I'm nervous before every class, even in the studio where I began eight months ago. I guess I fall into the same camp as your sister, although I have the same seventh-grade concern as you over not looking like one of the Bendy People. I am nervous that I will have a bad practice. I am nervous that whatever the Twinge du Jour is is really the sign that I'm too old, at 46, to take up this art. Or that maybe I'm injuring myself. I feel an anxiety that dissipates when the class starts, unless I really AM having a practice where balance eludes me, etc. I think it's part of the process (for me) of quieting my mind and reconnecting with my spirit and body.

When I go to my home studio (not the one in my home, the one that is my home) I feel relaxed, curious, excited. Like I'm going to be with old friends, and new ones.

When I go to new studios, I'm a little nervous but about things like "where will I put my stuff". I get there early to get my bearings, reconnoiter, settle in.

I don't levitate in full lotus, or even ardha lotus, but I am totally ok with my pudge, and feel very at home on my mat where ever I am.

I am anxious before every class to the point that I talk myself out of going sometimes. I suffer from issues with anxiety anyway and yoga has been recommended to me to help with that. The anxiety fades around half way or sometime two-thirds way through the class but by the end of the class I feel great and am so glad I went. I try to remind myself of this feeling the next time I'm headed to class and feeling anxious.

I'm one of those comfortable on the mat folks, but I can't take credit. It has to do entirely with the teacher and the other students - all of whom make it incredibly easy to feel, well, at ease.

I was nervous my first time at this class, and if I try a new one, I'm sure I'll be nervous the first time again, but right now, the studio feels like a second home.

I am very nervous too. Especially if I have participated in a class that was a bad experience then the next class is always tricky.

What a perfect post for me today!

I started yoga the end of January and it clicked for me. I was terrified those first few classes. I'm always the heaviest person in the room. My body is well-beyond pudgy and I can't even find proper shirts that fit and don't cost a mint.

I went faithfully until two weeks ago. Baseball season was coming to an end, meaning they frantically scheduled games as fast and furious as they could. Then my husband had two out of town trips... I missed 5 classes in a row.

Now, I'm faced with going back on Thursday night and I'm scared has heck all over again. It's a small class. It's the same instructor. I'm sure the same people will be there. They are nice. They are welcoming... and yet, I'm still scared. I wonder if it will ever go away.

ok. whew. I came back to yoga after competing so much with myself that I injured my back. ok. ok. so I waited and waited and waited. FIlled in the time strength training and reading and reading yoga journal and watever else yogayish I could get my hands on, then I was ready. Ready to take another yoga class. Needed to take a class. A new studio this time. Until I read your blog Kristen I thought "silly girl why must you be so uptight about something so familar but new at the same time" WOW you said what I've been filling.....your sis hit the nail on the head. Holy Moly!!!! I felt that way untiiiiiiiiil the class started and as I progressed through I came to realize that this yoga is a good thing! (in more ways than one) I couldn't perform some asanas like others in the class. That's ok. I needed to come to child pose a couple of times. That's ok. For the first time in my life its really and truly ok. ok to do what I can do. And it's (really) ok to read that other's have felt the same. I love yoga. I love that it is with me when I can't practice When I do I'm thrilled that I am giving myself the best gift in the world. I love yoga!!!!!!!

I always feel like that too. I feel like it will be obvious I haven't done enough home practice (even when I've practised every day); I feel like my teacher will know that I've been avoiding backbends; I fear that she's going to make me do nothing but backbends; I worry that I won't be able to kick up into handstand because I took three days off practice last week. I fear the competition (and I have one-on-one classes :) ) - turns out there's NOTHING I'm not afraid of.

I felt couple of times anxiety at the beginning of the class when i first started last October. But i realise yoga is to dicrease your anxiety instead of bringing it up, you just need to concentrate on yourself and class, and it will disappear by itself.

Wow! I thought I was only one of a few with this 'nervousness' issue, but seems like its more abundant that I thought! I was so nervous about going to a yoga class or even starting to do yoga that I waited 47 years to start! Now I love the way yoga makes me feel, but I still am nervous about going to class, probably more to do with body image issues and self esteem.....and the fact that my hips just will not bend into many of the positions I am learning....I keep thinking there is something wrong with my hips and will I ever even be able to sit cross-legged comfortably? But then when we work through other poses that I am able to do I feel like 'this is it, this is what I want to feel like in ALL of the poses'. Embrace the nervousness and go with the flow !

