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Please click on the links to find out more. What are the benefits of practicing Yoga? How often should I practice Yoga? What is the age limit for practicing Yoga? What if I am really stiff and can't do it? How long does it take to learn Yoga? Is Yoga just another form of exercise? Can my child benefit from Yoga? Can I practice Yoga during pregnancy? What about medical conditions? What are the different styles of Yoga?
What
is Yoga? Yoga
is an elegant time honoured system for promoting a sense of vitality,
well being and peace. Yoga literally means “To Yoke” “To Unite”
the mind, body and soul. It comes from the ancient Indian language of
Sanskrit. The physical postures,
called asanas, provide a gentle stretch that acts to lubricate the
joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons and other parts of the body. Asanas
help to tone the nervous system, improve circulation, release tension
and increase flexibility. The focus on the
breath while practising the asanas bring about many mental benefits,
improved concentration, clearer mind, better awareness. Rather than building
muscle, yoga builds muscle tone. Because yoga helps to maintain a
balanced metabolism, it also helps to regulate weight. Additionally,
yoga stretches muscles lengthwise, causing fat to be eliminated around
the cells, thus reducing cellulite. Forget those images of acrobatic backbends and pretzel-like postures! You are not required to be in perfect physical shape to do yoga. Yoga is vastly adaptable, it works for you simply as you are! [top]
What
are the benefits of practicing Yoga?
Everyone can benefit from practicing yoga. It can be used to manage stress, prepare for childbirth, recover from injuries or improve health and fitness. It can give one a philosophical perspective of life, bring tranquility and mental strength. There is no-one who cannot benefit from its practice.
As
many of the great sages state that modern western life has brought
tremendous benefits but also its own perils. But the lack of natural
exercise in our lives has left many people with chronic health and
stress problems, especially as they get older. Yoga enables the student
to find relief from these physical ailments and to strengthen the body
and make it suppler.
When
you practice yoga you will find that it works on all levels of the body,
mind and spirit.
Physically
as a beginner, you will experience the practice of yoga as a form of
physical exercise that enables you to improve your strength,
flexibility, stamina and balance. However, more than other forms of
exercise you will also feel an increased sense of well being and
vitality as the body is exercised organically- the inner organs,
circulation, joint action etc. are all worked so as to improve their
function and efficiency. One can then overcome many symptoms of an
imbalanced modern life, such as headaches, stiff necks, lower backache,
insomnia and digestive disorders, and to harness one's energy bringing
vitality to everyday activities. Health, as opposed to mere fitness,
also improves.
From
the psychological viewpoint, yoga sharpens the intellect and aids
concentration. It steadies the emotions. Above all, it gives hope. The
practice of breathing techniques calms the mind. Yoga brings awareness
and the ability to be still. Through meditation, inner peace is
experienced. Thus yoga is a practical philosophy involving every aspect
of a person's being.
So, by the practice of yoga, an athlete can become a better athlete, a teacher a better teacher, an accountant a better accountant or a musician a better musician. One of B K S Iyengar’s students, the violinist Yehudi Menuhin acknowledged his Guru not as his best yoga teacher but also his best violin teacher. "Yoga is like music. The rhythm of the body, the melody of the mind, and the harmony of the soul, create the symphony of life." [top]
Who
can practice Yoga?
Anyone, regardless of age, sex, nationality, religion or social status can practice Yoga. [top]
How
often should I practice Yoga?
The
more you practice, the more you will gain; the rewards correspond to the
effort put in.
[top] What is the age limit for practicing Yoga? Although younger children can playfully be introduced to yoga, they should never be forced as this can damage their spine and other joints because their bodies are still developing. Be sure to check if the teacher is a qualified teacher who is trained to teach children. You can contact the British Wheel of Yoga for listings of specially qualified teachers in your area. There is no upper age limit and one is never too old to learn yoga. As Sri T. Krishnamacharya, another well-known Guru of yoga, once stated, "as long as there is breath, there is hope".
[top]
What
if I am really stiff and can’t do it?
Although it might at first sight appear that someone who is very flexible can perform yoga asanas (postures) better than a stiff person, this is a misconception. Yoga should not be confused with gymnastics. Yoga aims to develop one's understanding, alignment and awareness through subtle adjustments made to the body - the skin, muscles, tendons and joints etc, while in a yoga posture. The aim is to attain firmness, stability and a feeling of exhilaration in an asana, to make 'the effortful effort become an effortless effort'. It is therefore not important whether you can touch your head to the knees when bending forward or whether you can sit in full lotus position, but how well one attempts to do so. Quality not quantity is important. That is not to say that flexibility does not make achieving postures easier, but it is only one element of many necessary for a good asana. Fortunately flexibility is also developed with dedicated practice and devoted students can develop their flexibility.
[top] How long does it take to learn Yoga?
Yoga
is not a subject that is learnt to a certain level upon which one is
'qualified'. It is a subject which has a beginning but no end - the more
you progress in your practice, the more the subject opens up and then
you realize there is more to be learnt, absorbed and applied. B.K.S
Iyengar has been practicing for over 65 years and states that he is
still a student who is constantly discovering and learning new things
through yoga.
[top]
Is
Yoga tough?
