Do I need to be able to bend myself into a pretzel?
The imposible looking poses you see in books and magazines aren't for everyone. Chances are, the individuals in those poses are either naturally flexible, practice mutiple times a day, or have been practicing Yoga since they were a child.
Do I have to be extremely agile to practice yoga?
There are thousands of yoga postures. This immense number provides an array of postures with varying difficulties. Some yoga postures are more difficult to perform than others. Greater difficulty requires a more agile body. Not all postures are for everyone. However, easier modifications of every posture are available to students. When performing yoga postures, try to do them to the best of your ability. It doesn't matter if you look like the perfect picture in a book. Often, just the effort that you make in trying to perform a posture is enough to reap the benefits. By practicing these postures the agility of your body will increase gradually.
Is yoga only for stretching?
There are many different types of yoga classes. Classes vary from gentle relaxation to power yoga. Stretching is incorporated into every yoga class, however yoga is not just for stretching. Yoga can be for cardio, stronger muscles, joints, and bones, balance, weight loss, even anti aging. The benfits of yoga are endless and dependent on the style and format of the class. Gentle relaxation classes offer a very slow restorative approach, focusing more on stretching, breath, and possible meditation. Power yoga focuses more on cardio and strength building and offers a "workout". All classes utilize the same ancient postures, however it is the sequence and intensity that they are practiced, that determines the difficulty and benefits of the class. Each type of class provides a variety of different benefits. It is the students obligation to decide which classes are most beneficial to them and their needs. The main focus of yoga is to create overall health of the body and mind by increasing flexibility, strength, and clarity. Any type of yoga class will help you achieve this.
Is yoga only for woman?
Traditionally, Yoga was practiced by men. In fact the founders of yoga were all men. Overtime however, women began adopting the practice and in some parts of the world became the majority of practioners. In the U.S., women usually out number men in yoga classes. As a result men have shyed away from practicing yoga under the assumption that yoga is for women and not for men. The association of yoga with women has caused men to view yoga as a gentle and non challenging form of exercise with soft-flowing movements, dimly-lit rooms, burning incense and chanting “Oms.”
Existing myths about yoga, and uncertainty of what a yoga class entails has kept men out of the yoga studio.
Most men brush this five-thousand year-old tradition off as an inadequate form of exercise for men, and instead adopt weight-lifting at the gym. The idea of mind-body excercise tends to turn men away, however yoga can be a great resource for strength training, flexibility, injury prevention, and stress reduction. It's true that meditation and chanting are important aspects of yoga, but they are not implemented in every class. Classes more on the physical and less on the spiritual do exist. More physical classes provide a higher level of intensity and difficulty and can be very challenging. In fact, many weight-lifters are surprised to find that they can barely hold a strength-bearing yoga posture for five breaths, even though they can easily bench press a large amount of weight at the gym. In addition, yoga unlike the gym builds strength and provides mind-body benefits even without meditation and chanting. The breath and focus required to perform postures will reduce anxiety and stress.
The fact is that all people are searching for inner peace, health and well-being. Yoga offers many benefits to anyone wanting an effective method of physical, mental or spiritual development. It should not be thought of as a discipline reserved only for women or only for men. Yoga can be a tremendous compliment to any usual workout or activity.
Why should men do yoga?
The world stereotypes men as the provider and the bread winner. This role facilitates the drive and constant need for men to be in control, strong, and successful and neglects the tools to cope with rising stress in an increasingly competitive corporate america. Men are working longer hours with increasing demands, encountering more sedentary lifestyles with greater inactivity, and at the same time trying to maintain balance between work and home. As a result men are subjected to a substantial amount of pressure and stress which tends to result in disregard to their own physical and emotional well-being. Chronic stress creates greater susceptiblity to high blood pressure and heart disease. Yoga helps reduce stress and provides the tools necessary for men to create a healthier lifestyle physically and emotionally.
(Also read "Is yoga only for women?")
Is yoga only for the young and flexible?
Most people loose flexibility and strength as they get older, and because of this are afraid to begin yoga classes. It's okay if your body is unable to do now what it used to do 5, 10, or 20 years ago. Start from where you are. By practicing yoga it is possible to reverse the affects of aging. A routine practice will allow the body to become more flexible and stronger. It will also increase the bodies energy and help with health problems. It's never to late to start a yoga practice. Age is only a number and yoga is for everyone.
Do you have to be in "good shape" to start yoga?
There's no such thing as competitive yoga. Each person has a unique body type with it's own ability. Some people are genetically more flexible than others. For this reason your classmates may be able to do things that you are unable to do, and you may be able to do things that they are unable to do. It's important to except what your body is able to do and be happy with it. Everyone starts out as a beginner at some point. The people in your class that you feel look perfect and can do everything were once beginners. As beginners they probably felt that their bodies were inadequate for yoga and were just as intimidated about starting a yoga class as you are now. A routine yoga practice will help your body become healthier, stronger and more flexible. You are able to change your body through yoga, but you have to try it in order to start experiencing the benefits. If you keep telling yourself your body is not ready, when will you ever start. Try yoga and start exepriencing all of the health benefits it has to offer. Yoga can help you develop the shape, flexibility, and good health that you want.
Is Yoga a religion?
Yoga is derived from India's Hindu traditions and beliefs. Hindu culture believes that yoga is an avenue for the individual to connect with the divine. Traditional Indian yogic philosophy believes that the practice of asana (physical exercise), pranayama (breathwork), and meditation, conditions and cleanses the body to develop and nuture a spiritual path. The merger of eastern yogic philosophy with western culture transformed the traditional purpose of yoga from spiritual/religion to physical exercise and a form of alternative medicine. Although most westerners view yoga as physical exercise, there are many that value yoga's spiritual benefits and practice yoga for religion. Ultimately, it is the individual that decides the intent of their practice. Yoga can be practiced for many reasons, including religion, physical activity, stress relief, disease prevention, and relaxation. The benefits recieved from yoga are directly related to the practitioners approach to his or her own practice. It is the responsibility of the individual to choose the appropriate yoga style and class that fulfills their reason for practicing yoga. Regardless of the reason that each individual comes to the yoga mat, all practitioners will experience its physical and psychological benefits.
Is Yoga aerobic exercise?
Aerobic exercise is exercise that improves oxygenation of the blood by increasing heart rate and deepening the breath. All yoga increases the heart rate and deepens the breath, however the increase is dependent upon the type of yoga practiced. Styles of yoga such as Astanga and Vinyasa focus on physical activity and the flow of one posture to another, which strongly promotes aerobic exercise.
How many times a week should I do Yoga?
In order to experience the benefits of yoga you have to do it. Any amount of time that can be dedicated to yoga will benefit your life and body. Some yoga is better than no yoga. However, the more you practice yoga, the greater the benefits and progress. You'll experience better results practing yoga twice a week, than only once a week. Ideally yoga class is 60 to 90 minutes long, but even just a few minutes can make a difference. Practice yoga when you can and gradually try to increase the time. Daily practice will benefit your health dramatically but any amount of time will be beneficial.
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