5 Things I Wish I’d Known Before Starting Yoga

Cami Tomei
Jul 20
4 min read

Updated: Aug 7

New to yoga? In this post, I share 5 things I wish I’d known before starting yoga. From finding the right teacher to understanding the importance of consistency. Honest advice every new yogi should hear.

1. Patience and Consistency Are Key

I know it sounds cliché, but it’s absolutely true. When I first started practicing yoga, and honestly, for a whole year- I didn’t see any obvious signs of progress. Not physically, not mentally.

But I kept going. I had the discipline to show up again and again, even when it felt like nothing was changing. Maybe because I’m a Virgo and I tend to be structured, organized, and disciplined. But more than that, something deeper inside me kept pulling me back to the mat. I call that intuition, or maybe just a quiet kind of faith.

So, take it easy. This path takes time and commitment, and this is the first thing I wish I'd known. But I promise, the results will come. And not just in those 45 or 60 minutes on the mat, but in your everyday life. When you start to doubt, remember this: a seed needs water and sunlight over time. You might not see anything happening on the surface, but one day, a small sprout appears. Keep watering.

2. Savasana (aka the final relaxation) is the most important part of the practice: don’t skip it!

What I’m about to confess is something I still feel a little ashamed of… but here goes: during my first year of practicing yoga, I used to leave the room when Savasana started.

If I could go back and tell that earlier version of myself one thing, it would be: please, don’t do that. Stay. Stay for Savasana,

Savasana looks like just a chill moment at the end of class, time to bring your heart rate down and relax a little. But it’s so much more than that. Savasana is like the digestion after a big, nourishing meal. It’s the moment your body and mind begin to absorb and integrate everything that happened during the practice.

This is a sacred pause. A time to do nothing, not to fall asleep, not to plan the rest of your day, not to judge the past, just to be.

I really wish I'd known this one. Sounds simple, right? But actually, it’s one of the hardest things to do.

**That's why I love Yin Yoga so much, but I'll talk about that in another blog :)

Savasana under the sun is my favourite thing

“Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self.” — The Bhagavad Gita

3. Find a Yoga Buddy or a Community

In my first couple of years practicing yoga, I used to go to classes with my mum, every Tuesday and Thursday evening, I’ll never forget that. It made all the difference.

Having someone to share the journey with can really help you stay consistent and motivated. If you can practice with someone in person at the beginning, even better. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Your “yoga buddy” could be a friend online, a group chat, a Facebook group, an encouraging teacher, or a supportive community.

Find people who are also walking the path, or even just curious about yoga. Because on the days when you feel like giving up, having someone to check in with can make all the difference.

4. Try Different Yoga Styles and Teachers

It took me a while to figure this out, but your yoga practice might need to shift depending on your current state, daily routine, or intentions. The more styles and teachers you try, the more informed and empowered your choices will be.

I recommend trying at least three different styles (confused? check class descriptions here 💜) and at least three different teachers (and ideally, more than one class per teacher). You can’t really get the full experience of someone’s teaching from just one class. There are so many approaches out there; it’s worth exploring to see what truly resonates with you.

When you’re starting out, don’t hesitate to ask for recommendations. And when you reach out to a teacher or studio, let them know you’re new and share a bit about your background. Do you play sports? Are you recovering from an injury? Do you spend a lot of time sitting? What are you looking for in your practice? With that context, you’ll get much better advice than simply asking, “Do you offer yoga classes?”

Fun Fact

A lot of people who’ve told me “I tried yoga and didn’t like it” actually tried it… at the gym.

And hey...no shade to gyms (I used to work in some myself!) but maybe that wasn’t the best environment.

Just something to consider

5. Progress Isn’t Always Physical (and that’s OK!)

When we start yoga, it’s easy to focus on the physical side. Like being more flexible, holding a pose longer, or getting stronger. And yes, those things can happen. But some of the most meaningful shifts don’t show up in your body. They show up in your mindset, your emotions, your daily reactions.

You might find yourself breathing more deeply in moments of stress. You might pause before reacting. You might notice yourself being kinder, to others, and to yourself.

That’s yoga too.