You can choose to learn yoga any way you want, according to your interest and the resource available, however, when you decide to learn yoga for health and wellness, you need to know something about yoga before you begin your class. First of all, you need to identify your motive for joining a yoga class. If you want to lose weight, you will have to choose yoga classes that are primarily focused on losing weight. If you want to go to a yoga class because you want to control diabetes or blood pressure, you need to look for a yoga class that teaches yoga methods for diabetes and blood pressure patients. In case you are a general learner, you still need to understand what kind of yoga methods will help you and where you can join these classes.

This article will help you understand yoga, and help you choose the kind of yoga class that can actually benefit you.

Know your needs beforehand:  First and foremost, you need to identify your goal. In other words, find out what you are trying to achieve by going to a yoga class as there are various kinds of yoga courses tailored for various kinds of people. Some yoga postures are not good for people at a certain age, some postures are not good for people with certain health conditions, and some yoga postures should be followed by people with certain conditions. Your needs and requirement might be different from the needs and requirements of other individuals. Shortlist your needs, and then select a class that fits you.

Physical Yoga Class Vs. Virtual Yoga Class: Traditionally, when someone wanted to learn yoga, he went to a yoga guru and started learning yoga, however, technology has made it possible to learn yoga virtually. These days virtual yoga classes are as popular as real yoga classes. You might ask, are the virtual classes as good as a real classes? The answer depends on who is the instructor. If the instructor is good, the medium is not important. Now, you might ask, which type of yoga class should I choose? Your decision should be based on your time (the time when you can take the class), location (in case of a real yoga class), instructor qualification, fees, etc. Whatever you choose, make sure you choose a class that encourages active participation. Choose a yoga class that motivates you to get engaged with peers and other like-minded individuals.

Find Different Types of Yoga Classes: Just like your health care provider suggests personalized treatment methods, yoga can also be personalized. A personalized yoga class means a yoga class for similar kinds of people or people having the same motive for joining a yoga class. For example, yoga classes for obese people, yoga classes for pregnant, etc. Talk to people, online or offline, and learn about a yoga class that you actually want to attend. If you have found the kind of yoga program you want to attend, check the reputation of the instructor and the class. Some yoga classes are aimed at training people to become yoga instructors. You may not want to choose this program if you have no intention to become a teacher. Some classes are aimed at people with certain conditions, diabetes for example. Always bear in the mind, your necessities, and the type of yoga offered.

Generally speaking, there are 3 kinds of yoga classes, beginner, intermediate, and advanced. Choose a class according to your own level. Apart from this general category, there are also yoga classes for special needs; for example, there are yoga classes for pregnant women, yoga classes for diabetes, blood pressure, heart disease, mental diseases, etc. If you are not focusing on any special needs, you can choose beginner to advanced level yoga classes. The benefit of learning basic to advance yoga is you know all nuances of yoga, not just for special needs. When you attend a complete yoga class, it might take 6 months or more, however, the benefit is immense, you can yourself become an instructor. You can design your own yoga course for specialized needs. Having said that you can also benefit from short courses that are tailored for specialized needs, weight loss for instance. Last but not the least, yoga is not all about sitting in one place and performing various postures. In case you do not do it correctly, you can experience health complications. You also need to know yoga postures that one should avoid in case he or she has some health conditions.

Private Yoga Class: A normal yoga class accommodates 50-60 people. However, you can also find a private yoga class where you will have a one-on-one session with the instructor. Private yoga classes are expensive compared to normal yoga classes because the instructor can attend to you individually, nevertheless, by paying more, you get a better service and you can interact with your instructor throughout the session. The instructor can personally help you perform complex steps. These programs are also focused on individuals with the same goals. In other words, if you are battling with weight, you will find most of the participants in these private classes also have weight issues. Instead of going for a private yoga class, you can also hire an instructor and make him come to your house to teach you yoga. This might cost a lot of money; however, the individualized attention you get can easily compensate for the high fees. Generally speaking, private yoga classes are targeted toward people who have similar issues and health conditions. If you want close attention from the instructor, go for a private class.

Select the Appropriate Time:  Go with the most suitable time for your yoga classes so that you do not miss out on your sessions. The ideal time for yoga is between 4 and 6 in the morning after you have freshened up and before you have eaten your breakfast. It is recommended that you do yoga on an empty stomach. However, if you cannot do it in the early morning, you can also do it in the evening, before a meal. If that is also not possible, you can do it at any time but make sure you have not eaten for at least 4 hours. Yoga is meant to be practiced regularly. Even if you are going to a weekend yoga class or 2 days a week class, make sure you do yoga regularly and repeat all yoga postures.

Affordability:  Price is one major factor when choosing a yoga class. If you do not want to spend money, you can watch yoga on TV (find about TV channels that air yoga sessions) or on YouTube and follow the instructions. Generally speaking, virtual yoga classes cost less compared to real yoga classes. If the price is your major concern, choose an online class. An online class can be live or recorded. A simple Google search will help you discover live online yoga classes or recorded yoga classes. A private yoga class can be ideal if you have enough money to pay. Yoga classes have various levels and structures. Choose a yoga class according to your needs and the experience of the instructors.

Yoga Courses: Before enrolling in a yoga class, you also need to check the courses being provided. Instead of going to a small institute offering limited courses, choose a yoga institution that offers a variety of yoga courses. As you continue learning yoga, your priorities might change. For example, you might be learning yoga to lose weight, however, later you might want to continue learning yoga because you are also interested in managing your diabetes with yoga. If you choose a yoga institute offering myriad courses, you even have a chance of learning everything and becoming a yoga instructor.

Location: If you think yoga is something like going to a movie, you are wrong. You don’t go to a movie every day, do you? You go only once a week or once a month. You get the benefit of yoga only when you are doing it every day. Even if you have joined 2 days a weekly class, you should do yoga every day at your convenience. If you have joined a regular class, make sure you attend your all classes and repeat the steps every day at home. Thus, it is very important to choose the right location, if you consider going to a real class.

Check the reviews:  Reviews matter while choosing the right program. There are various online platforms available where individuals tend to rate yoga classes based on their experience. Choose the one with the best reviews.