For the beginner to yoga...
It is so important to learn the basics that will give you a safe and effective practice. While going to a large, general beginner's class is good, it is impossible to get the individual instruction you will need to understand the poses and breathwork in direct relation to your own body-mechanics. One of the major aspects in the training of beginners is a focus on the alignment of the body, both to correct imbalances and to prevent the possibility of injury that might be caused by imbalance and improper posture.
As each body is unique and individual, it is so important to understand how your body feels in each pose and what that means. While any good beginners teacher can give you wonderful instruction on the basic aspects of the poses, they often cannot give you the individual attention you need to understand exactly how these basics apply to your own unique, individual body. This is no criticism of these teachers. I have had the same experience when I taught beginners in my own group classes at the High Street YMCA. In a large group, it is impossible to give each person all the attention they need to truly modify each pose to their exact structural considerations. This is a simple fact, not a criticism of teachers of group classes.
Many people may be fine in a group class as a beginner. If you are already very aware of your body, are young and strong, enjoy excellent health and little or no pain in the body, are a gymnast or contortionist, have perfect posture and body mechanics, or have already practiced a movement system that can then transfer directly to your beginning yogic practice, a large group class will be wonderful for you.
However, for those of us who have body issues, pain, have had little experience with spatial awareness and structural alignment or posture, movement systems, physical activity, have had injuries or have physical limitations, a large group class can get you started, but may not provide all the information you need for a safe and effective practice. For you, then, even a few visits for individual beginner's instruction with a teacher could prove remarkably helpful and mean the difference between a mediocre practice with the risk of injury and an effective practice that is safe and respects your physical limitations, while allowing you to challenge yourself, explore your edge and experience unfolding of your body over time and in a safe manner.