Hi, I can understand how you feel. We all go through this don't we ? The remedy might be to increase the number of times we practice. That will surely give a sense of belonging. By the way I am building a new site on using the best yoga mats ! This is to feel confident in your practice and also to be inspired to practice more regularly. If you would like to share your experience please do !
Thank you.

I don't get nervous when I go to the studio I have a membership with but when I go to other Yoga studios - yes - I do get nervous. I tend to stay in the back, which ALWAYS fills up first. I think that's a clue there.....
Most of my nervousness comes from being there by myself and not the limitations of my practice. Most people come with someone else, and there is comfort in the buddy system.
My mantra is and will always be,
"My Mat,
My Body,
My Practice."
It keeps me in the moment and makes the rest of the world disappear.
Thanks for the blog Kristen you always rock!

I can easily relate to how both you and your sister feel in regards to nervousness over your Yoga practices. For me, I experience symptoms over competitiveness and judgement of myself. Intially, I usually become anxious before practice because I suffer from Social Anxiety Disorder. But this usually quickly dissipates as soon as we begin our breathing exercises. However, if I am having a bad day keeping my balance or just out of energy, I can become frustrated with myself which only makes the anxiety worse. As for the competitive issue, I also become frustrated if I am not able to stretch as far as the previous day, or if i feel I'm not having a "good performance." On the other hand, this can also turn to cockiness for me if I really am in my "zone." I will see how well I am holding the poses, and feel like I am better than other people in class.

I'm glad that I'm not alone on this, I get nervous every single time I go to a yoga class! I'm much more comfortable doing my home practice. I'm not competitive at all but a lot of the people in the class seem to be and I do find myself getting caught up catching glimpses at what other people are doing. It's quite a close knit community as well and I'm a bit of a loner, not so good with the small talk. The nervousness goes as soon as I sit down on the comfortingly familiar mat. As long as we're aware of the nerves and it doesn't stop us from doing yoga, it's fine.
(By way I got nervous just from posting this comment!)

i never use to be but recently i have been away from the studio for about 2 months and the thought of going to a class turns my stomach inside out. and yet i so want to be in class in front of my teacher, surrounded by my yoga friends. was my home practice enough to keep me in shape enough to do the big poses? what will people think about me absents?
just before this 2 month break i was extremely emotional at classes and worried it would be seen as a sign of weakness. i also worry about my age (48) and work really hard keep up with the bendy young things in class because i fear not being good enough.
i know once the class starts i will be home and the nerves will fall away, but i am glad to know i am not the only one coming to class with anxiety in the pit of my stomach

I also have anxiety issues around going to a yoga class, usually because i am afraid it will be way too hard and painful for me and i will end up hurting for days. And teacher training?? Holy cow! Especially now that we are toward the end and have to teach up in front of the whole class while being evaluated by the trainers! It is nerve-wracking for me, and for everyone else. I tend to thnk i am the only one who could possibly have all these insecurities, and am always surprised to know that my fellow trainees feel the same way.

This is so wonderful and good to hear that others are nervous like me. Especially Barb's comments : .....( the same ) concern as you over not looking like one of the Bendy People. I am nervous that I will have a bad practice. I am nervous that whatever the Twinge du Jour is is really the sign that I'm too old, at 46, to take up this art. Or that maybe I'm injuring myself. '
This reflects completely what I feel... except that it often doesn't go away with the practice.
Thank you Kirsten for always bringing up such relevant points

Yes, yes, yes! I could have written this article. Although the nerves go away the moment class begins, they're still there, nearly every time. I could practice at home all day (and often do!), but get me to a real class and I'm a bundle of nerves!

Oh, yeah. But I solved that problem. I take either self-sequenced-style classes or Level I classes, even though my home practice is at a Level 2. Since I practice yoga primarily at home (class length, but unlike yours, pretty comprehensive in its focus) I do run the risk of my poses not "fitting in" with the prototype poses.

Such as substituting Warrior III for Dekasana, that sort of thing ...

Since I am not particularly flexible, I don't "show off" (for want of a better term) much in class, in what I do substitute.

What else could I say about my home practice?

How about: "Don't underestimate the power of using Pilates moves."

But my flow is slow.

