New to Yoga? Embracing Fear, Pain & Beginnings

Yes, we’ve all been there—every journey begins with uncertainty.

Walking in…

I can still remember the fear I felt when I walked into my first yoga class. I was about fifteen and had no idea what to expect as I entered that small studio in Mexico City.

At the time, I couldn’t have imagined how profoundly this practice would transform my life.

I was there with a friend who wanted to explore a more holistic way of exercising. She had almost dragged me into the studio after what had been a typically boring day of high school. It was within walking distance from our school, and she convinced me to give it a try by saying it would be very acrobatic.

I had practiced acrobatics and gymnastics throughout my childhood and teenage years but had recently stopped due to a lower back injury.

A few years later, the growing pain caused by that injury would ultimately lead me to embrace yoga as a life path. However, that hot afternoon in Mexico City marked the quiet beginning of a journey I didn’t yet know I was on.

A silent smile and a purple mat

We arrived a few minutes early, and as we stepped inside, the soothing scent of lavender filled the room. Everyone else was already there—older than us, calmly preparing for class.

When the teacher walked in, my friend and I realized something: we didn’t even have mats!

An older woman at the back smiled warmly and silently pointed to a corner where a pile of purple mats was stacked.

We quickly walked over, each grabbed one, and made our way to the back of the room. We settled onto our borrowed mats, sitting quietly side by side, waiting for the class to begin.

Breath & struggle

Sitting at the back of the room, I could feel my nerves.

I wasn’t sure why, but something in me sensed that this day would be meaningful.

The class began with some pranayama. I had never explored breathing exercises before, and at the time, I struggled with a weak respiratory system—something made worse by my unconscious smoking. Those first fifteen minutes were incredibly challenging.

I honestly wasn’t sure I’d make it through.

After the breathing exercise ended, we moved into the asana practice. The teacher guided us through a few rounds of sun salutations as a warm-up, and I slowly began to reconnect with my body—one that was still suffering from intense pain and restricted mobility in the lower back.

I felt stiff, immobile, and in pain. Yet those first rounds gently opened a window into what was happening in that wounded region of my body. For the first time, I wasn’t just avoiding the pain. I was learning to feel it, observe it, and be with it.

I’ve always had a strong sense of body awareness (years of acrobatics gave me that) but I had never truly allowed myself to feel what a posture evoked from within. What echoes did it create, and why?

That first yoga practice invited me to tune in. By encouraging body–mind awareness, it helped me realize that movement and breath were deeply connected, and that I could explore both more fully by listening to what my body had to say.

When the class ended, about an hour later, I felt like something had shifted inside me. That first experience marked the beginning of my journey with yoga.

Yet it would take years before my mind and body truly committed to seeking refuge in the sacred teachings of yoga.

Honoring the journey of becoming

What I’ve come to realize after twelve years of practice is that the discomfort, the struggle, and the uncertainty are all part of the journey.

They are the seeds of growth: the moments that shape us into who we are becoming.

Yoga, for me, didn’t just change my body; it taught me to be patient, to trust the process, and to honor the space between where I started and where I am now.

Today, I want to reflect on those early moments when I felt uncomfortable in my practice and share them with you. I believe we often forget just how challenging the beginning can be.

So if you’re feeling unsure, uncomfortable, or even a little lost on your path, know that you’re not alone. Every step, every breath, and every moment of doubt is part of a beautiful unfolding.

Just keep showing up—and remember: the answers you’re looking for are already within you.