Understanding Yoga
Recently, Yoga has gained popularity and become mainstream in our society. There are still misconceptions about Yoga practice. Here are some questions I get in classes.
1. I am stiff and inflexible. Isn’t Yoga practice for people who are more flexible?
Yoga practice is for everyone, more so for people who find themselves inflexible. You don’t need to be able to put your foot behind your head to step into a yoga class. In fact, people who feel stiff will feel the immediate effects of proper Yoga practice more readily than those who are very flexible.
2. There are so many different types of Yoga. How do I know which is for me?
Yoga practice is more than physical poses. The complete practice comprises of meditation, diet, breathing techniques, physical poses, “do’s” and “don’ts”, study of philosophies etc. In modern society, most of the practice is of physical poses, breathing techniques and meditation, with the first being the most prevalent. Hatha Yoga is the root form of all physical forms of Yoga. Different styles like Power Yoga, Hatha Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Iyengar, Bikram, etc are variations of Hatha Yoga. They practice similar poses in different formats with different emphasis.
I recommend anyone who wants to try yoga not to be confused by the names but try classes by different teachers to find the style you are most comfortable with. Just remember to arrive early so that you can inform the teacher you are new to Yoga so he/she can look after you.
3. Yoga practice doesn’t go well with my sport.
Yoga compliments the sport you participate in. Whether it is running, tennis or body-building, practicing Yoga can enhance performance, reduce recovery time and risk of injury. I practice and teach “Muay Thai” and practicing yoga has done wonders for me.
4. Isn’t Yoga just about stretching?
Attaining increased flexibility is just one of the many benefits of yoga practice. Yoga practice is an excellent strength developing tool for not just the major muscles of the body but the core muscles and stabilizing them as well. Yoga also benefits internal functions like digestion and metabolism through stimulation of the various glands in the body.
These are just some of the many questions I get from my students and will continue to share more of such questions and my responses in future issues. Hopefully, these answers will help dispel some of the misconceptions about Yoga and encourage one to get on the mat and really begin to discover the benefits of Yoga.
Contributed by Christopher Lim, who is a certified yoga teacher trained in the Sivananda Vendenta Yoga Centres in Kerala , South India and Uttar Kashi in the Himalayas.
Chris teaches Hatha Yoga & Buzen Yoga classes at Divine MedSpa. To check out the latest class schedule, please click here.