Yoga month is a great time to start a new yoga practice! Diana Zotos, HSS physical therapist and yoga instructor, offers these tips for the first-timer:
1.Start where you are– start with a basic level class to learn the key alignment principles for each pose. It’s important to build your practice from a strong foundation.
2.Find your pose– your pose does not need to look like the pose the teacher or the person next to you is doing – go to the level that you feel comfortable at. This will ensure optimal benefits for strength, injury prevention, and flexibility.
3.Be mindful– besides the physical aspects, yoga has wide-ranging emotional and mental benefits-focusing on the moment and the position of your body teaches the mind to be quiet and present.
Diana Zotos is a physical therapist and certified yoga instructor at Hospital for Special Surgery’s Rehabilitation Department.
