You may have heard of the countless benefits that yoga can offer: increased range of motion, toned muscles, injury prevention, improved nervous and digestive systems. Are you interested in giving yoga a try, but having a hard time getting started? Don’t worry, you’re not alone! Despite your enthusiasm, you may find yourself faced with one or more of the most common obstacles, such as the right setup and space, busy days with little time for exercise or relaxation, myths about yoga, a fear of the unknown, or even a simple lack of motivation.

Fear no more… Skimble Trainer Silvie Hibdon has 5 easy tips to get you started with a new yoga routine:

It may seem like you don’t need a lot of equipment to do yoga, but one item is truly essential. Take my advice and invest in a sticky yoga mat. If you have never tried practicing on a mat before, borrow one from a friend so that you can feel the importance of good grip. Next, designate a space in your home where you feel comfortable. By practicing in the same place, you’ll find it easier to get into a new routine and stick to it. A small area free of distractions works great. Make sure you wear comfortable stretchy clothing and always practice barefoot.

Perhaps the biggest challenge is finding time in your busy schedule. Taking even just a small amount of time to practice regularly will help you loosen up your muscles, relax your mind and be more productive. Consistency can help you gain the most benefits from yoga in the long run. So can you carve out some designated time in your weekly calendar? The Beginner’s Guide: Yoga sessions are scheduled 3 times a week for 4 weeks and last anywhere from 12-25 minutes. This is a great start and gives you just the right amount of time to make your new yoga routine a habit. Practicing early in the morning, before lunch or after work is ideal, but again, find out what works best for you and go with it!

You don’t have to be flexible to do yoga. In fact, yoga is a great way to increase flexibility. When I started yoga, I couldn’t even sit up straight, let alone touch my toes. (Not kidding!) Start by picking the poses that you can do today, simple poses can still give you a great workout and the stretching that your body craves. If the pose seems difficult, choose a modification or replace it with a Child’s Pose. Shift your attention to more important aspects such as deep breathing. It’s easy to forget to breathe deeply, especially when we hold poses. Learn the Basic Yogic Breath that makes stretching more effective, detoxifies the connective tissue, and lends a meditative quality to your practice.

It can be challenging to have confidence when you don’t know exactly what you’re doing. Listen to your body and develop trust in your inner knowing. Challenge yourself, but be smart about it and have fun along the way. The Beginner’s Guide: Yoga helps you develop your routine in a way that is enjoyable and educational. It starts with simple warm up stretches to get your joints used to moving in all directions and includes basic poses to help you get ready for a full spectrum yoga basics class. You will be introduced to basic standing poses, sun salutations, and other basic yoga groups such as twists, backbends, and hip openers.

So, what about the days when you feel sick, or work takes up all your time? Your routine doesn’t always have to be intense and exhaustive. It can take only a few minutes of simple stretches to feel the difference. It takes patience and self-acceptance to stay motivated and achieve long-term goals. Still feeling a bit resistant? Remember why you love yoga and the benefits it brings to your life.Wondering what you should do after completing the Beginner’s Guide: Yoga? You could try Workout Trainer’s Yoga Sculpt series, starting with the first of three progressive yoga programs. I also highly recommend joining Skimble’s Yoga Team and others that are tackling your weekly challenges. Another great alternative are some of Skimble’s Yoga Collections that offer a variety of relevant topics. There’s no time like the present, follow these easy tips and turn your curiosity into a routine!