Yoga is not 'tough' but it is challenging. Correct yoga requires being totally involved physically, mentally and emotionally. As Yoga is concerned with the growth and development of the individual, this means extending one's current comfortable limits. Thus yoga requires that one works beyond what is necessarily easy but obviously not to the point of distress. Yoga must be a constant challenge but never strain. The teacher's task is therefore to constantly raise the standard for the students so that there is always a scope for improvement and progress.
[top] Is Yoga just another form of exercise?
Yoga
is much more than just exercise or simply stretching and deep breathing.
It is definitely a superlative system of physical culture developing
strength, stamina, flexibility and health.
Asanas are postures which are performed by the physical body but the breath, the mind and the intelligence must also be involved. Any posture performed without the mind or breath becomes an exercise and not an asana. In this way regular practice of Yoga definitely aids the mind, emotions and intellect. To demonstrate this, when a person is very nervous such as before a public performance, the body (e.g. shoulders) will become tense and tight and the breathing heavy and fast. Although the tension is only "mental", the state of one’s emotions and mind is subconsciously reflected in the breath and physical body. Asanas and Pranayama (breathing) are a reflection of the same principle. The physical body and the breath are consciously altered so as to subconsciously regulate the emotions and the mind. Certain postures performed in a specific manner bring about mental relaxation, quietness and serenity so that regular practice of asanas and pranayama brings with it not only physical health but also mental poise, intellectual clarity and emotional benefits.
[top] Can my child benefit from Yoga? Yoga can be safely introduced to children by a qualified teacher. When young, they need to be taught in a playful manner so that they can enjoy what they are doing and are motivated to continue with it. The basic nature of children is dynamic and they love things which are fast and quick; their minds are very alert but never very steady and therefore they constantly need variety. Also children learn faster by observing rather than by words, so a teacher needs to perform along with the children and at the same pace; as Mr Iyengar says "Children are controlled by their eyes not by words". All these aspects must be taken into consideration in teaching Yoga successfully. In practice this means postures should be taught in quick succession with plenty of variety and continuous challenges such that their latent energy surfaces and is positively utilized. Gradually precision and perfection can be introduced as they grow. Introducing Yoga to children develops in them the attributes of courage, concentration and determination.
[top]
How
can Yoga help women?
Yoga
can be practiced by women of all ages and in all stages of life.
Practice can continue, and indeed is beneficial, even during
menstruation and pregnancy although the practice needs to be adjusted.
Certain postures are extremely helpful for a women’s physiology,
especially to overcome menstrual disorders and also to withstand the
physiological and emotional changes accompanying menopause. Yoga can
also help to alleviate pre-menstrual tension
[top]
How can Yoga help men?
The physical benefits include relief from pain, tight spots in the body including hamstrings, lower back pain, shoulders and arms. Men who are particularly muscular will definitely benefit from stretching the whole of the body. Yoga also builds bone density and strengthens muscle tone. Yoga grants stress relief, emotional strength, and clarity of mind. All the internal organs and body systems are encouraged to work more efficiently promoting a feeling of health and vitality.
[top]
Can
I practice Yoga during pregnancy?
Yoga practice during pregnancy is beneficial to the mother as well as the unborn child. However, be sure to check that your teacher is qualified in this area. In pregnancy, one cannot practice as usual and the guidance of a suitably qualified teacher should be sought. Special pregnancy classes are recommended as certain postures must not be practiced and others must be adjusted to take into account the condition of the baby and the mother. Above all you should feel no strain or tiredness during or after Yoga. Also, how one must practice needs to change as the pregnancy progresses. If in doubt it is best to leave the practice of Yoga until the baby has been born, so there is no risk. In practice the postures help relieve tiredness and tension. The spine is also well exercised easing back pain and the pelvic floor is strengthened. Check with your doctor when it is safe to start with gentle Yoga again.
[top]
What
about medical conditions?
Therapeutic
Yoga may provide relief from chronic health problems. Some of the
chronic ailments for which people have benefited from Yoga practice
include:
Respiratory
disorders; asthma,sinusitis and bronchitis. *Please note If suffering from any medical condition, it is essential to notify your teacher. Serious medical conditions require the attention of a suitably qualified remedial instructor with the necessary training and experience. Always consult with your doctor before taking up any form of Yoga or exercise. You may want to check out this website: www.yogatherapy.org - It is the website of the Yoga Biomedical Trust and Yoga Therapy Centre, which offers yoga therapy to those with various illnesses, including HIV, AIDS, and cancer. [top] What are the different styles of Yoga? The place to start is simply to know what you want from Yoga and then where to find it. There are as many reasons to do Yoga as there are people. Everyone brings different capabilities to Yoga. You will find that different styles of Yoga will agree with different people’s needs and capabilities. A variety of styles and schools of Yoga awaits you. I would suggest you try all of them at some time or another to experience and celebrate the unity within the wonderful diversity of yoga. Here are a few of the most well known styles of Yoga, Hatha, Viniyoga, Ashtanga, Bikram, Kundalini, Kripalu, Iyengar. Interestingly, 3 of the most popular schools today - Iyengar, Ashtanga and Viniyoga - were all developed by students of Sri T. Krishnamacharya. [top]
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