| "What is Yoga? What style of yoga do you teach? | | | | yoga is to achieve union, connection with the Divine. In |
| What do I need to practice yoga?" | | | | more general terms, yoga is seen as a practical way |
| As a Yoga Teacher, I am often asked these | | | | to help you achieve a state of balance, sense of |
| questions by potential yoga students. | | | | harmony and union into your life |
| Given the vast array of yoga classes available it can | | | | Three: There are four main paths of Yoga practice, |
| be quite overwhelming to choose a programme most | | | | which all traditionally serves as a means to help you |
| suited to your individual health and well-being needs | | | | achieve your potential and unite with your divine nature: |
| and lifestyle. | | | | Karma Yoga (the path of selfless service and action), |
| You may have heard that yoga helps you to relax, | | | | Jnana Yoga (the path of intellect, knowledge and |
| calms your mind and releases tension from sore | | | | wisdom), Bhakti Yoga (the path of devotion and love), |
| muscles, but how can you be sure if the yoga class | | | | Raja Yoga (the physical practice of yoga - asanas, |
| advertised at your local Leisure Centre is the right | | | | breathing, plus spiritual, ethical guidelines, known as the |
| form of exercise for you? | | | | Yoga Sutras or Patanjali's Eight Limbs of Yoga.) |
| There are many styles and ways of teaching yoga. | | | | Each path of yoga will appeal to different people |
| "Yoga" means different things to different people. I | | | | depending on your personal temperament and |
| have three teenage daughters, each have their own | | | | personality. |
| understanding and definition of yoga ranging from: | | | | Four: There are various styles and different |
| - "Yoga is a peaceful way to exercise and, a good | | | | approaches to yoga. In essence, asanas, breathing |
| way to let your feelings out" | | | | exercises, relaxation and in some cases meditation |
| - "Yoga is mum's job!" | | | | and chanting form the basis of all yoga styles. All yoga |
| - "Yoga is gentle stretching and balancing exercises" | | | | is known as "Hatha Yoga." However, different schools |
| The following top five tips give you a clear introduction | | | | of yoga place difference emphasis on these aspects. |
| about the practice and teachings of yoga. | | | | Some yoga teachers, may focus more on breathing |
| Top Five Useful Things You Need to Know About | | | | techniques (known as pranayama ), whilst another |
| Yoga | | | | may pay more attention on the alignment of the body |
| One: Yoga is a form of exercise which consists of a | | | | in the poses. The most common styles of yoga taught |
| programme of stretching exercises,(known as asanas) | | | | are Iyengar Yoga, Sivananada Yoga, Viniyoga Yoga, |
| which gently open and stretch the body, increasing | | | | Astanga Yoga and Bikram Yoga |
| flexibility, suppleness and strength; breathing practices | | | | Five: The practice of yoga exercises (asanas) is one |
| (known as pranayama) designed to cleanse the body | | | | aspect of yoga. As a way of balanced holistic living, |
| and calm the nervous system and emotions; and | | | | the other elements of yoga consists of paying |
| guided relaxation to release body tension and promote | | | | attention to eating a wholesome, preferably vegetarian |
| a sense of well-being. Some yoga classes also include | | | | diet, proper breathing; proper relaxation; positive thinking |
| meditation and chanting. Meditation helps you to calm | | | | and meditation. |
| and focus your mind and have a sense of inner peace. | | | | The practice of yoga is a personal journey. The holistic |
| Two: The traditional meaning of the word 'yoga' | | | | nature of the practice and range of tools equips you |
| originates from Sanskrit yuj meaning to yoke, unite, | | | | with a range of useful tools to help you find inner |
| union, join together. Traditionally speaking, the goal of | | | | peace, calm and balance within your life. |