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I have a bad back and high blood pressure, is yoga safe for me?
Is yoga a religion or cult?
After the class I felt sleepy, is this OK?
I hurt my back doing yoga, Is it safe ?
Why is breathing always taught?
Is the relaxation at the end of the class vital, sometimes I have to leave
class early?
Is yoga just another health fad?
Why can my friend do yoga poses better than me?
I need more exercise than yoga, what is good for my body and builds strength?
How much should I practice at home?
And all those funny names for the poses?
What about different styles of yoga?
Have you got another question not answered above?
I have a bad back and high blood pressure, is yoga safe for me?
Yoga, done with care and consistency, is good for bad backs and high blood
pressure. Yoga decreases stress and strengthens and releases the back muscles.
The way that you do yoga is vital. With good teaching, and with care on
your part, yoga is ideal as a way of dealing with these problems. Certain
poses may not be advisable, so please discuss this with your teacher.
Is yoga a religion or a cult?
No, it is not. Yoga means union. For most people yoga is about bringing
balance to the body and emotions. Some people choose to use yoga as a spiritual
journey - this is up to the individual.
After class I feel sleepy, is this
OK?
Feeling sleepy after class could be a very good thing. If you lead a hectic
life and never have time to slow down yoga may make you feel sleepy. If
you feel sleepy after a class, the best thing is to take time to recover.
If you do feel a bit dazed after class, focus on the soles of your feet,
imagine exhaling through the feet and 'keep your feet on the ground'.
I
hurt my back doing yoga, Is it safe?
Yoga is sometimes taught as an aerobic style exercise where extreme poses
are practiced before the body has enough inner strength to cope. Yoga taught
well should not hurt or injure. Speak to your teacher about any concerns
you have. In class follow your own body sense and do things within your
ability.
Why is breathing always taught?
Breathing is probably the most fundamental part of yoga practice. The breath
brings the poses to life helping us to adapt and change. It guides us as
to when to go deeper and when to come back. Breathing also links the thoughts
and emotions to the body. With the help of yogic breathing we can release
negative emotions.
Is the relaxation at the end of the class vital, sometimes
I have to leave class early?
During a yoga class we exercise the body. After this the body has a natural
need to rest. This allows the body to process the yoga we have done and
this is why relaxation is so important. Leaving class early is certainly
not ideal. If it is a case of 'yoga with no relaxation' or 'no yoga at
all', then leaving class early every so often is a very sensible choice.
Is yoga just another health fad?
Yoga is not a fleeting fad. It is an ancient series of 'exercises' that
have been refined to promote inner harmony and physical wellbeing. It started
in India centuries ago and is now practiced worldwide by millions of people.
Why can my friend do yoga better than me?
In yoga we work from where we are as individuals, our bodies work differently.
Yoga is not about achieving great looking poses, but about finding an
inner strength, balance and clarity. Your friend may do yoga ‘better’ than
you because she is a dancer or gymnast, because she is practicing every
day at home or because she holds very little muscle tension. Look to
your strengths, and admire but don't envy your friend her abilities.
She is
just another person trying to find her balance in the world.
I need more
exercise than yoga, what is good for my body and builds strength?
The prime aim of yoga is not to build strength, and other forms of exercise
may be needed. Where there are more possibilities for building muscle and
strength there is also greater likelihood for causing injury. When considering
other forms of exercise choose something that makes you feel good and looks
after your body. Swimming is an excellent activity as the water protects
the body from injury, keeps the body in balance and the spine well aligned.
How much should I practice at home?
Practice at home is vital for deepening your experience and understanding
of yoga. Consider what will suit you best. You could start with 5 minutes
every so often, then 20 minutes and extend this. At the end of the day,
you will get out of yoga what you put in.
And all those funny names for the poses?
The Indian names, like halasana and trikonasana, are often used in yoga.
This so that worldwide, people using these names know they are talking
about the same things. Western names, like dog pose and mountain pose are
also helpful.
What about different styles of yoga?
Different styles of yoga focus on different things. Yoga for 18year old
men will be dynamic, and yoga for pregnant women will have more emphasis
on inner calm. Yoga taught in rural India 400 years ago would have had
some natural differences to that taught in fast paced 20th century cities.
I have another question not answered here
Feel free to contact me directly.
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