If you have been thinking about trying yoga but keep talking yourself out of it, this one is for you. I hear the same worries all the time. I am not flexible enough. I will be the oldest one there. Everyone will know what they are doing except me. I want you to know that none of those things matter, and I mean that with my whole heart.
You Do Not Need to Be Flexible to Start
Let me clear this one up first, because it stops more people than anything else. Saying you are too stiff for yoga is like saying you are too hungry to eat. Flexibility is not the price of admission. It is one of the things that slowly grows the longer you practice, and even then, it is honestly not the point.
Your first yoga class is not a test. Nobody is watching you, and nobody expects you to touch your toes. Yoga meets you exactly where you are today, whether that is tight shoulders from work, a back that complains when you stand up, or a mind that will not slow down. That last one was me, once. Yoga found me during one of the hardest stretches of my life, and I was not flexible or calm or any of the things people think you need to be. I just kept showing up, and it slowly changed everything.
What a Class at Shelly’s Cove Actually Looks Like
Here is what happens when you walk into my studio on Main Street in Aztec. You arrive a few minutes early, roll out a mat, and find a spot that feels good to you. If you are new, tell me. I will help you get settled and keep a gentle eye on you through class, without ever putting you on the spot.
I guide the whole class with simple, clear cues, so you never have to guess what comes next. I offer easier and harder versions of every single pose, and I truly mean it when I say the easier version is not the lesser version. You are allowed to rest at any time. Nobody has ever been judged for taking a break in my class and nobody ever will be.
Classes run one hour. We begin by settling in and breathing, move through poses that warm and strengthen the body, and end with a few quiet minutes of rest. Most people tell me that final rest is what brings them back.
Which Class Should You Try First
When the studio opens in 2027, I will be teaching two weekly classes, and both will welcome complete beginners.
Hot Hatha Flow will meet Monday and Wednesday mornings. The room is warm, which helps your muscles loosen and makes the practice feel deeply comforting, especially on cold Four Corners mornings. If you like the idea of starting your day already accomplished, this will be your class.
Power Flow will meet Wednesday and Friday evenings. It is a bit more energetic, linking breath to movement, and it is a wonderful way to shake off a long day. Newer students will do just fine here because I offer modifications throughout.
What to Bring and How to Prepare
Bring yourself, comfortable clothes you can move in, and water. That is truly it. Mats and props are available at the studio, so you do not need to buy anything to begin. For the morning hot class, bring a little extra water and maybe a small towel. Eat light beforehand, and plan to arrive five or ten minutes early so you are not rushing.
My best advice for your first class is to lower the bar. Your only job is to breathe and move a little. That is a successful first class. Everything else comes with time, and I will be right there with you while it does.
Come as You Are
If you are in Aztec, Farmington, or anywhere in the Four Corners, I would love to have you on the mat when we open in 2027. Classes will be twenty dollars, and you will never need experience to begin. Sign up to be first to know when classes start, and in the meantime, come see me for a massage or a Reiki session. There is room for you here.
