I've started out in group (twice) while knowing the leading person (he was Colombian) was very much OK, I knew that in advance . This gave me confidence to try on my own after those 2 sessions. I was uncertain to try first on my own so this worked out fine for me.
Because the quality was assured, those group sessions were splendid, I believe 40 persons but majority was already acquainted and they all worked in favour of a good flow. A novice could not wish for better.
While I worked solo at home, I kept also visiting another group, but here the situation was different. Smaller group, one would think better? No. The leading person was top notch but there were too many partakers first timers (50%?) and not in tune with aya and that weighted on the group vibe. I stopped that group.
I just want to say one has to have luck in finding a group where you jive well in. Things can go for better or worse. Even same group can have better or worse days. One has to have a little luck. I had sessions where I simply wanted to leave mid-course, but I could not, terrible under aya LOL.
Group can be a blessing or not, but if you make it a mission to try aya under surveillance than there's little possibilities and maybe you just have to make your best guess to choose a group and go for it, it might be terrific