Yoga is for Everyone!
For most people when they hear the word yoga mentioned they picture a young, fit person in an impossible contortionist position or a group of people sitting in a circle chanting and in most cases those images are enough to put anybody off. This is a real shame as everyone can reap the huge rewards and benefits of yoga, they just need to find their yoga, the one that suits them. There is nothing wrong with being young, fit and able to get into really advanced poses or sitting in a circle chanting if that is what you enjoy and receive benefits from, however if this is not for you it does not mean that you cannot practice yoga.
Yoga is not just a physical form of exercise, although for most of us that may be all we want from it, especially at first. Yoga has 8 limbs and practicing any of these limbs is practicing yoga.
8 Limbs of Yoga
Yamas: This relates to how you treat others and the world around you.
Niyamas: This relates to how you treat yourself.
Asanas: These are the physical postures of yoga and for most people in the western world this is the main focus of their yoga practice.
Pranayama: This is breathing exercises which can help to energise the body, calm the mind and aid relaxation.
Prathayara: Is withdrawal of the senses. This limb can help to prepare the mind further for total relaxation.
Dharana: Is concentration. Concentration on an object or a specific thought can help free the mind from the clutter of thoughts that enter our minds everyday and can help to prepare for meditation.
Dhyana: Is meditation. The mind is cleared from the clutter of everyday thought and it leads to a greater sense of mental clarity.
Samadhi: Is Enlightenment. This is the ultimate goal of the Eight Limbs of Yoga. Once reached it is a state of peace, complete relaxation, where you become one with the universe.
Benefits of Yoga
The benefits of yoga are vast. Physical benefits can include feeling fitter, stronger, more flexible, and less prone to injury. Mentally you may feel calmer, more relaxed or at least better placed to achieve a greater sense of relaxation when needed. Yoga can have benefits for specific health problems if practiced correctly such as arthritis, asthma, back problems, depression; the list is endless. However you must find the yoga that is right for you and your body. If you have arthritis then yoga is great for loosening up the joints and promoting movement. However a demanding Ashtanga class that puts pressure on joints, such as the wrists, would not be suitable, and would cause harm rather than help. Then this would not really be yoga, you would not be following the second limb Niyama, as you would be harming yourself. Rather than receiving benefits from your asana (posture) practice you would be causing damage.
The Ultimate Goal in an Asana practice
Probably for most people starting a yoga practice the focus will be physical, the
practice of Asanas (the third limb of yoga). It is vital that all yoga is practiced
safely and is non-
Once you begin your practice make a promise to yourself (and your teacher!) to listen to your body. ‘No pain no gain’ does not apply to yoga. Pain could mean you are causing damage to your body, and then you are no longer practicing yoga. The ultimate goal is not the final full pose, the ultimate goal is to find a place within a posture where you can still breath, feel a gentle stretch or begin to build strength, or both. Be patient the final pose may be obtainable one day, but so what if it is not. You will still receive benefits from the pose, it does not matter if it does not look quite as polished as the person on the neighbouring mat or the book. Letting go of this desire to achieve the perfect full posture will allow you to enjoy your practice more, reduce your risk of injury and one day you may surprise yourself and find yourself there.
Reconnecting with the Breath
The physical practice of yoga is fantastic but breathing techniques, relaxation and mediation can have equal merit. You may not feel that these aspects of yoga are for you but they may be just what you need. When was the last time you sat quietly with no other distractions? When was the last time you stopped and took a moment to just listen to your breath? Breathing is essential, without breath there is no life, surely we should take a moment now and again to appreciate the breath? How well do you breathe, do you even know? Yoga helps you to become aware of your natural breath and can help you to breathe more effectively and therefore fill the body with even more oxygen and that will ultimately make you feel better. One of the purposes of an asana (posture) practice is to loosen up the body so you can breathe more efficiently.
Where to Start
If you are unsure whether or not you should practice yoga always check with a doctor first. Yoga classes are often advertised in local shops and papers and many teachers now have websites. Simply typing yoga classes and the location of where you live may bring up some classes. Then once you have found a class, checked it is right for you, just go along. Give it time you may find your first few classes are spent in a mild state of confusion, remember even your yoga teacher was once like you! It will not take long before things begin to connect and flow more easily. And remember listen to your body if you feel pain then don’t be afraid to say so, always always always do what is right by you and your body – enjoy!
Please seek medical advice before practicing yoga. Amy accepts no liability for any injuries caused by an individual's own practice as a result of reading this article.
Amy-
Fun, flowing and energetic yoga classes suitable for most abilities including beginners.
Excellent for helping to build strength, stamina and flexibility. Yoga classes in
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