How do newcomers start practicing yoga? Is there anything that they need to pay attention to?

[DanielleOsborn]

For the sake of health, I recently decided to start yoga, but I only prepared a yoga mat. Is there anything else I need? And, where should I start learning?

Yoga with Adrienne on YouTube is very good. She has yoga for beginners which are 20 minutes long. If you haven't done yoga before just be mindful of your own body and dont push yourself. If that gets you hooked have a look for local classes. Enjoy.

When I go to my yoga session the instructor just says what to do and we all just copy her

It's relaxed and you just do what you can

Some people take there own mats most just use there's

I started by going to an IRL class to learn the basics. If I'd have started with youtube vids I think I'd have done myself a mischief trying to get into the shapes that the super-fit and bendy youtubers can manage with ease after years of practice rather than concentrating on how it feels.

I used their mats and props initially but bought my own once I realised this is a hobby I really enjoy.

I went for a class but never tried to do what other people do and stopped/adjusted when it was past uncomfortable into painful.

After the class I would look for alternative/adjustments for myself as I always felt uncomfortable asking the teacher - but most people would do this (and most instructors would encourage you to)

Listen to your own body -some things will be easy, some things will be hard.

A few years down the line some things are still easy and some things are still hard, but I know I have progressed down my own timeline.

I’d look for a local hatha or iyengar class.

One of the most important things to understand about yoga is that all the asanas have different levels and nobody expects anyone to be able to do them all full on right at the start - or even for quite some time.

A good teacher will offer adaptations for different levels & also for any injuries you’ve got.

Best advice is to start at an in person class with a good teacher, just to make sure you're not inadvertently doing anything damaging.