Yoga sessions or classes involve many activities, from concentration and breathing exercises, bending forward or backward or sideways to twisting your body, balancing and inverting, which all demand full engagement of body, mind and heart. No matter your experience level or initial intent of practicing yoga online, its complexity makes mistakes inevitable and unavoidable. 

Mistakes that arise during yoga practice might not cause serious long-term effects; at best they may create some discomfort and difficulty for your progression; at worst they could pose real safety threats and issues. Though it is recommended to practice yoga under an experienced and qualified yoga instructor, mistakes can still happen due to lack of clarity. Don’t fret though; most mistakes are easily avoidable! Here is a list of common errors you must avoid while performing yoga for optimal practice!

1. Not Wearing Appropriate Clothes

It is vital that you conduct some tests in order to find clothing suitable for both you and the type of yoga classes Oslo you plan on attending. Wearing clothing that is too tight or loose, resisting stretch, scratchy, itchy or not capable of absorbing sweat will only distract you from focusing on breathing exercises and yoga poses.

Clothing designed to allow easy movement should be chosen with care, featuring fabrics or materials that feel soft against your skin, are highly stretchable, sweat absorbing and have a cooling effect. Hot yoga requires moisture-wicking clothes while vinyasa and ashtanga classes require stretchable and comfortable attire that stretches. Loose fitting and comfy clothes may be best suited to basic exercise classes and mild exercises; for assistance on dressing for yoga studio classes you could always seek advice from instructors and staff members of that studio.

2. Cheap and Unclean Yoga Mat

It is perfectly acceptable to purchase an inexpensive yoga mat when starting yoga in oslo, although over time using such an inexpensive mat can limit your practice as they become slippery, bunch up, and don’t stay flat or in shape; this can distract from practicing asanas to their fullest capacity, possibly leading to injuries as a result. When purchasing such a mat it should provide cushioning for joints, knees and palms while having good grip to prevent unbalancing or slips during practice.

Your yoga mat requires regular cleaning to stay functioning optimally and avoid becoming stinky. A mat used specifically for hot or power yoga becomes filthy quickly, distracting you during practice and harboring harmful bacteria which could potentially lead to fungal infections or compromise the grip, leading to hand and leg slippage and potentially leading to serious injuries.

3. Not Utilizing Props

It may be tempting to think of props as unnecessary and an indication of weakness, but their purpose is actually quite the contrary – straps and blankets serve to strengthen, deepen, and support your yoga practice. While you’ll spend some time gathering props before putting them away after class has started, having them handy will enable you to be fully prepared for whatever poses are taught during class – many teachers use props in their teaching style, meaning when you see props near your yoga teacher’s mat – gather equivalent props before entering. Doing otherwise would disrupt your flow as well as distract from others during class!

4. Doing Yoga With Full or Empty Stomach

It can be tricky coordinating meals around yoga practice sessions, but do yourself a favour: do not attempt yoga on an empty stomach unless it is absolutely necessary. A full stomach during practice will make for uncomfortable movement that slows you down or prevents certain poses from being reached; even feeling hungry while practicing is never pleasant, so consider eating a light-weight snack an hour or two prior to beginning class to prevent distractions from both fullness and hunger from detracting from the practice session itself.

5. Failing to Clear Doubts

If you are having difficulty with any yoga pose, ask your teacher for guidance or variations that would suit your body more perfectly. Not all poses will work equally for everyone’s anatomy – if anything seems unclear to you please ask the Online Yoga Teacher Training to elaborate further!