Hello! I'm so happy to hear that you're finally giving yoga a try!
You've heard about it in the media, you've heard about it from friends, you've seen it in the magazines, maybe your doctor said it would be good for you... no matter how you found your way, I'm glad you're here. 

Any time we try something new, we get a little anxiety about the unknown. I would like to set your mind at ease about being a beginner. Everyone, who has ever started anything, has always been a beginner. The same is true with yoga. We were all beginners at one point, just like you! I know I had some butterflies in my stomach when I walked into a room full of people I didn't know to do something I wasn't familiar with. So, I just want to let you know, we've all been where you are now. 

AND. Being a beginner is AWESOME! Why? Well, because everything is new and exciting to you, enjoy that! Enjoy and embrace the excitement of learning a new skill. Now, that's not to say you won't experience some frustration, but that's okay too. You wouldn't be challenging yourself and growing if you weren't experiencing some frustration or even anger. It's all okay. 

Well. Maybe we should start with what yoga is...

Yoga means "to yoke" or "unite." Yoking typically refers to "yoke oxen," when a farmer would harness two oxen together to accomplish harder work. So energies were combined. In yoga, we focus on uniting breath with awareness and movement. In turn, that unites the body to the mind. When we are able to unite body and mind through focus on the breath, and awareness of movement we are able to be present in the moment. When we are present in the now, we are able to find a sense of stillness and peace. In that space of stillness and awareness, we are able to listen. Listen to our innate senses, our intuition, our true self. So yoga helps us find our true nature, and once we find it, listen to it! To find that sense of knowing, that sense of truth - whatever truth that may be. 

Yoga is like a multifaceted diamond. There are many facets and dimensions depending on how the light shines. This is part of why I think yoga is so wonderful; it's versatile. Anyone can pick which parts work for them or leave which parts don't, whether that's in the style or the philosophy, and receive benefits.