| We often lead busy and chaotic lives, cutting corners | | | | breath to assist you into the pose? |
| and ignoring guidelines in an attempt to do something | | | | Most importantly, become aware of what thoughts |
| faster, better or more efficiently. In our attempt to fit | | | | and feelings course through your body while moving |
| everything into a busy day we often compromise or | | | | from one asana to the next and practice accepting |
| gloss over the necessary preparation for yoga that | | | | those thoughts and feelings, without judgment. Just let |
| otherwise would enhance the benefits of our yoga | | | | those thoughts and feelings exist, observe them, |
| practice. | | | | without comment! |
| In order to have the 'ultimate beneficial yoga | | | | Now look at the STRUCTURE of your yoga practice. |
| experience,' you need to follow certain guidelines and | | | | As it is important to balance the body and the mind, |
| pointers. If you can adapt your practice to take notice | | | | you need to structure your poses. Each forward bend |
| of these pointers and incorporate them into your busy | | | | should be followed by a backward bend. The poses |
| day it will improve your yoga practice and you will | | | | you do on one side should be done on the other side |
| experience the benefits of yoga more deeply. | | | | of your body as well. |
| When you start your yoga routine, try and RELAX. Let | | | | Now what is the best TIME to practice yoga? Many |
| your mind go blank. Give it permission to release the | | | | say generally in the mornings, just on arising as your |
| worries of the day. Attempt to bring your focus into | | | | mind is clear, free of thoughts and the air is still and |
| you. However, don't become frustrated if at first you | | | | quiet, there is no disturbance to interrupt your focus on |
| can't still your racing mind. Often this is exceptionally | | | | you and your practice. The second best time to |
| hard, however with regular yoga meditation practice | | | | practice yoga is during the evening, those 2-3 hours |
| you will learn to achieve this state of relaxation faster | | | | around sunset. The chaos of the day has abated, and |
| and faster. A good way to start is with 5 to 10 minutes | | | | you can focus more clearly. |
| of Savasana (this is the corpse pose). | | | | For many of us these times don't suit our lifestyles or |
| Now Savasana can be practiced at any time | | | | commitments. So my belief is that yoga can actually |
| throughout your yoga session, you don't need to | | | | be practiced at any time during the day. Whenever |
| practice it at any particular time, but it is effective in | | | | you are able to take a block of time for yourself. The |
| calming the mind and allowing you to focus in on you | | | | only caveat to that is that you shouldn't practice yoga |
| and the start of your yoga practice. As it assists | | | | for at least two hours after a meal. So if early |
| relaxation, savasana often concludes a yoga class | | | | afternoon is a time that you can plan to have free, and |
| with the teacher usually leading the class through a | | | | be at liberty to focus on you without interruptions, then |
| process of guided meditation. | | | | that is then the best time for you to practice yoga. |
| Once you have your focus centered on you, then | | | | The last guideline for a beneficial yoga experience is to |
| concentrate on your BREATHING. It takes a short | | | | consider the PLACE or SPOT to conduct your yoga |
| while to learn to properly breathe in the yogic fashion, | | | | practice in. What you want is a well ventilated area, |
| however once achieved it will definitely make the | | | | but on the other hand not one that is draughty. You |
| practice of the asanas easier. Bear in mind that yogic | | | | need the ventilation as your body will generate heat |
| breathing is different. To breathe properly in the yoga | | | | during the practice of the poses and you will perspire. |
| style, ALWAYS breathe in through the nose unless | | | | On the other hand you don't want a draught in the |
| your instructor tells you otherwise and out through the | | | | room to chill and stiffen your muscles. |
| mouth. Try and make the length of your in breath | | | | Also, the spot you choose should be quiet and still. So |
| equal the length of your out breath. When you're | | | | that your mind doesn't wander it's a good idea to |
| ready, try to co-ordinate the progression of one yoga | | | | choose the same spot for your yoga practice each |
| position to another with your breath. You wish to | | | | time. If you're familiar with the spot, you won't be |
| achieve a flowing motion between breath and | | | | focusing on unnecessary things which will leave your |
| movement. | | | | mind free to focus on your practice. |
| When breathing is established, bring your | | | | If you choose to practice outside in the open air, then |
| AWARENESS in to you. By this I mean, focus on | | | | try not to practice in a cold breeze or conversely |
| what is happening in your body and in your mind while | | | | under the hot sun. Use common sense and find a spot |
| seeking to perfect each yoga pose. | | | | that is comfortable for you. |
| Try to observe or become aware of:- | | | | As a final thought, always have something between |
| 1. How your body feels when it's in certain positions. If it | | | | you and the ground. In that regard a MAT is essential. |
| feels well, then move into the particular yoga position a | | | | There are some great mats and meditation pillows to |
| little further, if your body twinges, then listen to it and | | | | be had which will definitely enhance your experience. |
| back off. You're not ready for that intensity; 2. What | | | | If you follow these simple guidelines, you can be |
| sensations are traveling through your body? Heat, | | | | assured that you will benefit from your yoga practice |
| fatigue or even a sense of nothingness. Each has | | | | as you will have removed any physical obstacle which |
| meaning and your yoga practice can be modified to | | | | may interfere with your ability to build on and further |
| accommodate each sensation; 3. What your breath is | | | | your yoga practice. |
| doing throughout each yoga pose. Are you using your | | | | |