If you are interested in beginning a yoga practice, the best approach is to find a good teacher in your local area. A yoga teacher can provide personalized guidance and adapt the practice to your health and current fitness levels. If you have any health conditions, you should always check with your doctor before beginning a yoga practice.
Many community centers, YMCAs, and fitness centers offer low-cost yoga programs, and yoga classes may sometimes be included in the cost of your membership. A good first step is to check if there are yoga classes offered at any health, fitness, or wellness organization where you already have a membership. Hospitals and universities may also offer yoga classes as part of community wellness programs.
You should make sure that the yoga teacher is appropriately trained and has sufficient experience. Yoga Alliance is the governing organization for yoga teachers, and a yoga teacher who has met minimum standards for training will be registered with Yoga Alliance. You can search for yoga teachers in your local area through the Yoga Alliance website at www.yogaalliance.org. If you have any health conditions or specific physical limitations you want to improve through yoga, you should consider working with a trained yoga therapist. You can look for yoga therapists through the International Association of Yoga Therapy, at www.iayt.org. A good yoga teacher will also have experience and training in basic fitness principles and be CPR certified.
Find a good teacher in your area and begin your yoga journey today!