Whichever style you decide to go with, it is important to
consider what shape you are in physically as well as what you want to gain
spiritually. Certain types of yoga can be very physically challenging. If you
are not used to strenuous physical exercise and find yourself in an advanced
class, you will only pile on more stress. Power yoga, or Ashtanga, is an
extremely physical yoga, so perhaps you will want to work your way up to that
level. Some yoga classes are more concerned with addressing weight loss than
fostering emotional well-being.
Okay, time to take a rest yogi cobra master. Turn one cheek
to your yoga mat, let your heels fall away from one another, and relax. Let out
a little sigh (yes, even the most fierce cobras sigh from time to time). Notice
how your body feels after playing with cobra posture. Does your lower back feel tingly? Did you
expand your chest bigger and bigger with each
breath? Now, try the yoga pose again.
Many physicians will instruct patients with back problems to
engage in some form of physical activity, or exercise to strengthen their back
muscles, and to reduce overall pain. However, many exercises can wreak
havoc on an already aching back, and too much rigorous exercise can actually
exacerbate the condition. Traditional Western exercise tends to be very
taxing on the body, especially the back, and although exercise is needed, the
wrong kind of exercise can be ruinous for people with back problems. This
is one reason why yoga can be so beneficial in treating people that suffer from
back pain.
Through asana practice,
breathing techniques, visualizations & meditation, children and teens who
practice yoga turn inward and begin to recognize personal strengths, character,
a sense of calm and acceptance, love of self and appreciation for others,
respect for the environment, and other positive qualities.
Pranayama has to be practiced through the nose. Many do not
breath correctly. The average person breathes using the top part of the lung.
They breathe through the mouth and avoid using the diaphragm. They tend to lift
the shoulders, or contract the abdomen, whist inhaling. This causes low
vitality as a limited amount of vital air is taken in. It also sets one up for
a low resistance to disease. The lungs are not flushed properly of all stale
air. When we breathe through the nose we warm and filter the air coming into
our bodies. The breath passes the olfactory organs, which lie at the back of
the nose. Prana is thus in reach of the central nervous system and the brain.
Yoga for Inflexible People
Yoga increases muscular strength, reduces tension and stress, has a low
potential for injury, is non-competitive, has spiritual and psychological
benefits, and a 5000 year track record. Yoga postures, or asanas, range from
simple bending and twisting to contortionist types which are reserved for the
most advanced practitioners.