Yoga

To balance hectic lifestyles, many people are taking time out to practice yoga, a system of philosophy that originated in India 5,000 years ago. It offers a holistic approach that touches our body, mind and spirit, enabling us to cope with the challenges of daily life – and everyone can practice and benefit from yoga, regardless of age, ability or sex. Yoga can also complement medical science and therapy for specific conditions.

You may be drawn to yoga simply for health and fitness, or be seeking relief for a specific physical condition. You might want help with managing stress, or would like pregnancy yoga classes or exercises suitable for the less able-bodied. Whatever your objectives, there are yoga classes that can meet them.

By making yoga a part of your daily routine, you may become aware of subtle changes in your approach to life. In your yoga class you may well begin to glimpse a state of inner peace... your true nature.

What is Yoga

The Sanskrit word ‘yoga’ is translated as 'union' between mind, body and spirit. Yoga is a Hindu discipline that provides a range of physical and mental exercises aimed at improving control of your body and mind, focusing on body alignment. It is a simple means of relief from both mental and physical stress, guiding the way to achieve good health. In the west, the most widely experienced form of yoga is hatha yoga, taught through classes that teach exercises to stretch and flex the body, develop breath awareness, relax and sometimes meditate. Many classes begin with limbering moves and sequences to warm up the muscles and joints. This prepares the body and mind for asana (posture) work.

Asanas

Asanas (yoga postures) strengthen and tone the body and improve the flow of energy, regulating the physical systems of the body and breath, and stilling the mind for meditation. The asanas used in a class vary from teacher to teacher and are tailored to the abilities of the students. The objective is not to see how far you can stretch or contort your body, but to combine stability with ease and relaxation. Teachers are trained to modify asanas for people with medical conditions ranging from pregnancy to arthritis. There are also specialist teachers who hold pregnancy, MS, or ME classes.

Breath work

Simple breathing techniques are taught to develop awareness and relaxation of the breath. These are then developed into pranayama exercises, targeted at controlling and moving prana through the breath. Prana means the vital, or life force, energy. Not all exercises are suitable if you have respiratory or circulatory problems, so if you have a condition, be sure to advise your teacher before you start a class.

History and philosophy

Some teachers try to include some history and philosophy in their yoga classes. This will help you to understand how the yoga you are doing fits within the original spiritual context and history. Feel free to ask questions – in most yoga classes, discussion and feedback are actively encouraged.

Meditation

There are many meditation techniques and styles. The ones you're most likely to come across will have the objective of stilling the mind by focusing your awareness on a single object – the movement of the breath, a candle, an image, a sound, or a chant.