Yoga for Beginners

Yoga seems to be everywhere these days - we hear about it on television, read about it in health magazines and notice that many famous people really get into yoga. There must be a reason for all of this.

Since the fitness crazed, body thumping days of the eighties, we have come full circle and have learned that engaging in the simple practice of yoga tremendously enhances our wellness and overall quality of life.

Everyone should give yoga a try at some point in their life. Most people that wait a long time before starting yoga always regret not starting it earlier. Yoga's benefits are far reaching and numerous. In order to achieve them, participants of any level of yoga practice should always keep the following things in mind: the Importance of Being Aware and the Importance of Learning to Relax.

Following these principles while doing yoga will:

• give you More Energy
• make you feel More Relaxed and Confident
• help Eliminate Joint and Muscle Pain all at the same time!

For important tips on yoga, read on and you will clearly see why more and more people are jumping on the yoga bandwagon.

About Being Aware - Pay Attention to Your Body!

In Yoga, you must be aware of any unnecessary muscle contraction and holding of your breath in order to facilitate energy flow. Ensure that you distinguish between the "good pain" and "bad pain" that you are experiencing. Good pain is simply muscle fatigue, whereas bad pain is a "straining" sensation that is more unpleasant and would prevent you from healing.

It is important to realize early that you cannot always follow the exact movements the instructor is demonstrating. Rather than straining yourself on a consistent basis just to achieve a required position, learn to compromise and do what you can while remaining as relaxed as possible.

For example, if you are asked to stretch your legs out to straighten them completely and you find that this is putting too much of a strain on your back, then only stretch them out to a point where you feel a slight pull but no discomfort anywhere. If you keep up with your yoga routine, before you know it you will be able to perform each move with less and less effort. It takes time for everything and the sooner that you learn to BE AWARE of every part of your body, the quicker you will be able to engage in any type of yoga pose!

Yoga can be daunting for the perfectionist. It is important to realize early that the basic principles of breathing also need to be learned for the most effective yoga practice. Learn all about breathing techniques and how to get motivated to do yoga and before you know it, things will become more effortless as you master each level of complexity within the yoga continuum.

Learning to Relax - chill out and experience the flow!

Some movements are more difficult than others. Forcing a movement will cause a great deal of tension, especially in the superficial layers of muscles. However, if you relax optimally, the superficial muscles will experience less activity and will allow for the deeper muscles to contract. This will lead to an increased stability of your spine and you will clearly feel the change in strength and power after a short period of time.

We already overuse some muscles in our body and it is often those exact muscles that we continue to overuse if we carry on yoga the wrong way. Most people with back pain, for example, have not used the deeper layers of their back muscles in a very long time. While practicing yoga, with the correct level of relaxation, they can easily stop using the superficial muscles and let those deep muscles finally kick in. Within days of doing this correctly, their backs will strengthen to levels they have never seen and their back pain will only be a mere memory.

Relaxation ultimately helps your muscles and fascia release, reduces pain and increases strength. The more your state of mind is one of relaxation, the more you can practice yoga with effortless effort. This will make the yoga experience more fulfilling.

Reading about yoga is very informative, however, following the movements of a knowledgeable instructor helps you understand it the most. Attending a class can be very energizing but if you are the typical busy person, a quality yoga video allows for effective yoga practice in the comfort of your own home, making it extremely convenient to do at any time! There are many excellent videos, audios and DVD's available today that can be found at your local bookstore or library or online at sites like yoga.com.

In particular, Rodney Yee has made incredibly enjoyable videos and DVD's on a wide range of yoga workouts. Rodney believes that if our practice is fueled by curiosity and ease instead of expectation and effort, it is so much easier to get to the mat, and so he creates his videos in a way that allows us to go with our own flow as we observe his highly effective position sequences. His videos are shot with impressive camera angles, clear verbal instruction, beautiful background settings and soothing music. If you want to ensure that you get hooked on yoga, check out videos by Rodney Yee and see for yourself!

A favorite is AM and PM Yoga for Beginners.which can be found at Amazon.com.

Even more convenient, is the idea of ONLINE YOGA INSTRUCTION. For only $1, you can access a variety of top notch yoga sessions online or even just view a free trial! Another great online option is the Yoga Learning Center which offers an extensive library featuring over 50 yoga video and audio practices in a wide range of styles and experience levels

The Benefits of Yoga - why should you spend time doing yoga?

Yoga is so dynamic that it is very difficult to describe in only one way or simply in a few words. Many people take up yoga strictly for physical benefits and soon discover that they also experience a wonderful mind experience.

As a great modern day yogi Joel Kramer puts it...

"For thousands of years, yoga has been a tool to open the mind and body, bringing transformation. Yoga is a process that involves confronting your limits and transcending them. It is a psychophysical approach to life and to self-understanding that brings the benefits of good health both mental and physical. Yoga transforms you by opening up the physical and mental binds that block your potential, limiting your life. Transformation is a process that brings newness and interest. You might think that changing deeply could make you so different that you'd lose touch with those you love and even yourself. Actually, the transformation that yoga brings makes you more yourself, and opens you up to loving with greater depth. It involves a honing and refining which releases your true essence, as a sculptor brings out the beauty of form in the stone by slowly and carefully chipping away the rest.

Doing yoga brings many concrete benefits: it's a powerful therapeutic tool for correcting physical and psychological problems; it retards aging and keeps you opened sexually; it gives strength and flexibility for other physical activities; it can enhance your looks, posture, skin and muscle tone, and vitality; and it can give your life a sense of grace and overall well-being. At its deepest level, yoga involves generating energy. Energy is often thought of as a mysterious force which is either there or not, and out of your control. But through yoga, you can actually change its quality and generate more of it."

Conclusion - enjoy yoga the right way!

This is not a step by step ‘how to' to practicing yoga. Following this advice, however, will help you enjoy the benefits of yoga a whole lot sooner! If you follow our recommendations, you can focus on improving yourself while feeling great rather than ending up getting stuck on a mat questioning everything you do.

Wishing you wellness and confidence always!