​Yoga is an extremely powerful practice that has changed the lives of millions of people all over the world. Although it has many obvious benefits, there are a lot of people who still resist joining up for a wide variety of reasons. 

No matter what your yoga fears are, whether it’s a feeling that your body just doesn’t bend that way, or if you’re scared of looking awkward in front of others, use the tips below to help you get over your fears. 
 
Start Slow. If you think yoga is too hard for you, or if you’re afraid of not being able to keep up, don’t be. You can start right at the beginning with a simple beginner’s class and take your time to build up to the more challenging poses. 

Bring a friend to yoga class. Sometimes it’s a lot easier to try new adventures with trusted companions. Having your best friend right there with you may help ease some of your fears and make the experience a lot more enjoyable for you. 
 
And for those who are convinced yoga is too feminine, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Yoga is done by people of every gender, age, shape, and size. Celebrities like Adam Levine and Jared Leto embrace the Yoga practice. You, too, can use it to become a much healthier, manlier you! 

As you can see, although it may seem like some people were born to be awesome yogis, they were also beginners once upon a time. If you’re considering getting started with yoga but have some fears that are holding you back, then use the tips outlined above to help you overcome those fears so you can start to reap the benefits of yoga right now. 

​The irony of frantically rushing to a yoga class to ‘chill out’, ‘get zen’, and start my day ‘right’ was never lost of me; yet I remained faithful to my 6:30AM classes. I figured at some point, everything I hoped to ‘get out’ of my yoga practice would be achieved (yup…I’m a former Type A personality). ​
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​Within the first couple of days I found myself coming back from the morning practice, and stopping, virtually at the same spot that over looked the calm, crystal-blue sea with the mountains as a backdrop. I realized I was trying to figure out how to bottle up this feeling of peace and take it home with me. I needed to find a way to pack this calmness in a little vial so I could pop it open when things get a little hectic.

It was during our morning practices that I was guided to focus on my breath, to listen to my breath, be present, get out of my head, and move slowly; and I began to notice how beautifully this set the tone for me (inside) and my day. 
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Naturally, I decided to bring this back with me to the T.dot, and every morning since returning, without fail, I begin my day with deep, deep breathing (right down to my belly). It has evolved to include a few rounds of sun salutations, a morning meditation, or perhaps a couple of squats and push-ups (for good luck 😊). No matter what form my morning routine takes, it starts and ends with listening to my breath, which has kept me present and off the hamster wheel ‘chasing calmness’.