Five Pro Tips for Beginners from Thrive Hot Yoga Instructor Shannon Olsen
“I will never forget my first hot yoga class. I felt like I was floating afterwards.”
You Are the Reason Shannon Olsen Teaches (and yes, she really does mean you).
“It’s very humbling. I remember all of my students’ first classes. I love seeing the transformation,” says Thrive instructor Shannon Olsen. “They come in so vulnerable, and they leave changed. That’s how it was for me, too—the magic of hot yoga is real and can make a big difference.”
For Shannon, yoga is the antidote to what ails you: “I feel good every time I practice. I am circulating blood through my body. I am energizing myself. If my back pain goes away or my neck feels better, that’s a bonus.” And she’s not wrong. Too many people are on the fence about starting a hot yoga practice, and they talk themselves out of it before they even begin, fearing that they’re not flexible, strong, or ready enough. But Shannon says, “You can’t mess this up.”
“If you’re walking into the studio, you can do the class. If you’re walking, that means you can balance.” Shannon has been teaching yoga for a decade and still has the same level of enthusiasm as when she took her first class—and she wants to share that feeling with you. “You’re never too old. You’re never too sick. It’s never too late to start again from scratch,” a favorite quote from Bikram she often repeats.
Shannon was initially introduced to yoga by her MOM.
She was struck by how different she felt when she did it and, more to the point, how she felt when she didn’t. A few years later, her sister told her about Bikram yoga; ever curious, she read Bikram’s Yoga book and said, “Holy cow, why isn’t everybody doing this?”
With no studios near her and only a book in hand as her guide, she began practicing in her south-facing bedroom to generate some heat. Eventually, she became so committed that she drove an hour to the nearest studio and took her first “official” class, where the “teacher yelled at me to lock my knee and correct my poses.” Shannon quickly discovered that there was much more to hot yoga than she had imagined, and she wanted to learn it all. With the encouragement and support of her family, Shannon followed her sister's lead and became a certified teacher in 2014.
Balanced body + focused mind = a meditative state of being
One of the main reasons Shannon loves hot yoga is because it is a physical practice that, when combined with attention, reflection, and balance, also becomes a meditative practice. Not only can you find relief from inflammation and pain caused by a sedentary lifestyle, but you can also find mental and emotional clarity—each class you take builds upon itself. “I truly value the trust the students place in the practice and their instructor,” says Shannon. “To witness the momentum and ultimate transformation is such a privilege for me.” Hot yoga pushes people out of their comfort zones while teaching them how to feel more comfortable with themselves and more patient with others. The healing that happens inside the studio carries over outside, into real life.
“I would never not do it. I’m going to be 125 years old, practicing and teaching classes. I’m going to do it forever.”
Are you new to hot yoga?
Check out Shannon’s pro tips for those just starting their yoga journey. And be sure to check back next month when she shares her pro tips for seasoned practitioners.
Shannon’s Top 5 Pro Tips for Beginners.
You can't mess this up. The beauty of yoga is that it meets you where you are, which may change daily. Focus on making progress, not perfection.
Start with the basics. Listen and follow your teacher’s instructions step-by-step. Start with your feet together, and then go from there.
Wait for the opening; don't force yourself. There’s a reason we call yoga a practice. Be patient with your body and give yourself some grace. You’ll know when you’re ready to go deeper into a pose.
Don’t be intimidated to try. Even partial execution still yields 100% results and benefits. Again, focus on progress, not perfection.
Come back. Whether you loved or hated your first class, try it again, preferably within 24-48 hours. The sooner you return to it, the sooner you’ll feel the magic of hot yoga working for you—both physically and mentally.
Ian O’Laughlin, Co-founder, Thrive Hot Yoga
Practice with Shannon
You can practice with Shannon most mornings in Troy, where she teaches Original Hot 90 and Hot 60 Music.
Sign up for her classes here.
“The students keep me motivated. As a teacher, I am honored to see the impact hot yoga makes on their lives over time.”
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