Beginner Yoga Mistakes: Five Steps to Correct Beginner Yoga Mistakes That Create Shallow Breathing

Often when we are new to an activity there are doubts about our ability to be accurate. Hesitancy, uncertainty and sometimes anxiety seeps into our bones and to the core of our very being.. Soon our breathing becomes constricted and there is tightness across our chest. If we are paying attention, we can feel this in our body in yoga. When this happens what should we do about it?

Here are five helpful steps:

1. Acknowledge

First we want to acknowledge that this tendency is present even in our yoga practice. Are you able to be specific about which pose, poses or circumstances evoke this response? Give yourself time to be clear about this. It might mean revisiting the scenario mentally or physically.

2. Prepare

Take a moment before going into the yoga situation to calm your nerves. Use whatever techniques work for you. Slowing down the breath by exhaling through pursed lips is one way to begin to soothe yourself. Sighing works as well.

3. Self Talk

It is more effective to be real about your feelings - to face them. Try to identify the emotion that you are feeling. We cannot fool ourselves by saying we are victorious when we feel we've failed. If we can see ourselves as successful, then we can affirm that. On the other hand, if we feel incapable and do get enthusiastic with the idea of reaching the aim, we can affirm the enthusiasm.

4. Talk with Another

Sharing fears, as well as aims with a well-wisher warms the icy, cold feet and garners support. We know the experience of secrets weighing us down, and making the heart heavy. What does it take to divulge and be a little more vulnerable? And is it worth it?

5. Enlist Help

Sometimes additional instruction or clarification is needed when going into, holding, or exiting a yoga pose. If you are unclear about a particular phase of a pose, ask for help from a yoga teacher.

After taking these five steps you are likely to be much more prepared for your practice and will abort those particular beginner yoga mistakes. You will have identified the circumstances surrounding your mild panic, and created an atmosphere more conducive to exploring your yoga. Plus one more situation that created or enforced shallow breathing will be eliminated. The internal tension that results in a tight face, neck and shoulders will be reduced or eradicated. With your upper body and abdominal wall more relaxed, you will experience gentler, deeper breaths, and calmer nerves.

Heather Greaves is an avid yoga student and the owner of Body Therapies Yoga Training. She organizes yoga and meditation retreats and workshops in Ontario and Barbados, and has been helping yoga enthusiasts learn to teach therapeutic yoga in a certified program. For more yoga tips or to sign up for our monthly newsletter visit http://www.yogatogo.com/

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