If you’ve never been exposed to Ashtanga yoga and have just signed up for a class at a local studio or yoga retreat or beginner’s workshop course, there’s a chance you’re experiencing a bit of pre-yoga jitters. The question is how you can address this and how you can ensure that your yoga experience is a great one and create a platform for better understanding in the future. Well, it’s pretty simple. Here are five tips that will help you glide through your Ashtanga yoga session and make you enjoy every moment of the experience.

Relax, take it easy: This is the first and main rule. Do not worry or stress unnecessarily about yoga. Just follow the instructions and go with the flow. When you sign up for a class or a retreat, remember that everyone around you is more or less on the same level as you and more than surpassing your peers, your goal should be to enjoy this yogic experience. So relax completely, and instructors are usually very aware of individual requirements, even in a large class, and will help you tailor your yogic experience based on your needs and stamina level.

Slow & Steady wins the race: Don’t expect to perform like a pro on day one. Remember that only with practice can you achieve the balance and experience of yoga teachers. Give yourself time to adapt your system as best as possible to the requirements. What this will help is not only to improve your stamina, but you will also be able to hold your asanas for much longer without difficulty or any extra effort. The easier your exercise program is, the more benefit you can get from it.

Correct alignment is crucial: This is a cardinal mistake that most beginners make. Instead of mastering the techniques correctly, they focus on trying to complete the asanas like the masters. The downside of doing this is that your body is pushed into a state it has not yet reached, and this can even lead to potential injury. This is exactly why it is very important that you pay close attention to the correct alignment techniques that would be taught by yoga instructors. These alignment techniques will allow a better fruition of the yoga asanas and will allow the yoga enthusiast to draw in the deeper energies and release inner strength through them.

Breathing is primary: Ashtanga Yoga is, in many ways, the most advanced formula for controlling the breath and helping to develop even the right amount of inner strength and positive power. This is exactly why, whether you are in relaxation poses or in the midst of difficult asanas, never lose sight of the rhythm of your breath. Remember that if you can regulate your breathing correctly, your experience in yogic postures will manifest automatically without too much effort. Correct breathing will also help you get rid of toxins much faster than you imagined.

Look at your lifestyle and diet: Ashtanga Yoga is not just a few exercise routines, but an overall life-changing experience. Most instructors would give you a diet chart in terms of the type of food that benefits your body the most. It is always advisable to stick to this schedule and benefit from it. Your lifestyle should also be modified, as most of the time meditation and pranayama are recommended early in the morning. So if you need to get up early, you will also need to avoid late-night parties to some extent.

Yogasana is about getting to the point where your mind and body meet and become one entity. Its goal is to gather all the positive forces and help you channel your energy in a constructive way. The trick is to go with the flow.