What is Yoga?
Yoga is a very old form of exercise originating in India about 5,000 years ago that focus on strength, flexibility, breathing and meditation practice of well being. The main factor are poses or postures called asanas which have specific physical benefits and create balance in the body. The poses can be done quickly to build heat in the body or more slowly to build stamina.
There are so many different forms of yoga. Some are intense and fast, others are relaxing and gentle.
A few examples of yoga forms:
Hatha - combines a series of basic movements with breathing
Vinyasa - a series of poses that flow smoothly into one another (also called Yoga Flow)
Power - fast and higher intensity practice that builds muscles
Ashtanga - a series of poses combined with breathing techniques
Bikram - a series of challenging poses performed in a heated room with high temperature (also known as Hot Yoga)
Iyengar - a type of yoga which uses props like blocks, straps or chairs to help your body to move into proper alignment
Physical benefits of Yoga are:
- Flexibility
- Strength
- Muscle tone
- Balance
- Pain prevention
- Joint health
- Better breathing
Mental benefits of yoga:
- Stress reduction (helping relieve stress)
- Mental calmness
- Body awareness (building self-confidence and improving posture)
Is yoga good for me?
Yoga is for everyone and you can tailor it to your individual needs. The good thing about yoga is that there are classes for every age group. You don't have to be fit to do yoga. You only need to be able to get up and down from the floor.
How long does a yoga class last?
Classes can have different durations. Typically a class lasts between 45 minutes to 1 hour and 30 minutes. If it's a longer class then you will have more time for learning breathing and relaxation techniques. It's worth speaking to a teacher about their approach before you sign up for a class.
Enjoy!
