Online Yoga for Beginners Course

In the course, you’ll find five yoga lessons online for beginners, which each broken down into three key elements: Breathing, Foundation & Flow.

Each class will address a specific aspect of practising yoga whilst honouring these principles.

Breathing

Many yoga traditions use a specific method of breathing, performed whilst moving through the postures. This method is called ‘ujyaii’ breath and involves the constriction of vocal cords around the glottis, similar to a rasping sound. We keep that soft, subtle sound going throughout the whole practice. The purpose of such a breathing technique is to place the mind on the breath as you move through the practice.

Each lesson we continue to go back to this specific style of yogic breathing, reinforcing the practise. In addition, you will experience what’s like to take a full breath properly using your diaphragm and abdomen.

You will also learn about the importance of breathing through the nose and why nasal breathing is advantageous.

Foundation

To master a yoga practice, you need to learn the basics. By basics, I mean learning from the very foundation, or starting point, of all yoga poses – how to establish their form, and how to practise them safely and effectively. That’s why taking yoga lessons online for beginners is the perfect way to start your yoga journey, which may be the beginning of a lifetime of yoga practice.

For each key yoga pose, whether it be ‘downward facing dog’, ‘warrior 2’, or ‘bridge pose’, you’ll learn the key alignment that is required to establish the posture. You’ll find that there are certain precise cues which can help to get into each posture in a way that is comfortable and effective.

When teaching yoga for beginners, my job as the yoga instructor is to convey the minimum instructions to make each yoga pose effective, without overwhelming you with too much information. The short video below shows you an excerpt of how I teach the basics of ‘Warrior 2’.

Flow

The vinyasa style of yoga involves moving between each pose with the breath, so transitioning through poses is a fundamental aspect of all yoga classes. It creates a sense of lightness and joy in the practice. It could also be described as a form of ‘movement meditation’.

As part of the course, you will learn the ‘3 Part Salutation‘. This is a modified version of a ‘sun salutation’, which is traditionally used at a beginning of a hatha yoga class to warm up the body and develop continuity with the breath. Each class will begin with this movement. Once this sequence is learnt, you can practice this on a daily basis as part of your yoga practice, or even in the office where you feel like you a quick break.

You will also learn how to ‘link’ postures with the specific breath I described in the Breathing section. For example, we move from Warrior 2 to Extended Side Angle, and then to Triangle.

Frequently Asked Questions

What style of yoga do you teach?

The broad style of yoga I teach is ‘hatha yoga’. Hatha yoga is the style of yoga that relates to physical body. Within Hatha yoga there are a number of different styles, of which I teach ‘vinyasa yoga’. Vinyasa yoga is a more dynamic, creative style of yoga. It typically incorporates yoga postures that flow with the breath. As this is an introductory course, proper attention will also be given to understanding the key aspects of each yoga posture.

How are the classes taught?

They are taught via ZOOM. You will need to download the ZOOM application for your personal computer or other mobile device. Full instructions for accessing the classes are provided when purchasing the course.

Where will the course be taught?

The course will be taught privately online through me.

How much does the course cost?

£99 which is paid at the start of the course for the 5 weeks.

When does the course start?

The 1st class starts on the 16th January, 2023.

How long is each class?

Each class is 45 minutes, designed to fit around your busy schedule. For the first class, allow for 15 minutes extra for everyone to introduce themselves and I explain more about the course.

What if I miss a class?

No problems. I will be recording each class so you will be able to catch up or revise following the class. This class builds on what is learnt in the previous weeks so if you miss a class, it is no problem.

Am I too old or stiff to start yoga?

Never! Yoga can be done by anyone at any age. It’s never too late to start yoga, even if you have aches and pains. Yoga is the perfect antidote to modern day living and can be enjoyed by everyone of any age. If you have any specific ailments, we can discuss those before the start of the course.

What if I don’t have a yoga mat?

A yoga mat definitely helps. I recommend that you get one that is non-toxic and environmentally friendly, and you may choose to go through one of my recommended Partners, Yoga Bliss or Jade Yoga. Jade make yoga mats from natural rubber without synthetic products. Jade was the brand of my first yoga mat, and I definitely recommend it.

What if I have some experience of Yoga before?

That’s fine. Students who come to the course will benefit from revising or gaining a new perspective on yoga. As each yoga teacher brings his or her experience to the class, the course offers the perfect opportunity to learn something new about yoga, or particular yoga poses they haven’t been taught in detail before.

How many students are in each class?

To keep the class intimate and to maximise student experience, each class is limited to 20 participants only.

I have an injury, is it still ok to take the course?

Practising yoga with injuries with the right care and diligence is entirely normal. If you do have an injury, then please discuss this in advance with Scott.

I would like to speak to you before taking the course?

If you have any concerns (or injuries), please feel free to reach out to Scott (scott@yogibanker.com) and we can schedule some time to discuss any issues or concerns you may have.

All photos: Cecilia Cristolovean (www.yogaandphoto.com)