01/23/2023
FAQ: 1) What is Yoga? Yoga is a discipline with roots going back thousands of years. It includes postures (asanas), breathing (Pranayama) and meditation.
2) What are the benefits of Yoga?
~Improved physical fitness and flexibility
~Increased strength by toning muscles
~Increased circulation, cardiovascular and respiratory health
~Improved digestion
~Greater self understanding
~Stress reduction and control as well as mental clarity
3) Have it been "proven" that Yoga is good for you?
~Yes. Western science has been studying Yoga for 50 years and evidence shows numerous physical and psychological benefits of Yoga. Preliminary studies in the U.S. and India suggest that Yoga can be helpful for specific conditions such as asthma, epilepsy, anxiety, stress and cardiovascular disease.
4) What is the difference between Yoga and just plain/normal stretching/exercise?
~Traditional exercise is goal oriented, ie' "How many pushups can I do?...Can I touch my toes?...I'm going to do 10 more crunches today that I did yesterday"...Yoga however, is a process. The idea is to focus on what you are doing and how you feel as you perform the postures...In some exercise, you often feel that you fail if you miss your goal...In Yoga, you succeed in trying...Wherever you are in the pose...that is where you are supposed to be...at that moment...on that day.
5) Is it ok to practice Yoga while you're pregnant?
~Yoga is a great way to keep fit during pregnancy. In particular, it can help strengthen the pelvic area, normalize thyroid function and blood pressure as well as help keep you calm and relaxed, all of which is good for the baby too. You teacher will give you some individual direction regarding the poses that are best for you and those that should be avoided.
6) What should I wear to Yoga class and what do I need to bring?
~the key is to wear comfortable clothing that you can move and breathe in, ie' T-shirts, tank tops, shorts and leggings or Yoga pants.
~To class, you should bring a Yoga mat or other type of exercise mat or a towel (you can get good Yoga mats for $10 at any Walmart, TJ Max, Ross as well as other discount stores). If you would like and I recommend, you may want to bring a blanket to cover yourself during the final relaxation...and a pair of socks for the relaxation...Yoga is done in bare feet on the mat..
~You should bring bottled water to balance your electrolytes after the class.
7) Is Yoga a religion?
~No. The physical and psychological benefits of Yoga are real and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, gender or political persuasion.