5 Reasons You Won’t go to Yoga Class

5 Reasons You Won’t go to Yoga Class (and 15 Reasons to go Anyway)

“I’m not flexible enough to do yoga.” “I don't know any of the poses.” “I don't want everyone to watch me.” These are all things that went through my head before going to my first yoga class. I had so many doubts, but honestly they were just excuses to avoid physical activity (we can all relate to that). If you are experiencing the same doubts, here are some common excuses and all the reasons to ignore them and go to yoga class:

1. The Big Scary Wall of Mirrors

Most yoga studios have large mirrored walls which can be pretty intimidating. But have no fear! There are plenty of reasons to head to yoga despite the looking glass:

We yogis use the mirrors to look at ourselves to correct our form, we’re not looking at anyone else! If you try to focus only on looking at your own form, you’ll forget other people are even in the room with you.
The lighting is usually fairly dim in yoga studios, so it won’t feel like there is a spotlight on you.
If you want to stay as far away from the mirrors as possible, that’s ok! The back of the room is always an option, and it can actually be helpful to be close to the back wall for extra support in some poses.

2. Social Anxiety & Fear of Judgement

I can definitely relate to this one. I’m always so afraid of meeting new people and trying to fit into a different social circle. Let me tell you, I’m so glad I overcame that fear and joined a yoga studio! Yoga appreciates and respects everyone’s space, so you can make your practice what you want depending on your mood. Still not sold? Here are some more reasons to go to yoga if you have anxiety:

There is usually 0% talking in yoga. The most you’ll have to do is say your name to check in and maybe raise your hand when the teacher asks if there is anyone new to yoga. This is not to single you out or to embarrass you, it’s so the teacher knows to keep an eye out in case you have questions. Your yoga teacher might lead the class in an “om,” but you can always fake it until you feel more comfortable!
The yoga community is extremely loving & supportive. We all started at square one at some point, and we want to help you feel more comfortable with your practice!
There is no right way to do yoga, so judgment simply doesn’t exist. I practice yoga to improve my strength and flexibility, while you might be more interested in meditation and quieting your mind. In that case, our practices are going to look very different but both of us will be doing yoga.

3. Not Having the Right Equipment

Yoga is arguably the form of exercise that requires the least amount of equipment. However, if you are looking to explore the more physical side of yoga, here’s what you need to know about equipment:

All you really need is a mat. And quite honestly, your hardwood floor or carpet would work just as well.
Guess what? Every single yoga studio I’ve been to has mats, blocks, blankets, and bolsters for everyone to use for free or for a very small rental price. Most of them have straps, towels, and weights as well. So if you don’t want to invest in your own personal stuff right away, you don’t have to!
You can find fairly inexpensive yoga equipment practically anywhere. I went to Target today (as you do after a long day at work) and literally found yoga mats for $10. I went online for yoga blocks and got a really solid set for $15. So skip that fancy cocktail next Saturday night and get yourself a yoga mat instead!
You don’t need fancy brand name yoga pants & a cute matching top to go to class. I cut up a couple of old T-shirts and made them into tank tops, boom - yoga clothes! Walk into almost any clothing store in the mall and I can pretty much guarantee they will have leggings for $20 or under. I do recommend polyester or any quick-drying fabric if you go to hot yoga. Cotton will soak up all your sweat (and you will sweat, A LOT) and become heavier as you move through your practice.

4. Too expensive

This was a big concern of mine as well, but I have come across some smaller yoga studios that are based only on donations and most larger studios have special classes that are cheaper than normal. You just have to keep your eyes open, or you could consider these points as well:

Many studios have community or “drop-in” classes that could be as cheap as $5! My particular studio offers a $5 class every Sunday morning and also has free classes that are taught by brand new teachers.
I have also heard of yoga studios that offer exchange programs, where you can sign up for shifts to clean the yoga studio and get access to all yoga classes for free as payment. There are deals like this everywhere, you just have to look!
An easy and inexpensive way to get involved in yoga is to look at a nearby college campus. My particular university offered tons of yoga classes that were really cheap for students, but were open to the community as well! Your local YMCA probably offers a few yoga classes per week, otherwise good old YouTube is there for the unbeatable price of FREE!

5. Not Knowing How to do the Poses

You have to start somewhere! And don’t worry, we’ll help you out with this by giving you a few poses to know before heading to your first class.

This is what yoga teachers are for, wave them over and ask for clarification on a pose if you are unsure of the correct form or if something doesn’t feel quite right. Remember, everyone was once where you are right now and they made it through!

You can solve this whole problem right here, right now by reading Becci’s article! She does an amazing job of showing you the common poses in every yoga practice, so you can feel confident going into your first class! Instagram and YouTube are also great resources if you search ‘beginner yoga’ or ‘common yoga poses.’
Great, now that I have successfully eliminated any and all doubt from your mind about going to yoga class, go pick a studio and have fun! No more excuses.

Namaste.