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Why newbies shouldn’t give up on yoga

2016Feb15_Yoga_AYour first yoga class can be intimidating. You’re in a room full of strangers, some wearing very little clothing, all stretching and contorting their bodies. As you see some of the more experienced students shifting into poses straight out of the cirque du soleil, you may feel a mixture of shock, amazement and embarrassment. How will you ever get to that level? Do you even want to get to that level?! If this sounds like you, we have two words for you: stop it. While you may be a few years off being a top yogi, you have to remember that even the students effortlessly standing on their heads in class were once nervous beginners like you. So if your first yoga class has left you feeling afraid and insecure, here are a handful of reasons why you should keep practicing.

You’ll find the right teacher

Finding the right teacher is key to developing a yoga practice you feel comfortable with. If you’re lucky, you’ll find a teacher you love right away. For those who don’t, there’s nothing wrong with looking elsewhere. Some teachers are gentle, and others are more demanding of their students. Some will play music you enjoy, and others won’t play music at all. Some will race you through poses like a drill sergeant, and others at a slow pace. There are an endless variety of teachers out there. Keep looking till you find the right one.

You’ll learn to love props

Maybe you’ve seen those blocks, blankets and straps sitting in the corner of the classroom. Yes, they can look a bit scary at first, but remember, they’re there to help beginners like you. The block, for example, can help bring the floor higher. So if you’re having trouble touching the ground in triangle pose (the pose where your feet are spread apart so your legs create a triangle shape), use the block. It can prevent you from toppling over and help you stabilize the pose. Just like the block, all props have a distinct purpose that can help beginners tremendously. If you’re confused how a prop can help you, watch how other students use them or better still, ask your instructor.

You’ll learn it’s okay to go easy on yourself

Besides the teacher, who is there to motivate and train you, no one could care less whether you’re completing a pose or falling on your bum. Other students in class are focusing on their own practice, not you. So if you don’t want to participate in the chanting or breathing exercises, it is completely acceptable. As a beginner, just keep it simple: focus on your poses. Be respectful to your classmates and teacher, and they’ll treat you the same. Go easy on yourself, and you’ll quickly start getting the hang of yoga.

You’ll learn to love the back row

As a yoga newbie, there is no better place to be than the back row. From the back of the classroom, you can easily see how the more experienced students get into, and hold, poses. Of course the teacher is there to help you as well, but watching how others do it can be invaluable.

You’ll make progress

While it may be hard to believe, even the most advanced students in class are still deepening their yoga practice. That’s why it’s important to remember that yoga is not only a practice, but also a process. You’ll get better over time, but there will never be a point at which you’ve achieved yoga perfection. And you shouldn’t expect to.

In your class, focus on doing the best you can today. With this mindset you’ll soon notice your own progress, which will deepen at one month, six months, a year, five years of practice, and so on.

You’ll become more centered and calm

You’ve probably already heard that yoga can relieve stress, and make you more calm and centered. Today, there is actually some evidence to back it up. Over a three month period in 2005, researchers in Germany observed 24 stressed out women as they participated in two 90-minute yoga sessions a week. At the end of the three months, the women noticed a reduction in their anxiety and depression, and also a 65% boost in their overall feeling of well being. How would you like to experience that?

Remember, no matter how good you are at a given task today, there was once a time when you were a beginner. Yoga is no different. Put in the practice and you’ll eventually be contorting your body into crazy poses like the rest of them. Until then, come down to our studio and benefit from the guidance of our experienced teachers. They are happy to help you become the yogi you are meant to be.

Published with permission from FitnessAdvisory. Source.

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Kick-start your morning with yoga

Yoga_4Jan_ALet’s face it, most of us prefer the extra time in bed to getting up and hitting the mat for an early morning yoga session. But believe it or not, there’s nothing better than an energizing morning yoga practice to calm your mind and set yourself up for an amazing and productive day. So don’t think of it as torture – give it a go and, who knows, it might just become your next favorite thing! Here’s how yoga can give your morning a fresh start.

It encourages better sleep habits

Deciding to practice yoga first thing in the morning is like making a promise and commitment to yourself. You will be more likely to prioritize your bedtime and think twice before trying to burn the midnight oil. What’s more, once you make morning yoga practice a habit, your body becomes accustomed to waking up at the same time each day, which means you will wake up feeling fully refreshed and energized.

