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What is Yoga?Yoga is commonly known as a type of exercise system using a variety of special physical poses and breathing techniques that improve physical fitness, mental clarity, greater self-understanding, stress control and general well-being. As an ancient Indian philosophy, yoga has been practiced for thousands of years. Though there are many different kinds of yoga, Hatha yoga and its variations are the most widely practiced in the Western world. Rare Earth Yoga takes the two basic elements of Hatha yoga of proper breathing and exercises and tailors them to your interests and abilities. Yoga is flexible. Take what you need from Yoga. For some people, it is can be a class to get a great physical workout. For others, it is a way of life, striking a balance and finding harmony between mind and body while attaining self-enlightenment. The beauty of Yoga is in its versatility, allowing practitioners to focus on the physical, psychological or spiritual, or any combination of the three. How many types of Yoga are there?Many. There are four primary paths of Yoga:
Hatha Yoga, which includes postures and breathing, and is the form most popular in the West, is actually part of Raja Yoga, the path of self control. The path most followed in India is thought to be Bhakti Yoga, the path of devotion. Within Hatha Yoga there are many styles, such as Iyengar, Astanga, Integral, Kripalu and Jivamukti, to name a few. These Yogas all share a common lineage back to Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, a text outlining the basic philosophy and practices of Classical Yoga written sometime between the second century B.C. and the first century A.D. (back to top) What is Hatha Yoga?Hatha yoga includes meditation and exercises to help you improve flexibility and breathing, decrease stress, and maintain health. Yoga is based on the idea that the mind and body are one. Practitioners believe that yoga improves health by improving how you see the world, which calms the spirit and decreases stress. Two basic components of Hatha yoga are proper breathing and exercises, called asanas or postures that stretch the body. You do postures while standing, lying down, seated, sitting in a chair, or in a inverted position. While practicing a posture, you do breathing exercises to help control your muscles, maintain the posture, and focus your mind. (back to top) Is Yoga a religion?No and...maybe. It depends on how you define "religion" and how the Yoga practitioner approaches his or her practice. The physical and psychological benefits of Yoga are real and don't discriminate on the basis of race, religion, gender, political persuasion or any other way people classify themselves. For these reasons, most people feel they can practice Yoga without conflict with their religious beliefs. (back to top) What's the difference between Yoga and just plain stretching and normal exercise?Traditional exercise is goal oriented: How many push ups can I do? How much weight can I Bench Press? How far can I run? Yoga, is the opposite, it’s a growth process. Progression is based on awareness on what you are doing and how you feel as you perform the postures. In Yoga, you succeed by trying. Consistent practice creates continual improvement. The old maxim of “No pain, no gain” does not apply to yoga. How many times a week should I do Yoga and for how long?Most schools teach a practice session that lasts 60-90 minutes. If you can do that everyday -- great. If not, try and do that much a few days a week, including a class or two, and fill in with shorter sessions on days when you don't have as much time. Any Yoga is better than no Yoga, and 20 to 30 minutes a day is better than 90 minutes once a week. (back to top) Is it okay to practice Yoga while pregnant?It's okay to continue practicing Yoga while you are pregnant as long as you were practicing before conception. Yoga is a great way to keep fit during pregnancy. In particular it can help strengthen the pelvic area, normalize thyroid functioning and blood pressure, and help keep you calm and relaxed -- all of which is good for the baby, too. In general, however, you want to avoid strain, compressing the belly or abdomen and inverted postures, especially in the later stages. In addition, it’s a good idea to work with a Yoga teacher with prenatal Yoga experience. |
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©2008 Rare Earth Yoga, Updated: November 17, 2008