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FAQ's

What is Yoga?

Developed in India, Yoga is a psychophysical discipline with roots going back about 5,000 years. Today, most Yoga practices in the West focuses on the physical postures called Asanas, breathing exercises called Pranayama, and meditation. However, there's more to it than that, and the deeper you go the richer and more diverse the tradition becomes. The word 'Yoga' means union. Linguistically, it is related to the Old English 'yoke'. Traditionally, the goal of Yoga is union with the absolute and the true self. These days the focus is often on the more down-to-earth benefits of Yoga, including improved physical fitness, mental clarity, greater self-understanding, stress control and general well-being. Spirituality, however, is a strong underlying theme to most practices. The beauty of Yoga is in its versatility, allowing practitioners to focus on the physical, psychological or spiritual, or a combination of all three.

How many types of Yoga are there?

There are many kinds of Yoga as described by different Sages according to their experiences. These Yogas all share a common lineage back to Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, a text outlining the basic philosophy and practices of Classical Yoga. It was written sometime between the second century B.C. and the first century A.D.

Is Yoga a religion?

No. The physical and psychological benefits of Yoga are real and don't discriminate on the basis of race, religion, gender, political persuasion or any other way people like (or dislike) to categorize themselves. On the spiritual side, most mystical traditions - east or west - draw similar maps of the spiritual path. So in that respect, Yoga is mainstream. Like Shakespeare said, "A rose by any name would smell as sweet". For these reasons, Yoga can be practiced without conflict with their religious beliefs.

Has it been 'proved' that Yoga is good for you?

Yes. Western science has been studying Yoga for nearly 50 years, and the evidence shows numerous physical and psychological benefits from Yoga. Interestingly, there seems to be something about Yoga - vs. exercise and controlled breathing - that is beneficial. For example, a recent study with heart patients showed that those who followed a stress reduction program that included many Yoga practices did better than patients who exercised or did nothing. Further, preliminary studies in the United States and India suggest that Yoga maybe helpful for specific conditions, such as asthma, epilepsy, anxiety, stress and others.

What's the best way to get started, especially if I'm out of shape?

Find a teacher, get a book and/or video. One-on-one interaction with a teacher is invaluable experience. However, books and videos have their place, too. Remember, there is a Yoga level for everyone, regardless of physical condition.

Is Yoga aerobic exercise?

Not as a whole. Aerobic exercise is simply exercise that improves oxygenation of the blood through an increased heart rate and deeper breathing. Yoga can do that, especially those styles such as Astanga and ViniYoga that have a strong focus on the flow of one posture to another.

Is Yoga a new age practice?

Yoga is an ancient practice with a written history going back thousands of years. It is not new age, although various new age movements have adopted and adapted elements of Yoga. In addition, Yoga and new age movements share a focus on mind/body development.

What's the difference between Yoga and just plain stretching and normal exercise?

Traditional exercise is goal oriented: How many push ups can I do? Can I touch my toes? I'm going to do 10 more crunches today than I did yesterday. Yoga, by contrast, is a process. The idea is to focus your awareness on what you are doing and how you feel as you perform the postures. In exercise, you fail if you miss your goal. In Yoga, you succeed by trying. There's also a difference on the physical level. Weight training, for example, makes you stronger by breaking down and rebuilding muscle tissue. It's this breaking down and rebuilding that results in the bulky muscle look. Yoga increases strength by toning the muscles.

What's the difference between a yogi, a guru and a swami?

A yogi is someone who practices Yoga. A yogi is a male Yoga student, a yogini a female student. A guru is a teacher. 'Swami' is a title of respect for a spiritual master.

How many times a week should I do Yoga and for how long?

Most schools teach a practice session that lasts 60-90 minutes. If you can do that everyday - great. If not, try and do that much a few days a week, including a class or two, and fill in with shorter sessions on days when you don't have as much time. Any Yoga is better than no Yoga, and 20 to 30 minutes a day is better than 90 minutes once a week.

