General Questions

1. Will yoga work for me?
2. What are the benefits of Yoga?
3. Isn't Yoga a religion?
4. I have a health challenge. Can I still do Yoga?
5. How do I get started? How do I pick a Yoga style most suitable for me?
6. What does Hatha mean?
7. What does Om mean?
8. Do I have to be vegetarian to practice yoga?
9. How many times per week should I practice?
10. How is yoga different from stretching or other kinds of fitness?
11. I'm not flexible-can I do yoga?
12. What do I need to begin?
13. Why are you supposed to refrain from eating two to three hours before class?
14. Should I avoid inversions during my period?
15. Will Yoga help me loose weight?
16. What should I do about a slippery mat?
17. What if I have an injury or illness?

YOGA FAQ

1. Will yoga work for me?

Anyone may practice yoga. Some want to keep their bodies fit and supple. Others want relief from back or joint pain, injuries or stress. Others want to feel the joy and energy yoga imparts. Yoga helps free people from limiting beliefs, even those who feel they are too old, too stiff, or too out of shape.

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2. What are the Benifits of Yoga?

There are many benefits of practicing yoga; here are ten to name a few:

1. You'll feel more relaxed and learn to stay relaxed.
2. Your overall muscle tone improves as well as overall alignment.
3. You'll add vitality to your spine, improving all systems of the body, especially the glands and nerves.
4. Digestion improves; gas and bloating lessens.
5. Your lungs expand, increasing oxygen intake.
6. You'll sleep better.
7. You'll be less tired during the day with higher energy.
8. Your immune system will strengthen.
9. You'll learn to set aside time for yourself.
10. You'll learn to trust yourself more.

3. Isn't Yoga a religion?

No. It's a philosophy that has endured 5,000 years. The word means union or joining. With increased awareness, the poses become meditation-in-action with awareness of the breath flowing through the body. Physical tension and imbalances are brought to attention and begin to release.

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4.I have a health challenge. Can I still do Yoga?

Performed properly with a qualified teacher, the therapy of yoga movement often benefits physical conditions. Many students find health improves as a result of improved alignment, flexibility or strength. Discuss any issues of health with your medical professional and your teacher prior to starting your class.

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5. How do I get started? How do I pick a Yoga style most suitable for me?

If you are brand new to yoga, you may want to take a few hatha classes to learn the basic poses. However, hatha is usually slow paced, so if you are the kind of person who likes to move around more, hatha may turn you off. Read our Major Yoga Styles article for a break down of some of the most popular kinds of yoga and then find a beginner's class in that style. Even if you are already in great shape, take a few beginners' classes to learn the poses and avoid the risk of injury. And while there are many great yoga books and videos available, there is no substitute from learning directly from a good teacher in a yoga class. I encourage you find a class and let books and videos be a supplement.

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6. What does Hatha mean?

The word hatha means willful or forceful. Hatha yoga refers to a set of physical exercises (known as asanas or postures), and sequences of asanas, designed to align your skin, muscles, and bones. The postures are also designed to open the many channels of the body-especially the main channel: the spine-so that energy can flow freely. Hatha is also translated as ha meaning "sun" and tha meaning "moon." This refers to the balance of masculine aspects: active, hot, sun; and feminine aspects; receptive, cool, moon- within all of us. Hatha yoga is a path toward creating balance and uniting opposites. In our physical bodies we develop a balance of strength and flexibility. We also learn to balance our effort and surrender in each pose. Hatha yoga is a powerful tool for self-transformation. It asks us to bring our attention to our breath, which helps us to still the fluctuations of the mind and be more present in the unfolding of each moment.

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7. What does Om mean?

Om is a mantra, or vibration, that is traditionally chanted at the beginning and end of yoga sessions. It is said to be the sound of the universe. What does that mean? Somehow the ancient yogis knew what scientists today are telling us-that the entire universe is moving. Nothing is ever solid or still. Everything that exists pulsates, creating a rhythmic vibration that the ancient yogis acknowledged with the sound of Om. We may not always be aware of this sound in our daily lives, but we can hear it in the rustling of the autumn leaves, the waves on the shore, the inside of a seashell. Chanting Om allows us to recognize our experience as a reflection of how the whole universe moves-the setting sun, the rising moon, the ebb and flow of the tides, the beating of our hearts. As we chant Om, it takes us for a ride on this universal movement, through our breath, our awareness, and our physical energy, and we begin to sense a bigger connection that is both uplifting and soothing.

