Frequently Asked Questions
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 of 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
styles will help. The important thing is to practice daily (or at least
4-5 days a week). If possible, try and find a teacher. Books, videos
and website can be a great help, but nothing beats a live instructor.
I'm not very flexible. Will I be
able to do it?
This is a good reason to come to a class: to try to loosen any tight
muscles. Everyone has somewhere in their body that they can create more
flexibility.
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.
How early do I need to come?
If it is your first class try for at least 10 minutes so that the
instructor can talk with you a little. It is nice to have enough time
to come in and slow down before your class begins as you continue in
your practice.
What should I wear?
Comfortable loose clothing, particularily
around the waist so that you can breath and stretch freely.
Is it okay to eat before I come?
It is best to practice yoga on an empty stomach.? You should try not to
eat anything one and a half hours before class. In general, a piece of
of fruit or a light snack is okay one and a half hours before class.
 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 increases strength by toning the
muscles.
Is Yoga aerobic exercise?
Yes and...maybe. Aerobic exercise is simply exercise that improves
oxygenation of the blood through an increased heart rate and deeper
breathing. Yoga can do that, especially those styles such as Ashtanga
and ViniYoga that have a strong focus on the flow of one posture to
another.
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. The Yoga Site's
Bookstore has a couple of books about Yoga and pregnancy (www.Yogasite.com/pregnancy.htm).
In addition, many public libraries also carry books about Yoga and
pregnancy. It's also a good idea to work with a Yoga teacher with
pre-natal Yoga experience.
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.
I have injured myself. Is it risky to do any
yoga?
First you must consult your doctor before beginning any exercise after
an injury. Depending on your injury we will advise you of modifications
you can do
so that you can heal more quickly. Let us know before a class what
health concerns you have so that we can give you the appropriate
variations to suit you.
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. As the episode recedes, try some
of the the exercise outlined in the Yoga Site's carpal tunnel
article. They may help prevent a recurrence. Like carpal
tunnel, tendinitis is caused by repetitive stress. Examine your work
habits and see if there is a more ergonomic way to function.
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.
I am considering traveling to India
to study Yoga in an ashram. Any suggestions as to where to start my
research?
There's
a new book called From Here to Nirvana: The Yoga Journal's Guide to
Spiritual India. It has everything you need to know about ashrams in
India - who runs them, what they're like, how much it costs, how to get
there, etc.
What is Om?
Om,
also spelled "Aum," is a sacred Hindu sound symbolizing the Absolute.
It often is used as a mantra during meditation. Although often
pronounced as if it rhymed with "home," it is also pronounced
"ah-oo-mm.".
What should I do when nature calls
in the middle of a yoga class?
It is perfectly all right to leave class for a few minutes to attend to
your bodily functions. There is no need to ask the teacher's permission
to go to the bathroom. The best time to go is when there is a period of
rest, either in Child's
Pose or Downward
Dog. You will not earn your teacher's respect if you
routinely dodge out during difficult poses or skip part of Savasana.
What is the purpose of relaxation? Can I
leave class before relaxation?
Relaxation is the most important part of your yoga practice –
and the most difficult. During Sivasana or Relaxation your
body's Central Nervous System fully relaxes, and this is the
time that your body begins to absorb all the benefits of your practice
on very deep level.
Where can I find more information on yoga?
Here are some excellent resources:
- Hatha Yoga Pradipika (lots of versions, Bihar Press publishes a very good one)
- Yoga: the Art and Practice of Moving into Stillness by Erich Schiffmann
- Yin Yoga by Paul Grilley (good for pracitioners of any style)
-
www.yinyoga.com (excellent yin yoga and general yoga resource)
- www.yogainasia.com
(great way to find classes and studios all over Asia)
- www.yogafinder.com
- www.yoganetwork.org
- China Findouter:
(Search engine for China)
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