Do I have to be a vegetarian to practice Yoga?

No.

Will Yoga help me lose weight and which style is best?

Yoga can make you look and feel better, regardless of your weight. That said, Yoga can help you slim down in a couple of ways. First, the exercises will help you burn calories. In addition, they'll help tone your muscles and improve of your posture. Yoga is also about healthy living, which includes a healthy diet. That doesn't mean you have to become a vegetarian, just that you should be conscious of the foods you eat, sticking with natural, fresh fruits and vegetables, grains, etc. as much as possible while limiting your intake of junk food and foods high in fat, like red meat. The important thing is to practice daily (or at least 4-5 days a week).

What is the most physically challenging form of Yoga?

Any one of the basic styles can be physically challenging. It depends on what you do and how you approach it. Some styles focus on holding postures for a long time, which can be very challenging, while others link a series of postures into a single flow, which results in physical workout.

Is it okay to practice Yoga while pregnant?

It's okay to continue practicing Yoga while you are pregnant as long as you were practicing before conception. Yoga is a great way to keep fit during pregnancy. In particular it can help strengthen the pelvic area, normalize thyroid functioning and blood pressure, and help keep you calm and relaxed - all of which is good for the baby, too. In general, however, you want to avoid strain, compressing the belly or abdomen and inverted postures, especially in the later stages.

Can Yoga control high blood pressure?

Yes. Studies have shown that certain Yoga practices can help some patients control their high blood pressure. In general, Yoga promotes health, a sense of calm and relaxation. In addition, it teaches you to be aware of your body and to listen to the signals it sends - all of which can be very useful. Pranayama is the most useful exercise for people suffering from high blood pressures. They should avoid certain postures which can tend to be harmful.

Can Yoga help cure migraines?

Migraines are caused by the sudden constriction and then dilation of blood vessels to the brain. No one knows what causes the blood vessels to behave this way. It could be genetics, stress or a something else entirely. Regular practice of Yoga, including postures, pranayama (breath exercises) and meditation can help relieve the suffering and make the condition more manageable. Postures will help improve blood circulation and also relieve physical tension and stress, which may be a contributing factor to migraines.

Will Yoga make me taller?

If you are a fully grown adult, you won't grow as a result of Yoga. However, a regular Yoga practice will improve your posture, which will have a similar effect. A regular program of asana (postures) and pranayama (breathing) will do the trick. The postures outlined in the Postures part are good place to start. You may find that one of the side effects of practicing Yoga is that you no longer care as much about your height. If you are young and still growing, regular Yoga practice and a good diet will help you reach your full height.

Is there a Yoga program for tendinitis of the wrist?

Rest and relaxation are the best treatments. If you can make slow gentle movements without causing pain, do those to help prevent the wrist from becoming stiff. During the episode, relaxation, meditation and visualization may help ease the pain. It is important to breathe diaphragmatically, i.e. belly breathing, to trigger the relaxation response. Set aside some time to practice. During the session, use the breath to help soothe inflamed area. As you breathe direct the cool incoming breath to the tender spot and then exhale away the inflammation. Spend at least 5 minutes a day doing the exercise, and try to extend it to 10 or 15 minutes.

I suffer from social anxiety, despite trying several kinds of medication, nothing really helps me. Can Yoga help?

In general, the combined practice of Yoga postures, meditation and pranayama breathing helps reduce stress and anxiety levels. It also helps build feelings of confidence and well-being and creates a stronger sense of self, all of which can help reduce levels of social anxiety. Yoga also teachers greater self awareness of mind and body. With practice, you may begin to sense the conditions that lead up to an attack and deal with them before they get out of control. It's important to start and maintain a regular practice. You should feel some immediate temporary relief, but it may take several months before you notice significant change.

Can Yoga get rid of varicose veins?

Varicose veins, the enlargement and discoloration of veins, cannot be cured (surgery and injection treatments can improve their appearance, though). However, yoga can help alleviate the symptoms and mitigate complications.