Yoga in a group Yoga is considered healthy and should be practiced at least once a week. Most instructions even recommend daily exercises and at least half an hour – and such a workload outside of one's own four walls can't be covered by courses, at most by a private instructor, who is expensive. "Ordinary mortals" can't afford that. Practicing yoga at home and alone, however, requires considerable discipline, especially with daily training. So how can you strike a balance between your own expectations and your personal possibilities?
The joy of the course
We recommend attending a class, for example, at an adult education center or a private studio. There, you'll practice with other participants, and sometimes partner exercises will be demonstrated. Such a meeting, where you exchange ideas through conversation, may even lead to personal friendships over time. Above all, such a class ensures that you attend and train regularly. When you're alone at home, things are bound to get in the way more often than not, whether it's your own children, an appointment outside the home, or the phone ringing. Very few people manage to practice undisturbed for more than ten minutes every day.
Another disadvantage: no one will correct you. If you want to practice exclusively at home, you should be especially careful, have some experience with yoga exercises, and ideally start with a DVD for beginners. Perhaps you could place a mirror near the floor so you can check some of the exercises yourself? While your posture might be off for a moment because you'll be looking in the mirror, this kind of self-control is important so you don't get into the habit of incorrect movements. After all, yoga is supposed to improve you over time. Incorrect training can, instead, quickly cause you physical problems.
The basic equipment
What should you get? A yoga mat is a must. Private studios or adult education centers often have mats available, but you can also bring your own. You'll definitely need one at home—or a similar mat that's a bit softer than the floor, but not too thick. A good carpet is also a good option, at least at the beginning when you're trying to figure out whether yoga is the right form of exercise for you. Otherwise, you'll find simple exercise mats, special yoga mats, and beautifully embroidered personalized mats that you can give as gifts for Christmas or other occasions.
You'll also need simple, comfortable, and not too loose clothing. You need to be able to bend and stretch well, but excess fabric only gets in the way. Especially for beginners, leggings and a functional top are perfectly sufficient. If you want to go beyond that, check out our website to see if you like any of our yoga clothing options .
We hope you enjoy training in the group!
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