Common Mistakes Beginners Make in Yoga (and How to Fix Them)

Starting a yoga journey as a beginner can feel exciting, empowering, and a little overwhelming. We’ve all been there: pushing too hard, holding my breath without realising, comparing myself to everyone else in the room (or on YouTube!), and wondering why I wasn’t progressing. Luckily, these mistakes are incredibly common, and they’re all fixable with a little awareness and patience.

In this post, I’m breaking down the most common mistakes beginners make in yoga and sharing tips on how to overcome them so your practice feels more enjoyable and mindful.

How can this show up for you?

• Holding your breath during your practice because you’re focusing too much on the pose

• Constantly checking your social media, comparing yourself to other yogis journeys.

• Pushing your body into yoga positions that you’re not ready for.

• Skipping your practice because of procrastination, leading to inconsistency.

Common Mistakes

Pushing yourself

The Mistake:

As I progressed in yoga, I started to notice. I didn’t have to push myself in every pose I come across; I quickly learned that there can be alternatives in any pose, tailoring the practice to you. Pushing yourself can create an uncomfortable experience or even injure yourself in the process.

How to Fix:

• Listen to your body’s limits, don’t push yourself too much, remember to go at your own pace and do what's comfortable for you.

Holding your breath

The Mistake:

I remember that first time the yoga teacher said “remember to breathe”, I couldn’t help but laugh at myself because it felt like she was in the same room as me (I was following a YouTube video haha). I realised not breathing properly in yoga or subconsciously holding your breath can make it more difficult.

How to Fix:

• You can get an idea on how to breath in yoga properly by following small meditation practices. I like to do 5 – 10 minute practices in the mornings before work, or teachers also add in a small meditation section at the end of their practice. click here for more.

Comparing yourself to others

The Mistake:

It can be very easy to compare yourself to the person next to you, as it's natural to want to make sure we’re doing things right. Comparing yourself to others can create anxiety, and we are not here for that.

How to Fix:

• Remind yourself that this is your own journey, and each yoga journey is unique to every individual. You can include manifestation to keep you grounded and focused on yourself.

Inconsistency

The Mistake:

I didn’t notice much progression in my yoga journey when I didn’t stick to a weekly routine. You will not see progress if you are inconsistent.

How to Fix:

• Setting reminders can help with inconsistency if you have a busy schedule or are forgetful.

Expecting Instant Results

The Mistake:
I have been guilty of this! Have you completed one practice, expecting it to make you fully flexible? Me too.

How to Fix:

• Recognize that yoga takes lots of practice and patience.

• Be patient—consistency always wins!

These common mistakes do not benefit you at all if you make a habit of them. It can feel like you are not making progress and almost feel like you are falling behind, causing you to quit early on.

Conclusion

Yoga is meant to support you—not stress you out. By recognising these common beginner mistakes and gently adjusting your approach, you’ll create a practice that feels nourishing rather than overwhelming.

Remember to breathe, move at your own pace, and stay focused on your personal journey rather than someone else’s progress. With consistency and self-compassion, you’ll start to notice real changes not just in your flexibility or strength, but in how grounded and connected you feel.

P.S - Your yoga practice is uniquely yours—embrace that, honour it, and let it grow with you.