Yoga 101

The general population has some confusion about yoga. Don’t people just sit around and meditate during a yoga class? Isn’t yoga a religious practice? Don’t people have to be flexible to take a yoga class? Or perhaps you have heard that only young people take yoga class; or you can’t take yoga because you are Christian/Jewish/etc; or you don’t have good enough balance, agility, and/or coordination; or you have pain in a certain area of your body. These are all reasons I have heard people say when I invite them to my yoga classes.

First and foremost, yoga is a very broad topic that warrants a great deal of confusion. There are many different types of yoga (to name a few): Raja Yoga is primarily meditation, Jnana Yoga is about expanding the mind through learning, Karma Yoga promotes selfless service, and finally Hatha Yoga promotes the purification of the body. Hatha Yoga is most commonly practiced in yoga studios, gyms, schools, and community centers.

Within the scope of Hatha Yoga, there are different types of practices (to name a few): Vinyasa is a breath-and-flow style, Ashtanga is often called “Power Yoga”, Iyengar is primarily concerned with body alignment, Bikram is often called “Hot Box Yoga” because it is practiced in a 95-100 degree room, and finally Yogafit is a combination of these different yoga styles (minus the “Hot Box”). I practice Yogafit because I find that it is the most adaptable, and affords me the luxury of having great variety in each yoga class.

During one of my yoga classes, you will find yourself deep breathing as you get into simple poses (also called asana’s, pronounced ash-na’s). We will hold these simple asanas for one breath or for 10 breaths (towards the later part of class when we are working on strengthening our muscles); and then we might move into progressively harder variations of the asana if your body is calling for more of a challenge. Each class is catered toward each individual in the class, so that a teenager can take the same class as a senior or a pregnant woman; there are many modifications for each asana.

After a yoga class, your body, mind, and emotions will feel calmer and cleaner. We have worked together toward purifying your whole being. Scientifically, yoga has been found helpful for individuals challenged with: sleep, blood pressure, unhealthy weight, depression, pain, arthritis, memory, concentration, aggression, anxiety, and so much more. It has also been found helpful for detoxification, which may help to delay the effects of ageing.