Yoga is much more than just a popular form of exercise, as it is primarily understood in the west. You don’t require a certain body type or degree of flexibility to do yoga, despite the intimidatingly difficult appearance given to it by Instagram photographs. Truth be told, there are a lot of myths surrounding yoga, so it’s best to be informed before unfolding your mat for the first time or looking up “yoga classes near me” to ensure that you can properly honor its history and get the most out of your experience.

Here is a quick overview of what you should know before attending your first yoga session, including the significant and frequently ignored history of yoga, what to expect in terms of exercises, what to dress, how to pick a beginner-friendly yoga class, basic etiquette, and more.

1. To begin with, yoga is about much more than just physical wellness, as you should be aware.
Before it made its way to the West over a century ago, yoga was never viewed as merely an exercise. Yoga has its roots in the Indus Valley Civilization, where it has been practiced for thousands of years. It’s a way of living that focuses on changing how you perceive yourself and how you deal with the ups and downs of everyday life.

2. Yoga is accessible to all fitness levels and flexibility levels.
On Instagram, you can find pictures of people in expensive leggings twisting their bodies into difficult postures and balancing in ways that appear to defy gravity if you search for the hashtag “yoga.” In particular, if you’ve never tried yoga before and may have limited flexibility, these visuals can be both seductive and terrifying.

4. A yoga class’ framework varies based on the style, but there are some fundamental things you may anticipate.
A yoga class format will also change based on the studio, the type of class, and the instructor. The instructor may next ask you to choose an intention for the class, which is essentially choosing a word or attribute to concentrate on for the remainder of the lesson, such as openness or healing. Then, you’ll probably alternate between various positions and flows. Additionally, your instructor could assign a “position of the day” to your class, which includes multiple regressions and detailed instructions. Before concluding with a brief meditation done while resting on your back in Savasana, classes may also include hip-opening and spine-strengthening practices.