It is also what makes the harder positions manageable.

5. 5

   Skip anything that hurts

   Discomfort in a stretch is fine; sharp or joint pain is not. Every pose has an easier version.

Tips to get more out of it

• A mat helps but a carpet works. Do not let equipment be the reason you postpone the first session.
• Tell the instructor nothing and compare yourself to nobody. Flexibility is a starting point, not a prerequisite.
• If you are pregnant, injured or have joint problems, check with a doctor and look for a specifically adapted class.

Ways to mix it up

If flexibility is your goal, yin holds positions for several minutes and targets that directly. If you want the strength side, look for power or ashtanga once you are comfortable with the basic positions, since both are considerably more demanding.

Try a beginner yoga video: frequently asked questions

This guide is general information, not professional medical advice. See our disclaimer.