1. PROPER POSITIONING.... This is key for the beginner wanting to do just about any move. To begin with, look at alot of beginners. You'll see them looking pretty gumby for one main reason...they're laying on their boards wrong. The proper way to go is first of all to do it all in the privacy of your own home.
2. Wax your board thoroughly
3. Place your board on the ground.
4. Lay down on the board so that your hips are touching to back edge of the board.
5. Place your hands on the top corners of the board.
6. Keep your elbows ON THE BOARD. It looks really lame and is difficult for you to control if your elbows are dragging in the water.
7. Arch your back and keep your head up.
8. If you're using fins on your feet, make sure to keep them UNDERWATER when you kick. Inexperienced riders have a bad habit of slapping the surface with their fins effectively cancelling out the reason for having them in the first place.