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8. Do I have to be vegetarian to practice yoga?

The first principle of yoga philosophy is ahimsa, which means nonharming to self and others. Some people interpret this to include not eating animal products. There is debate about this in the yoga community. We believe that it is a personal decision that everyone has to make for him or herself. If you are considering becoming a vegetarian, be sure to take into account your personal health issues as well how your choices will affect those with whom you live. Being a vegetarian should not be something that you impose on others-that kind of aggressive action in itself is not an expression of ahimsa.

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9. How many times per week should I practice?

Yoga is amazing-even if you only practice for one hour a week, you will experience the benefits of the practice. If you can do more than that, you will certainly experience more benefits. We suggest starting with two or three times a week, for an hour or an hour and a half each time. If you can only do 20 minutes per session, that's fine too. Don't let time constraints or unrealistic goals be an obstacle-do what you can and don't worry about it. You will likely find that after awhile your desire to practice expands naturally and you will find yourself doing more and more.

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10. How is Yoga different from stretching or other kinds of fitness?

Unlike stretching or fitness, yoga is more than just physical postures. Patanjali's eight-fold path illustrates how the physical practice is just one aspect of yoga. Even within the physical practice, yoga is unique because we connect the movement of the body and the fluctuations of the mind to the rhythm of our breath. Connecting the mind, body, and breath helps us to direct our attention inward. Through this process of inward attention, we learn to recognize our habitual thought patterns without labeling them, judging them, or trying to change them. We become more aware of our experiences from moment to moment. The awareness that we cultivate is what makes yoga a practice, rather than a task or a goal to be completed. Your body will most likely become much more flexible by doing yoga, and so will your mind.

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11. I'm not flexible-can I do yoga?

Yes! You are a perfect candidate for yoga. Many people think that they need to be flexible to begin yoga, but that's a little bit like thinking that you need to be able to play tennis in order to take tennis lessons. Come as you are and you will find that yoga practice will help you become more flexible. This newfound agility will be balanced by strength, coordination, and enhanced cardiovascular health, as well as a sense of physical confidence and overall well-being.

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12. What do I need to begin?

All you really need to begin practicing yoga is your body, your mind, and a bit of curiosity. But it is also helpful to have a pair of sweat pants, leggings, or shorts, and a t-shirt that's not too baggy. No special footgear is required because you will be barefoot. It's nice to bring a towel to class with you. As your practice develops you might want to buy your own yoga mat, but most studios will have mats and other props available for you.

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13. Why are you supposed to refrain from eating two to three hours before class?

In yoga practice we twist from side to side, turn upside down, and bend forward and backward. If you have not fully digested your last meal, it will make itself known to you in ways that are not comfortable. If you are a person with a fast-acting digestive system and are afraid you might get hungry or feel weak during yoga class, experiment with a light snack such as yogurt, a few nuts, or juice about 30 minutes to an hour before class.

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14. Should I avoid inversions during my period?

There are many different schools of thought on whether inversions should be avoided by women during their period. You know your body best, so use your intuition or experiment and see how you feel.

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15. Will Yoga help me loose weight?

That depends on the type of yoga you are doing and how frequently. Very vigorous types of yoga practice such as Ashtanga and Power are cardiovascular exercises and may help you lose weight, if done regularly, along with diet etc. Doing any type of yoga will build strength, but some types may not raise your heart rate enough to constitute the only form of exercise necessary to a weight loss regime.

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16. What should I do about a slippery mat?

Sometimes it is possible to slip on a mat because you aren't grounded enough in your asana. If you continue to constantly and it becomes a nuisance you can either use talc for athletes, or simply buy a new mat.

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17. What if I have an injury or medical condition?

Talk to your teacher to adjust to your situation. Poses performed properly with a qualified teacher, the therapy of yoga movement often benefits physical conditions. Many students find health improves as a result of improved alignment, flexibility or strength. Discuss any issues of health with your medical professional and your teacher prior to starting your class.

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