Tips on Yoga -
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Published on: 2/21/2002
Last Visited: 2/21/2002
"Usually when people talk about yoga in this country, they are referring to hatha yoga, the physical aspect of the discipline - I call it exercise with a difference," said Priscilla Potter, director of The Yoga Connection, 323-1222.
"Hatha means body and mind and yoga means joining or bringing together, so the implication is we are bringing the body and mind into a state of greater balance, harmony and health.
Though practice of the 2,000-plus-year-old discipline can improve strength, flexibility and endurance, Potter emphasized that yoga is more than just a physical endeavor, involving breathing and meditation as well - factors which are contributing to its renaissance across the country.
2 Get pre-yoga medical clearance.
Potter said yoga is beneficial for a wide range of ages, fitness levels and health conditions.It is often recommended by physicians for those in recovery from cancer and patients with fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis and other conditions.
As with any new exercise program, physician approval should be obtained before beginning classes.
3 Yoga demystified: Learn the lingo.
For those new to the discipline, learning some basic yoga terminology can be helpful.There are many types of hatha yoga, three of which are common locally: Ashtanga, Bikram and Iyengar.Ashtanga and Bikram use prescribed sets of postures or poses that can be rigorous; Bikram is performed in a room heated to 100-plus degrees.
Iyengar, which Potter characterizes as a gentler form, focuses on appropriate alignment.
Expect to hear terms such as asana (the physical postures that make up hatha yoga); pranayama (regulated breathing), dhyana (meditation), namaste (honor the divinity within you) and shanti (peace).
4 Yoga is a form of stress management.
Potter said that at least half of her students try yoga as an antidote to stress.
"Hatha yoga is stress management along with body, mind and breath awareness.Relaxation training is part of the mind-body connection and should be part of any program," Potter said.
5 No, flexibility is not a prerequisite.
"I commonly hear people say, 'I've always wanted to do yoga, but I can't because I'm too inflexible or too overweight or too old.' Yoga helps to restore flexibility and strength in a very safe, deliberate way, so yoga is for everybody," Potter said.
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Potter emphasized that in a culture where we often see the glory of winning and the agony of defeat, yoga is refreshingly noncompetitive.
"It doesn't matter whether you can touch your feet or your knees in a forward bend, and it doesn't matter whether you can do headstands.The most important posture of all is walking in the door," she said.
7 Breathe, just breathe.Potter said that breathing is the one autonomic function in the body that we can regulate easily, and that breathing is a cornerstone to integration of body and mind.
Americans, however, are under-breathers, and in addition to the breathing techniques and cues taught in yoga, she offers several tips to counter this.
First, wear looser clothing - tight waists immobilize the diaphragm - and take a breathing break every hour on the hour.
Simply take two or three deep breaths: Place your hand on your belly and pull the breath down into your belly while counting to at least five.
8 Yoga 101: What to expect in a class.
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Potter encourages students to "honor your body."
"Yoga is not supposed to be painful.Pain is an indicator that you are doing something inappropriate, so never do anything you don't feel comfortable with.A good instructor will honor that," she said.
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