“We all start somewhere, we all begin”

Welcome to the beginning of your yoga journey.

If you allow yourself to lean in, this practice will change your mind, body, and spirit for the better.

Have you ever been to a yoga class as a beginner, and watched all of the humans around you get into crazy, contorted shapes while the yoga teacher spoke a foreign language? YIKES.

Anytime you start something new, you can feel totally out of place. In yoga especially, it can seem a little intimidating (even more so if you’re in a class like the one described above).

At BEND, we are passionate about bridging the gap between “I’ve never done yoga before” and “here I am in an actual all-levels class”. We want to provide resources and information to our BEND beginners so that you feel supported on your journey. As you become more practiced in yoga, you may find that you revisit this page to refresh yourself on the basics and relearn something in a different way.

We are really excited you’re here, and we look forward to watching your practice evolve.

Here are a few things to keep in mind:

  • Don’t be afraid to ask questions! Your instructors and the yoga community at BEND are here to help you! Ask during class, after class, via email — anytime!

  • Tell your instructor if you have any particular injuries, have had any joint replacements, are pregnant, have blood pressure issues, have heart issues, or are sensitive to the heat. None of these things prevent you from having a strong, healthy practice, but they are good for your instructor to know and keep in mind throughout class.

  • Yoga instructors are not doctors. While we know A LOT about the body, movement, anatomy, physiology, kinesthetics, the nervous system, breathing, and more, we are not medical providers.

  • Your body is your best teacher. Yoga helps you silence some of the outward “chatter” of this crazy world. As you start to tune inward, you will notice the sensations your body is communicating.

    • If a stretch feels too deep, back away from it a bit.

    • If you begin to feel out of breath, or light-headed, come to a seat or a child’s pose to take a rest and reset.

    • If you start to feel nauseous, drink some water and take a few deep breaths in and out.

  • We practice and practice and practice and what do we have? The common answer is "perfect"... but perfect is unattainable! So what do we have instead? We have progress. Therefore, practice makes progress.

  • In order to see this progress, we recommend building up to 3+ classes per week.

“there’s no shame in the prop game”

Yoga props are here to help you!

See below for some of our favorite props.

Water

Ah, the humble water bottle. In any yoga practice, and especially in a hot yoga practice, you need to stay hydrated.

If you know you are coming to a hot class, start hydrating early and often so that your body is ready for your practice.

We have a water cooler and plastic cups which can be enjoyed at no cost. We encourage clients to bring their own reusable water bottle, and we sell BEND-branded water bottles in our studio. We also have a BEND Hydration Station, fully stocked with bottled water ($1, honor system), La Croix ($2), and Coconut Water ($3).

Yoga Mat

This is the most important prop for your yoga practice.

Of course, you can practice yoga without a mat, but having a designated space for your practice, and a little bit of cushion is a wonderful thing.

Choose your mat wisely. Yoga mats come in two finishes: Open Cell and Closed Cell.

An Open Cell mat will be porous and is ideal for a hot yoga practice because it absorbs sweat and remains grippy even while it’s damp. We sell these open-cell mats in our studio. We also rent mats at our studio for $5.

A Closed Cell mat will be non-porous and is ideal for room-temperature or cooler yoga. It’s also ideal for outdoor yoga, as it will not attract as much dust/dirt. Closed cell mats can become slippery when wet, so if you are using them for a hot class, we recommend acquiring a mat towel also (see below).

Yoga Mat Towel

If you are practicing hot yoga, you may find a yoga mat towel invaluable. You’ll see a lot of our BEND yogis use a mat towel like this one. We sell these in our studio also. We also rent yoga mat towels at our studio for $5, or for $8 you can rent a mat and a mat towel.

When using a yoga mat towel, place it grippy side down and in line with the shape of your mat. The first few uses of your mat towel may be “smooth”, just continue to use the towel and you’ll find it breaks in over time.

HINT: In a pinch, you can use a shower towel or beach towel!

Personal Towel

Yoga is physical, and with that sweat will happen (especially in HOT yoga). We recommend all clients bring a personal towel with them to class.

HINT: Repurpose old dish towels or handtowels!

Yoga Blocks

Yoga blocks can be used in many different ways to support your practice. In general, yoga blocks bring the floor closer to us in times when our body is unable to reach it.

Think about poses like: Easy Seat, Triangle, Seated Forward Fold, Half Lift, etc. How could a block support you in these poses?

It’s important to note that there are many different sizes and shapes of yoga blocks. We offer two styles in our studios, a 4” dense block and a 3” foam block (blocks are free for all clients to use). We also sell a 4” yoga block like this one.

Choosing the right block often comes down to preference. Occasionally, a teacher will specifically request that you have a “large” block, in which case you’d want to grab the 4” denser version.

Ask your BEND instructor for advice on how and when to use a yoga block!

Yoga Strap

In the same ways that yoga blocks support our practice, so do yoga straps. In general, yoga straps help to connect points of our body that might otherwise not reach.

Think about poses like: Bound Wide-Leg Forward Fold, Yogi Big Toe Hold, etc.

A strap can be used in different ways, such as grabbing the ends, making a loop, wrapping your foot or hand, or doubling the strap. We offer straps in our studios and we also sell straps like this one.

Ask your BEND instructor for advice on how and when to use a yoga strap!

Handweights

Handweights are an excellent way to add challenge and toning to your yoga practice.

Some classes, such as Inferno Hot Pilates and HOT HIIT will utilize handweights throughout practice.

We provide a variety of handweights from 0.5lb and 1lb weighted balls, to 2lb & 5lb handweights. These weights can be used in either studio for no charge, or you can bring your own handweights if you prefer a heavier set.

Resistance Bands

Similar to handweights, resistance bands offer a great challenge for your practice.

Some classes, such as Yoga Sculpt, QUICK HOT HIIT, and Pilates will utilize resistance bands throughout practice.

We provide three different levels of resistance bands in our studios: light, medium, and difficult. These bands can bs used in either studio for no charge.

Foam Wedges & Knee Pads

Foam wedges & Knee Pads are excellent props if you suffer from wrist pain, shoulder pain, arthritis, tight hamstrings, low back pain, plantar fasciitis, or tight calves.

A foam wedge provides a little lift in order to lessen the stress or strain applied to a targeted muscle/fascia group. A knee/elbow pad provides extra cushioning under your bones and joints.

We provide a few foam wedges and knee/elbow pads. Either can be used in our studios for no charge.

Ask your BEND instructor for advice on how and when to use a foam wedge.

This page is a work in progress. Please continue to check back for updates.

Thank you for your patience.