Photos courtesy of Meagan McCrary.

When you’re new to the practice, the world of yoga can feel overwhelming.

I often hear a lot of questions from beginner yogis:

·
- Which kind of yoga should I try?
- Can I practice if I’m not flexible?
- Will I be able to keep up?
- What’s the difference between vinyasa and yin?
- Should I try a hot class?
- Will other people notice that I don’t know what I’m doing?

A new student of mine put it this way when she was thinking about going to her first class: “I’m going to be such a mess!”

She was nervous about walking into a studio because she didn't know what to expect.

If you’re a new yogi looking for resources on what kind of yoga would be a good fit for you, I highly recommend checking out this book:

Pick Your Yoga Practice by Meagan McCrary.

Here's a quote from the book I loved... it really speaks to how as you grow deeper in the experience of yoga, it begins to translate from the mat into your everyday life:

You may also notice that your yoga practice is a microcosm for your life. The way you are on your mat — how you respond to challenges, handle disappointment, and relate to yourself, how present you are, how willing you are to try new things — is the way you’ll be off your mat as well. In yoga, you get to “practice” being the way you want to be in a safe, contained environment. (After all, yoga practice is just that, practice.)*

If you've found yoga but you feel like you don't know where to start, pick up a copy of Meagan's book. Explore your options. And be patient with yourself -- you're at the beginning. And it's a great place to be.

Alive in the Fire

A Book for Yoga Beginners

Alive in the Fire