{"id":6006,"date":"2018-05-25T11:10:51","date_gmt":"2018-05-25T11:10:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/movementformodernlife.com\/blog\/?p=6006"},"modified":"2018-05-21T11:11:48","modified_gmt":"2018-05-21T11:11:48","slug":"faq-yoga-beginners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/movementformodernlife.com\/blog\/faq-yoga-beginners\/","title":{"rendered":"FAQ: Yoga For Beginners"},"content":{"rendered":"

Yoga Beginners! Is yoga right for you? How do you start? Is online yoga okay? All you need to know from Kat Farrants, founder of the UK’s online yoga platform.<\/h3>\n
\"beginners

Kat Farrants<\/p><\/div>\n

Welcome<\/h5>\n

Welcome to the start of hopefully, a lifelong daily yoga practice, and welcome to Movement for Modern Life.<\/a> <\/strong>I do hope that you get as much energy, joy and healing<\/strong> from your practice as I have done over the years.<\/p>\n

\n
What is yoga all about?<\/h5>\n

Yoga sometimes has a bit of a reputation for being a bit esoteric. Yoga does have ancient roots and a beautiful philosophy behind it, but to me, the practice of hatha yoga, which is what the whole movement yoga is about, is really very simple.<\/p>\n

Yoga is moving mindfully whilst breathing consciously.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

But there is something very magical about it. Like describing swimming, it\u2019s hard to do, you really just have to jump in and get wet to experience it! So the same is with yoga, you really just have to try it to find out what it\u2019s all about.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n
Who is Yoga For?<\/h5>\n

Although yoga has an image of being for young, strong and flexible people, it is for every body, no matter your level of mobility, or your weight, because yoga is mostly a breathing<\/strong> practice. In fact, the shapes are really by the by, it\u2019s all about moving consciously and most importantly, moving with the breath.<\/p>\n

It doesn\u2019t matter if you\u2019re confined to bed or a chair, if you have a body and you can breathe, then you can practice yoga.<\/strong> In fact, I have a niggling suspicion that some of the finest yoga practitioners out there are the less mobile folks. Yoga is more about a state of mind than a state of body.<\/p>\n

\n
What if I feel that a pose hurts?<\/h5>\n

There\u2019s only one rule in yoga\u00a0 – don\u2019t do it if it hurts!<\/strong> If something hurts somewhere – simply stop doing that thing immediately.<\/p>\n

All our bodies are so different, so the teacher may instruct something that is OK for many bodies, but all of our bodies have different histories, different proportions and experiences. So that thing that may be OK for others might just not be appropriate for you. That could be because of an injury, an experience or just the way our bodies differ to each others. Some days and some times, I find I experience poses completely differently. Some days I just can\u2019t do a lunge, for example, because it hurts my knees. So I don\u2019t do it. I modify my moves instead of doing exactly what the teacher says.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I know that in life we\u2019re used to following the teachers, and we want to do the \u2018right\u2019 thing, but in yoga, don\u2019t follow what the teacher says without checking in with your body as to how that makes you feel.<\/p>\n

Yoga differs so much from day to day and time of day. What feels right one time, will be painful and could cause injury just a few hours earlier! In the mornings, I\u2019m always stiffer and go a lot more easy on my body.<\/strong> Treat each yoga practice and each pose anew. See if you can be curious as to how the yoga feels in your body, and be sensitive to how every different pose makes you feel, in body and mind.<\/p>\n

The lovey thing about practicing to MFML online is that there is nobody to judge you<\/strong>, there\u2019s no worry that you won\u2019t impress us. We are most impressed by those who have developed the art of a really subtle listening to the needs of the body, not the ego. If something doesn\u2019t feel good – please don\u2019t do it! There is no need for any pain in your yoga practice, just do what is within your range for that moment in that day.<\/p>\n

\"beginners<\/p>\n

Please be especially careful with your knees.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

As someone who has suffered knee pain from running, I do know that many yoga poses aren\u2019t appropriate for me. I work with an osteopath who guides me to appropriate poses and I do the classes with those and my osteopath tells me what poses won\u2019t work for me. When the teacher suggests those poses in class, I simply modify the pose to something that doesn\u2019t hurt. If you have any injuries or have had previous injuries causing weaknesses, see a medical specialist to find out what will hurt and what will help you, before you try anything on your own. And no matter what happens, if it starts to hurt – stop!<\/p>\n

\n
I have bad wrists<\/h5>\n

So many of us do, because of all the typing and holding iPhones! We have classes which are wrist-free<\/a><\/strong>, and most of our Yin classes<\/a><\/strong> are wrist-free – we hope that these help! If it\u2019s appropriate for you, you may want to check out our wrist strengthening classes.<\/p>\n

\"wrist<\/a>

Just one of our wrist free classes: Floor Yoga Hip Release<\/a> with Andrew McGonigle.<\/p><\/div>\n

\n
Can I Practice Yoga if I am injured or sick?<\/h5>\n

If you are injured, moving with yoga is not the best thing for you. But what I can firmly recommend is yoga-nidra<\/a><\/strong> and deep relaxation. That is yogic-sleep. I have had some of my most profound life experiences when unable to move fully after a car accident and performing yoga nidra. It really is a very healing practice, and you just need to lie still. If you cannot lie down, it can be performed sitting. You can also practice mindfulness<\/a><\/strong> or meditation<\/a><\/strong>, no matter the state of your physical body.<\/p>\n

\"beginners<\/a>

An example of our meditation classes: Beginners’ Meditation<\/a> with Lucy McCarthy.<\/p><\/div>\n

If you are thinking of doing a \u2018moving\u2019 yoga practice and you are injured or sick – please ask your health practitioner first. Once you get the go-ahead, you might want to try our Limited Mobility<\/a> <\/strong>classes first.<\/p>\n

\n
I\u2019m pregnant, can I do yoga?<\/h5>\n

Pregnancy can be the most beautiful time to re-connect with your body and practice yoga. But you need to follow special pregnancy sequences<\/a><\/strong>, and if classes specify the trimester, please follow that. If you are in your first trimester and you\u2019re new to yoga, please be very careful and consult your health practitioner before you start yoga from scratch. One thing that many pregnant folks enjoy are our breath-work classes<\/a>.\u00a0<\/strong>It can be deeply relaxing to explore breath-work when your body is going through so many changes. Be aware that there are many poses that aren\u2019t a good idea to practice when pregnant, so please stick to our pre-natal classes.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"pregnancy<\/a>

Pregnancy Classes<\/a> on MFML<\/p><\/div>\n

\n
I have my period<\/h5>\n

The tradition in yoga is to not practice during the \u2018moon days\u2019, and in many traditions of yoga, upside-down poses aren\u2019t practiced, as they run contrary to the body\u2019s natural flow. My personal take on this is to do exactly what feels good in your body. Your yoga practice is to enhance and increase your sensitivity, and as you become more sensitive, you will feel what is more nourishing and supportive to you and choose to do whatever feels right for you.<\/p>\n

\"moon

Gorgeous classes for women’s health<\/a>\u00a0– to honour our bodies during moon time or menopause.<\/p><\/div>\n

We have some fabulous women\u2019s health classes<\/a><\/strong> and feature some amazingly wise women on the site, so I\u2019d encourage you to check these classes out if you have your period, or the menopause or if you\u2019re just feeling like your body could do with some extra nurture.<\/p>\n

\n
How do I use the website?<\/h5>\n

For guidance on finding your way around the site, I made this little video to get you started:<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n