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Fast Links to About Yoga questions
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What is
Yoga?
Are there different styles of yoga?
Why practice yoga?
Who can practice yoga?
How does yoga work?
How is Healthy Life Yoga different?
What is the best way to learn about yoga?
What other resources are there on yoga?
About Yoga
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ABOUT YOGA > Who can
practice yoga?
Some
people believe they need to be flexible and strong to take yoga,
which can produce some hesitation in trying a class. On the contrary,
yoga provides the ability to modify the poses to each individual body
for support in gaining flexibility and strength. So, if you haven't
exercised in a while and feel stiff or weak, yoga can help you to regain
your flexibility and strength.
Many yoga advertisements show young, thin, bendy
people practicing poses that can be unattainable for the average person.
It's just marketing. They can get their foot behind their head so they
must know what they are doing, right? Not necessarily. It is not the
goal of yoga to get your foot behind your head. It's to be healthy in
body and mind. If along the way, you gain enough flexibility to get your
foot behind your head ~ kudos! It is fun to see what you are able to
physically do, and you may surprise yourself along the way. However, the
benefits of yoga are not limited to the thin and bendy.
So, is there enough time in the day to
practice yoga? Yes. Most people take a class once a week to learn how to
practice safely and do some at home as it fits into their schedule. It is
recommended to do a little something each day for the most benefit. Even
a few minutes of mindful breathing daily can have positive impact on
setting the tone for the day!
Some people have concerns about practicing
yoga because they have health issues. Rightly so, no one wants to do
anything to feel worse when they are ailing. However, many people with
Fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, diabetes, arthritis, high blood pressure,
and heart disease experience improvement and relief because of their
yoga practice. Studies have shown yoga helps to relieve the symptoms of
stress, anxiety and depression too. If you have concerns about
taking yoga, talk with your primary health practitioner ~ a good idea
when starting a new exercise routine anyway. We are available to answer
any health questions you have, as well.
Everyone can practice yoga in some form
and benefit from it. Most of the students we see are in their 40s, 50s
and 60s ~ a few a bit younger, a few a bit older ~ all shapes and sizes,
all with different abilities and needs, and all grateful for an
accessible fitness routine.
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