Are these classes okay for beginners?
Absolutely! At Ompractice, we offer classes that cater to all levels, including beginners – almost half our students have no experience with yoga or fitness at all!
We started Ompractice to make yoga, mindful movement, and mindfulness more accessible: we wanted to bring classes that we know work help people achieve all kinds of goals – we have a personal mission of being inclusive and supporting people wherever they are!
Here’s what you can expect:
1. Beginner-Friendly Classes:
Some of our classes are specifically designed for beginners, and labeled as "intro" or "beginner"; but we also have a range of gentle classes of all kinds that are great for students across the board!
Our teachers are skilled at offering modifications and guidance to help you get started, regardless of your experience level. All of our teachers have experience teaching beginners!
Here's a quick list of some of our "first classes" we love! https://www.ompractice.com/beginner-basics-classes-at-ompractice/
2. Supportive Environment:
We've built Ompractice with the intention that all of our live classes provide a supportive and welcoming environment. Your teachers are available to answer questions and provide real-time feedback – don't hesitate to ask questions in chat, or unmute and ask a question!
You’ll find a community of students at various levels, all encouraging and supporting each other – our vibe community vibe is friendly, and you'll find fellow community members from truly all walks of life!
We know that starting out from scratch – or like many of our students, starting again after a long time away, illness, caregiving, experiencing grief, or any reason you've taken time off – can be stressful! We are here for you!
3. Class Recommendations:
We recommend that you take our short onboarding quiz to help us make specific recommendations for you. We'll typically suggest a range of classes:
Gentle Classes: You may want to start with classes labeled “Intro” or “Gentle” These classes focus on foundational poses and techniques. (If you fill out our class recommendation quiz, we'll recommend specific classes that will fit the bill!)
A range of styles: we have classes in a range of styles from yoga, to tai chi, pilates, and more.
Fitness: Currently our strength training classes are designed to work for complete beginners!
Meditation and Mindfulness: Our intro to meditation and iRest classes are perfect for those new to these practices, but you can feel comfortable jumping into any of the meditation classes on the schedule even as a total beginner!
4. Resources and Modifications:
Personalized support based on your needs: When you sign up for Ompractice, you have the opportunity to put in a health note, or generally anything else a teacher should know! Dealing with nagging pain or injuries? Just starting out? We encourage you to share with your teacher so they can give you a little extra support in class.
Modifications for all abilities: Each class includes modifications for different fitness levels. Our teachers aim to cue and support folks of all levels. If you are a visual learner, and need more demonstration, we also have classes that are labeled specifically on the schedule for this.
We're here to support you! Feel free to reach out to our team with any specific concerns or needs you might have.
Common Concerns:
What if I can’t keep up with the class? Don’t worry! Our teachers can provide modifications and will always encourage you to go at your own pace. That's okay! We're here to meet you where you are!
Here are just some of the things our teachers do to support students in every class:
Support for Pain or Mobility Issues: If you need more support for pain or mobility reasons, our teachers can help you with props or suggestions on adapting poses and movements to suit your body.
Extra Rest: When you're just starting out, you might need to rest a bit longer. Our teachers will encourage you to do so, whether in a "child's pose" or by taking extra moments of rest as a group.
Guidance on Moves and Poses: If you're unsure how to do a move or pose, our teachers are here to guide you with clear cues and are happy to provide additional demonstrations if needed.
How can I find beginner-friendly classes? Use our class filters to search for beginner-friendly classes, gentle classes, seated classes, and classes for visual learners on our schedule.
Ready to get started? Explore our beginner-friendly classes and join our supportive community today. If you have any questions or need recommendations, our support team is here to help!