Hi there, friend!

How long have you been practicing yoga? How did you get started? We pondered this exact question with our teachers, and here's what they shared. Enjoy!

Zelinda: 

"I walked into a dimly lit studio that was located at the end of a row of warehouses; most of them were occupied by car mechanics. The class was full of Olympians from the Stanford swimming team. I was absolutely intimidated."

Cynthia: 

"It was so long ago I don't remember, ha! I do remember doing Lilias, Yoga and You on PBS (who remembers that?) with my mom in our living room, she also had a book. My mom was sort of out there for a farm wife in the 60s. I took formal classes years later when I was in my late 20s, I don't recall if it was a Beginner Series or public classes, but that was the real start for me."

Amal:

"I was introduced to Yoga when I first join 24 Hour Fitness. I started Yoga and Pilates at the same time, each 3 times a week. After few months I noticed how I felt after my yoga class, there was always a special feeling! I started to read more about Yoga, then I heard that Corepower Yoga studio down in Portland is offering teacher training, and that was that!"

Aurora: 

"My VERY first class was at the health center at my university. When I finished, my wrists and my back hurt so much I vowed never to go back. (I was a percussionist and needed my wrists!) Luckily, a few years later my friend encouraged me to attend a class with him at the YMCA. It was a very different experience, and I liked it so much I started attending a few times a week."

Angela: 

"My first experience with yoga was through a book checked out from the library when I was in college. I had no idea if I was doing it right, but it definitely sparked my interest. 1985-ish."

Lk:

"When I was into running, my best friend and I ventured into a little studio off Far West Blvd. and the teacher was Charles MacInerney. He was amazing and is still teaching 25 years later."

Manju: 

"I was at the Hindu temple for a chanting session and realized they also offered weekly yoga classes at their amenities center. I was comfortably dressed, so ended up practicing my first class. November, 2003. Charlotte, NC."

April: 

"In 2004 my boss encouraged me to try yoga to help me with depression and anxiety I was experiencing from my recent divorce. I took a beginners series Ashtanga yoga class at Yoga Yoga Westgate with Rachel Hector and Kewal (who was still going by Chuck). I felt so immediately better after the first class I may have cried driving home."

Adria:

"I started yoga with a book! My dad had a book of yoga asana, so I started practicing poses in my childhood bedroom. (I remember plow pose was a particular favorite - a pose I skip altogether these days!) With no local yoga classes offered, I eventually took my first official yoga class as a college Phys Ed course! I was hooked."

As you can see, there's many ways to be introduced to the practice of yoga. Regardless of how you get started, your first experience with yoga can be so important to whether you continue the practice. First impressions matter, right? That's why we offer Yoga Beginners Series. During our six-week long online series, students build a strong foundation of knowledge in our unique, accessible style.

If you know someone who is ready to get started with yoga, whether they are local or anywhere in the country or even the world, please share our upcoming Beginners Series with them!

Our wonderful teacher, Asha, will be leading a virtual Beginners Series this January. From January 9th through February 13th, you'll meet once a week on Saturdays from 10:30 - 11:30am Central time via the online platform Zoom. You can attend live with your computer, tablet, or smartphone. In case you're not able to attend at the scheduled time, we'll also send you the recordings of the sessions, which will be available to you indefinitely.

Click here for a sharable Beginners Series video. Ready to sign up? You'll find the registration link here.

Thanks in advance for your help in sharing The Yoga Room's offerings far and wide! We hope to see you soon!

Be well,