New to yoga? Notable yoga experts offer these 5 tips.

1. "Along with your yoga mat and your towel, bring a sense of humor to class. Students who get hung up on doing everything 'perfectly' are less likely to come back."
--Seane Corn, creator of the Vinyasa Flow Yoga DVD series and national yoga ambassador for YouthAIDS

2. "Don't force your way into yoga. Adapt your movements to accommodate your level of strength and stamina, so that you avoid injury and feel comfortable in every pose."
--Baron Baptiste, founder of Baptiste Power Vinyasa Yoga

3. "Watch out for what I call 'self mutilation' -- spending your time talking to yourself about what you can't do. This will make your practice dismal. The more you stay connected to feeling the pose -- to breathing into the pose -- the better your experience will be."
--Ana Forrest, founder of Forrest Yoga

4. "To jump-start your practice, go on a yoga retreat. By temporarily shelving all the distractions in your normal life, you'll learn enough in just two or three days to make a big difference in your weekly yoga class experience."
--Richard Faulds, former president of Kripalu

5. "When you get to class, keep an open mind. Tune in to your own infinite possibilities. And drink water."
--Guruatma Singh Khalsa, co-owner of Franklin Yoga and yoga instructor for 32 years

Text by Abbie Barrett

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