What is yoga?

There are many types of yoga.  Hatha yoga encompasses the physically-oriented practices involving poses that stretch and strengthen the body, and this is what most Americans are referring to when they say "yoga."  The most popular yoga styles today, such as Ashtanga, Iyengar, Bikram, Jiva Mukti, Kripalu and Sivananda are all types of hatha yoga.

The word "yoga" comes from the ancient Indian language of Sanskrit and literally means to yoke or bring together.  We work to bring together mind, body and spirit in harmony.  Hatha yoga is rooted in the belief that the body and breath are intimately connected with the mind, and consequently, that you can experience the mind/body connection using the breath as a bridge.  Through the exploration and cultivation of this connection, integration and union are created within ourselves and in the world around us.

If I`m not very flexible can I still do yoga?

Yes. In fact, it would be great for you to do yoga.  Yoga is for everyone!  This being said, each of us needs to know our limits. Develop body awareness, have patience with yourself and honor your limits.  Some people go further than others, but going further does not make a pose better.  In each yoga pose, work for balance, support, extension and symmetry.  You will also work on developing the quality of your attention.  Anyone can strive for that, flexible or not. Yoga is about much more than flexibility.  It addresses strength, stamina and concentration; it helps reduce stress, improves circulation and is a lot of fun, too!

What are the benefits of the yoga postures?

On a physical level, yoga postures stimulate the glands, organs, muscles and nerves in a way that traditional exercise cannot.  The poses are designed to help all the systems of the body function optimally.  Symptoms of stress, like poor sleep, fatigue, muscle spasms, anxiety and indigestion are greatly reduced.  Through consistent yoga practice, the postures can have a profound impact on the inner dimensions of life, establishing deep calm, concentration, emotional stability and confidence.  Yoga contributes to your health in all ways: balance, poise, a stronger immune system, mental equanimity, restoration, inner strength and more.

Does yoga help relieve stress?

Yes. Yoga is one of the best ways to reduce stress and you do it on your own--without any pills!  Yoga teaches you how to relax, and that is something we all need to know how to do. 

Since stress and tension cause the body to tighten up, they can literally block off a healthy energy flow.  When tension accumulates it can eventually be experienced as discomfort, or pain, and sometimes disease. In yoga, you learn to use the poses, the breath and positive thoughts to open every constricted area of the body and mind.  As the body relaxes and opens, the mind becomes calmer and less busy. With consistent practice this ability becomes a part of your everyday life.

How often can I do yoga?

You can do yoga as often as your body wants to, literally.  You can do it twice a day or once-a-month.  A good rule of thumb is what makes your body feel good.  If you find that you are not advancing in your practice, and each time it feels like you are starting over, consider doing yoga more frequently.

What to wear?

 Wear comfortable clothing, but not the plastic pants that make so much noise, better to wear cotton.  We leave our shoes at the entranceway, no shoes on the yoga area.  When wearing shorts select styles that are not real loose legged.  In the winter we suggest people wear a sweater, or a sweatshirt, over a t-shirt so that you can take the sweater off when we`re moving around more and have it to put on when we are more still.