I love that you're so aware of your body and feelings, and so open about it all. It's refreshing and inspiring! I get nervous that I may not be able to complete all cobra asana; that my arms that day will be too weak to support the flows. It's silly, but it's there. Also, in general, I fear injuring myself; and I hate that. My fear stems from knowing that if I sprain an ankle or injury a knee, I won't be able to practice for the time it takes to heal. That's scary and just sad. Here's to letting go of the fear and having more faith!

Namaste
StudioLiveTV.com

i mostly practice at home, but when in studio it certainly feels different. i think this is because we feel so much energy from the people around us. sometimes it is inspiring and joyful and other times it brings up our insecurities. i use the time before class to breath, focus on myself and set a clear intention to maintain this focus through the class. perhaps focusing on a compassionate love for all the others in the room would help too. everyone has challenges!
as a teacher i sometimes see students nervous before class and i appreciate reading the comments from others as i gives my insights to what might be happening in the minds of yogis coming to take my class!

hope you will all remember that every person has different challenges. one pose may be hard for you and look easy for the person beside you, but another pose will be easier for you and challenging for them!

I have been going to the local yoga class for almost a year now and I get to know the teacher and the fellow yogis. I dont particularly feel nervous in the class. I suppose this is because I feel comfortable in the environment.

However, I do get a bit nervous when attending yoga workshops. I guess this is because I am a rather shy person and do not feel comfortable in crowds. But once the workshop starts, I feel fine! And yes, I do feel nervous when the teacher asked us to do a particular pose, but when I looked around, I'm not the only one who is not yet ready for the pose, and I know with practice, I will get there one day! And that nervousness turns to a goal and intention to learn the pose. This is what I love about yoga!

I just went to my first yoga class this past week... a beginners class. I find that i get very intimidated trying new things, so i wanted to jump into yoga with an open mind and positive energy. Trying a beginners class made me feel comfortable and I wasn't too nervous even thought i had no idea what i was doing.

Can anyone give me a recommendation of how many beginners classes i should try before i move to a "regular class"? At this point I am terrified to go to a class with experienced people.

Thank you!

I only been to a few classes and much prefer to do it at home alone or with one or two other people. I am not in the best shape so that is why i picked up yoga, I am very competative also so if i am not doing as well as those around me i get down on myself and embarassed. Just how I am plus I am very shy around new people so that might be why too.

Winter is a great time of year for men to show off their fashion sense because more layers mean more opportunities to be cutting edge.

I am 51, and just this past Sunday decided to enter into a teacher training program, something that I have been wanting to do for years. I feel everything that you all have expressed, and reading this has helped me to understand that I do not have the body of younger yogini-I am post-menopausal and beautifully curvy. Yoga is so much more than asana..from my experiences with yoga, asana is the gateway to living a more fulfilled, balanced and not-so-cranky life. I sometimes give the negative voices some space to speak (What are you doing, you are crazy, you will get hurt, embarrass yourself, what will others think, I will be oldest one there, etc), and then I remember that this is my yoga, and though I will not be perfect or bendy (I love that), I will learn once and for all to honor the body that God has blessed me with, take a deep breath and hopefully move gently and with intention into every pose. And hopefully, there will be many props to assist. God Bless All of you and thank you for your courage to reveal what we all feel..

I'm sitting here reading this, full of nerves, as I get ready to go to my first yoga class in 8 months! :S. I usually have a buddy to go with but today I'm going it alone and I'm quite nervous and scared. I know once I have my place in the room with my mat rolled out I will be fine. I know my practice won't be as nearly as strong as it once was but I know if I do this first step I'll be that much closer to gaining back what I lost. I've almost talked myself out of it a few times, but I find it helps if I tell people that I plan to go. Then it's harder for me to back out. Fingers crossed!

I'm sitting here reading this, full of nerves, as I get ready to go to my first yoga class in 8 months! :S. I usually have a buddy to go with but today I'm going it alone and I'm quite nervous and scared. I know once I have my place in the room with my mat rolled out I will be fine. I know my practice won't be as nearly as strong as it once was but I know if I do this first step I'll be that much closer to gaining back what I lost. I've almost talked myself out of it a few times, but I find it helps if I tell people that I plan to go. Then it's harder for me to back out. Fingers crossed!

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Thanks for this, I agree with most of your points. Good to see someone with the same opinion.