What are the benefits of Yoga?
Yoga can be a complete form of exercise that strengthens your entire body, improves your flexibility, cultivates focus and concentration and reduces stress by making you less reactive. It especially opens the spine, the hips and the shoulders, where all stress hides and strengthens the many systems of the body, like the circulatory system, the immune system and the endocrine system. Yoga calms the mind, steadies emotions and opens the heart to feeling more vibrantly alive, giving you a sense of empowerment. It makes you more comfortable in your body. When you feel better in your body, you feel better about yourself and act better towards others and that’s the goal! That’s the short list.
Reduces overall stress and tension
Increases energy & vitality
Improves posture & body alignment
Reduces back & neck pain
Tones & strengthens muscles
Improves concentration & focus
Increases intuitive awareness
Increases bone density
Creates flexibility, strength & balance
Improves function of glands and organs
Normalizes blood pressure
Improves digestion & metabolism
Improves circulation & quality of sleep
Rejuvenates joint function
Increases joy and sense of well-being
What do I wear?
Comfortable clothing that stretches and breathes with you. Anything you would wear to the gym is suitable. Bare feet.
What do I need?
A mat, a bottle of water and perhaps a towel. If you have none of these, you can buy a mat in our retail store. We sell high-quality yoga mats(that will not fall apart and unravel after a week!) and special practice towels that aid in non-slipping for those who sweat.
What is the appropriate amount of time to eat before yoga or meditation?
In general, the stomach should be empty. Food in the stomach can reduce range of motion & energy level, which can affect your strength, stamina as well as your ability to concentrate. In general, before your yoga practice, wait 2-3 hours after eating meat; 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours after carbs/starches; 1/2-1 hour after fruits & veggies. Now you know the issues, and knowing your own metabolism and digestive system, you can make your best decision.
Are there any specific ages that should not participate in a yoga practice?
No! Although depending on you age and mental & physical ability, there are certain classes more appropriate than others. See our class descriptions and if you need more direction, our staff will be more than happy to guide you.
Do women menstruating need to take any precautions?
Yes and no! There are different points of view on this. Some traditions believe it is best not to practice asanas at all during the full cycle of menstruation. Others say it is ok, so long as you refrain from Inversions(headstands, handstands, shoulderstand, plow, etc.) which reverse the flow of blood down and out of the body. I know many women, including myself who swear they are fine practicing as they normally do. Again, it is a matter of your own experimentation and using your intuition to make the appropriate choices. Listen to your body and you’ll know.
Can I get cardiovascular benefits from a yoga practice?
Okay, we know, you want to really ask if you’re going to burn calories and lose weight! Again, it depends on the nature of your practice. Vinyasa flow classes will generally build heat, generate sweat, and provide a healthy cardiovascular workout. All yoga, however, because it reduces stress, calms the mind, and transforms your metabolic and glandular systems, can create huge benefits. Lastly, yoga empowers your mind which goes a long way to help you maintain a healthy attitude, which we all know creates healthy body and spirit.
How often should I practice?
As often as you can! This is a very personal question. Like everything else in life, the more you practice, the greater the results. We recommend that the first thing you do is NOT put pressure on yourself so you don’t approach yoga like a chore! Start wherever you can, even if it’s once or twice a week, commit to that. The more important thing is CONSISTENCY. When you get serious about yoga, it’s like eating, breathing, sleeping. But it’s something you have to ease into, depending on your level.
What if I’m not flexible at all?
This is our favorite questions because it’s such a myth that you have to be flexible to practice yoga. Yes, you will become more flexible as a result, but it is not a prerequisite. In fact, yoga really has nothing to do with being flexible. The postures were created to heal and maintain vitality of the places they expose. If you are carrying a lot of tension in an area a pose exposes, then the tension will release and your range of motion, flexibility, will increase. Yet if there is no tension in the area, the poses job is to maintain this status and create stimulation that promotes oxygenation, regeneration and flushes out toxicity. In fact, if you are hyper flexible, this is not healthy because it creates a state of instability. So, no, you don’t have to be flexible. What you need is time to move and breathe.
