Gentle yoga: getting started safely

What you need, how to practise safely, and five simple principles for beginners of any age or flexibility.
A woman holds a gentle yoga pose on a wooden deck above misty hills at sunrise.

Yoga brings together movement, breathing and attention. You don’t need to be flexible to begin: flexibility comes with practice.

Before you start

  • Use a non-slip mat or rug and wear clothes you can move in.
  • Practise on an empty stomach, or a couple of hours after a meal.
  • If you are pregnant, injured or managing a health condition, check with a health professional and learn with a qualified teacher.

Five principles for safe practice

  1. Breathe through the nose and let the breath set the pace.
  2. Move slowly into and out of each pose.
  3. Stay below your limit. A mild stretch is fine; pain is a signal to ease off.
  4. Keep it balanced: whatever you do on one side, do on the other.
  5. Finish with rest: lie down quietly for a few minutes at the end.

Track your practice

Use the free yoga practice log to note what you practised and how you felt before and after.

Format
Guide
Language
English
Audience
Beginners
Topic
Yoga

Free to print and share for personal and classroom use. Spotted a mistake? Let us know.

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