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The word yoga, from the Sanskrit word yuj means to yoke or bind
and is often interpreted as "union" or a method of discipline.
A male who practices yoga is called a yogi, a female practitioner,
a yogini.
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?
Q3. 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–this is a personal decision that everyone has to make for themselves. 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.
Q4. 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.
Yoga is not a religion. It is a philosophy that began in India
an estimated 5,000 years ago. The father of classical ashtanga yoga
(the eight-limbed path, not to be confused with Sri K. Pattabhi
Jois' Ashtanga yoga) is said to be Patanjali, who wrote the Yoga
Sutra. These scriptures provide a framework for spiritual growth
and mastery over the physical and mental body. Yoga sometimes interweaves
other philosophies such as Hinduism or Buddhism, but it is not necessary
to study those paths in order to practice or study yoga.
Q6. 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.
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.
Q8. 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.
Q9. How many types of Yoga are there? There are five paths of Yoga: 1) Jnana, the path of knowledge or wisdom; or the path of inquiry
Q10. Has it been "proved" that Yoga is good for you? Yes. Scientific evidence shows numerous physical and psychological benefits from Yoga. Interestingly, there seems to be something about Yoga vs. exercise and controlled breathing, that is beneficial. For example, a recent study with heart patients showed that those who followed a stress reduction program that included many Yoga practices did better than patients who exercised or did nothing. Further, preliminary studies in the United States and India suggest that Yoga maybe helpful for specific conditions, such as asthma, epilepsy, anxiety, stress and others.
Q11. What's the best way to get started, especially if I'm out of shape? Find a teacher or a class that is near you and suits you. A one-on-one interaction with a teacher is invaluable experience, which cannot be replaced with either books or videos. Remember, there is a Yoga level for everyone, regardless of physical condition.
Q12. Is Yoga a New Age practice? Yoga is an ancient practice with a written history going back thousands of years. It is not New Age, although various New Age movements have adopted and adapted elements of Yoga. In addition, Yoga and New Age movements share a focus on mind/body development.
Q13. 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? Can I touch my toes? I'm going to do 10 more crunches today than I did yesterday. Yoga, by contrast, is a process. The idea is to focus your awareness on what you are doing and how you feel as you perform the postures. In exercise, you fail if you miss your goal. In Yoga, you succeed by trying. There's also a difference on the physical level. Weight training, for example, makes you stronger by breaking down and rebuilding muscle tissue. It's this breaking down and rebuilding that results in the bulky muscle look. Yoga works to stretch, elongate and increase strength by toning the muscles.
Q14. 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.
Q15. How can Yoga help children diagnosed with ADD? Depending on the age of the child, Yoga may help him/her get a better sense of control of both mind and body.
Q16. Will Yoga help me lose weight and which style is best? Yoga can make you look and feel better, regardless of your weight. That said, Yoga can help you slim down in a couple of ways. First, the exercises will help you burn calories. In addition, they'll help tone your muscles and improve your posture. Yoga is also about healthy living, which includes a healthy diet. That doesn't mean you have to become a vegetarian, just that you should be conscious of the foods you eat, sticking with natural, fresh fruits and vegetables, grains, etc. as much as possible while limiting your intake of junk food and foods high in fat, like red meat. Any of the basic hatha yoga styles will help. The important thing is to practice daily (or at least 4-5 days a week). Try and find a teacher or yoga class that is close to you. Books, videos and website can be a great help, but nothing beats a live instructor.
Q17. What is the most physically challenging form of Yoga? Any one of the basic styles can be physically challenging. It depends on what you do and how you approach it. Some styles focus on holding postures for a long time, which can be very challenging, while others link a series of postures into a single flow, which results in physical workout. Ashtanga, Bikram's, Iyengar and Power Yoga are probably the most physically focused forms of Yoga.
Q18. I see that there are so many styles of Yoga out there. How do I know which style is most beneficial to me? The best thing to do is sample classes of few different styles and go with the teacher you like the best. The teacher is more important than the style. The important thing is to get started. The Urban Yoga Centres offer you a choice of different types of yoga, taught by different teachers.
Q19. 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. It's also a good idea to work with a Yoga teacher with pre-natal Yoga experience.
Q20. Should women do Yoga during menses? Mostly it's a matter of personal preference. Some women don't want to do yoga during their period, many don't mind and continue to practice during menses. For women who do choose to practice, it is suggested that they avoid inverted poses, abdominal strengtheners, extended holding of any pose, or energizing breaths (kapalabhati). The issue is that these practices might interfere with the downward flow or cause discomfort.
Q21. Can Yoga control high blood pressure? Studies have shown that certain Yoga practices can help some patients
control their high blood pressure. In general, Yoga promotes health,
a sense of calm and relaxation. In addition, it teaches you to be
aware of your body and to listen to the signals it sends -- all
of which can be very useful.
Q22. Can Yoga help cure migraines? Migraines are caused by the sudden constriction and then dilation
of blood vessels to the brain. No one knows what causes the blood
vessels to behave this way. It could be genetics, stress or a something
else entirely. Regular practice of Yoga, including postures, pranayama
(breath exercises) and meditation can help relieve some of the suffering
and make the condition more manageable. Postures will help improve
blood circulation and also relieve physical tension and stress,
which may be a contributing factor to migraines. It is recommended
that you avoid excessive forward bends and back bends, however,
because they increase the flow of blood to the head, as do inversions.
Breath work and meditation will help balance the emotions and relieve
mental stress and tension.
Q23. Is there a Yoga program for tendinitis of the wrist? Rest and relaxation are the best treatments. If you can make slow gentle movements without causing pain, do those to help prevent the wrist from becoming stiff. During the episode, relaxation, meditation and visualization may help ease the pain. It is important to breathe diaphragmatically, i.e. belly breathing, to trigger the relaxation response. Set aside some time to practice. During the session, use the breath to help soothe inflamed area. As you breathe direct the cool incoming breath to the tender spot and then exhale away the inflammation. Spend at least 5 minutes a day doing the exercise, and try to extend it to 10 or 15 minutes. Like carpal tunnel, tendinitis is caused by repetitive stress. Examine your work habits and see if there is a more ergonomic way to function.
Q24. I suffer from social anxiety, despite trying several kinds of medication, nothing really helps me. Can Yoga help? In general, the combined practice of Yoga postures, meditation and pranayama breathing helps reduce stress and anxiety levels. It also helps build feelings of confidence and well-being and creates a stronger sense of self, all of which can help reduce levels of social anxiety. In addition, some of the practices -- such as Nadi Shodhana and other breathing techniques -- can help alleviate the symptoms of an anxiety attack. Yoga also teaches greater self awareness of mind and body. With practice, you may begin to sense the conditions that lead up to an attack and deal with them before they get out of control. It's important to start and maintain a regular practice. You should feel some immediate temporary relief, but it may take several months before you notice significant change.
Q25. What are the benefits of Yoga? There are many benefits of practicing yoga, here are ten to name a few:
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