It calms your mind throughout the day

Practicing yoga early in the morning will steady your mind for the whole day, allowing you to stay calm even in the most hectic moments and be prepared for anything that comes your way, whether it’s a traffic jam, heavy workload, or a heated discussion with your colleague.

It boosts your metabolism

Yoga helps improve your digestion, facilitate the movement of nutrients through your body, and speeds up your metabolic rate. Once your body has a sufficient amount of nutrients circulating through, it will metabolize carbs and fat faster, meaning you can actually eat more food and burn calories quicker.

Check out these morning yoga poses that you can complete in as little as 10 minutes:

  • Balasana (Child’s Pose) – Start by kneeling down and bending forward to bring your chest to your thighs and your forehead to the floor. Then stretch your arms over your head and place your palms on the floor. Sit back down on your heels without changing the position of your arms. You’ll feel a sudden stretch in your spine and torso. Focus on taking a deep breath and exhaling to release the tension. The goal of this pose is to have your forehead touching the ground while your buttocks remain in contact with your heels.
  • Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward Facing Dog) – The Downward Facing Dog pose involves your whole body, especially your shoulders and hamstrings. Begin by sitting on all fours with your knees underneath your hips and your hands directly underneath your shoulders. Press the palms firmly on the mat and slowly lift your knees away from the floor, lengthen your spine backwards and lift your tailbone up as you straighten your legs. Hold the position for about 30 seconds to one minute to experience an energizing sensation throughout your whole body.
  • Anjaneyasana (Low Lunge) – This posture is a great way to open the front parts of your body, including your chest, hip flexors, and quadriceps. You can start by doing the Downward Facing Dog pose. From there, exhale and put your right foot forward between your hands. Then lower your left knee to the floor and, keeping the right knee fixed in its position, slide your left leg back until you feel a comfortable stretch in the left front thigh and groin. Now lift your torso up and sweep your arms out to your sides and raise them up overhead.

Whether you’ve got time for only one pose or all three, practicing yoga in the morning will definitely help you feel more resilient and refreshed as you start your day. If you want to give yoga a try, get in touch with our expert instructors today.

Published with permission from FitnessAdvisory. Source.

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The benefits of Vinyasa yoga

164_Yoga_AWhether you’re on your 100th class or have recently been considering giving yoga a try, you’ve probably heard of one of its more popular forms: Vinyasa. As with yoga in general and other types of exercise, there are of course benefits. But are you aware of the specific ones Vinyasa has to offer? Here’s how this unique style of yoga can benefit practitioners of all levels, but first…what exactly is Vinyasa yoga?

Vinyasa is a series of yoga poses that links breath with movement. In a typical session, the inhale and exhale of your breath synchronizes with your movement as poses smoothly flow from one to the next. This is why classes are often called Flow.

Here are a few of the benefits to practicing this popular type of yoga:

Tone your muscles – when you practice Vinyasa yoga, you’re essentially strength training. And with movements such as arm balance poses, backbends and inversions, this practice can help you build lean muscle that can give you that fit and toned look you’re after. Best of all, the range of poses performed in Vinyasa gives you a total body workout, exercising everything from your calves to your shoulders.

Feel looser and more relaxed – like other types of yoga, Vinyasa helps build flexibility. In addition to strengthening your muscles, you’ll also be stretching and elongating them. This gives you greater mobility, gets rid of muscle tightness and loosens your body up.

Increased flexibility also takes stress off your ligaments, tendons and joints, which will help prevent injuries.

Reduce stress – like many other types of yoga, Vinyasa also increases your mindfulness and focus, which over time can help you reduce stress. As you pay attention to your breath and body while smoothly transitioning through the poses, you withdraw attention from the daily stresses that may have been running through your mind. This allows you to bring your focus into the present, which produces a calming effect on your central nervous system.

Improve general health – In addition to what’s already been mentioned above, there are a number of medical and physiological benefits that Vinyasa offers. It can help reduce the risk of stroke, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure.

By calming your mind, it can help you get a better night’s sleep, ease anxiety and improve your general disposition. And in case you forgot that Vinyasa is still an exercise, it can also help you lose weight.

Want to learn more about Vinyasa and other type of yoga? Interested in signing up for a class? Call us today, and talk with one of our yoga instructors.

Published with permission from FitnessAdvisory. Source.