Introduction to Yoga

What is yoga?

There seems to be a lot of misconceptions on what yoga is. Some people think you need to be extra flexible and bendy to practice yoga, others may think its a religion. Let me take a moment to dispel some common yoga misconceptions.

Is yoga a religion? No. It has ties to Hinduism but yoga in itself is not a religion.

​Do I need to be flexible to practice yoga? No. When beginning your journey into yoga you come as you are. It doesn't matter if you need to sit down to tie your shoes or can naturally throw your feet behind your head. A good teacher will teach you wherever your body is at.

How old is too old to practice yoga? You're never too old (or too young) to begin practicing yoga. There are classes for everybody, regardless of age.

Yoga seems to soft and slow. Is there such thing as a fast paced yoga class? Yes! There are many different styles of yoga. There are soft & slow classes like restore and yin which are slower paced. There are also more heated styles of yoga like Ashtanga and Bikram Yoga that offer a faster paced class that will make you sweet in minutes! If you want a more physical class look for anything that says Power or Vinyasa.
 
In my experience in practicing yoga and teaching yoga I have seen so many ways yoga has helped people. Personally for me yoga has been a beautiful practice to help keep my physical, mental, and emotional state  well balanced. It helped me in recovery from addiction and guided me through intense emotional and mental struggles. I've seen yoga assist individuals with physical obstacles like cancer survivors, trauma survivors, people with tight muscles, athletes, and assisted woman in pregnancy.  

Yoga is there for you where ever you are in your life.

If you would like to learn more, this video covers what yoga is, some general terminology, and the first sun salutation. 

Whether you are brand new to yoga or a seasoned practitioner this video will be a good recap of what yoga is.

Let us know your thoughts on this video in the comments below.

Namaste.