Yoga is an amazing activity not only for your body but for your mind. It is more than just exercise; it is your chance in the day to sit and be, even if it is for ten minutes. Just getting your paws on your yoga mat can be enough to center yourself and your thoughts.
There is a style of yoga out there to suit every fitness level and age. If you want to become strong then power yoga and vinyasa are amazing for building up a sweat and getting your muscles shaking. Or equally, if you need to nourish your body and joints, restorative, yin yoga will make you feel like you are on cloud 9.
But how do you learn all of this? The best place to gain knowledge is by talking to a yoga teacher!
What To Ask My Yoga Teacher?
Asking questions about yoga as a newbie can be scary! But no question is a silly question.
How will you ever know if you don’t ask? Here are some questions for yoga teachers.
What is Yoga?
Yoga is more than just exercise, it helps you to connect your breath to your body, helping you with your mind, body and spirit. By connecting all of these, you eventually can become in tune with every facet of your body and have control over your mind by engaging through movement.
Yoga is about connecting your mind and body so that you can focus your thoughts and reconnect with yourself.
Over time, emotional and physical tension builds up within our bodies, this may take on the form of tight shoulders, stiff joints and even headaches. Yoga helps you to work through these tensions, kinks, and knots, allowing you to relax on a deeper level.
After a long day, your body may feel fatigued and a tension headache may be building, trust us when we say just twenty minutes on your mat can make you feel energized and relaxed. Deep breathing and gentle stretching help you to release the day and balance out your energy.
Our minds relax as we focus our attention on moving and practicing mindful breathing, this relaxes the body, allowing us to be present.
Can I Practice if I Have a Sore Back/ Knees?
Yes, you can still practice but always be mindful of your body. Not all pain is a good pain! You can always opt for a slow and restorative practice to show your body some much-needed love.
But if you are attending a yoga class, make sure to inform your teacher of any pain or discomfort as they can adjust the postures for you.
However, you can always use our Yoga wheel for flexibility but also support. These are a safe and effective way to massage your spine, whilst also improving your posture, spine health and mobility.
What Are The Benefits?
Yoga is amazing for our mind, body, emotions, and energy. Yoga has the ability to make people happier! By practicing yoga regularly, you can boost your serotonin levels which make us feel good, whilst also helping you to chill out and relax. The overall practice teaches you how to be present and decrease your stress levels.
The physical side of things will keep your muscles supple and strong and through weight-bearing exercise, you can improve your general balance and bone health.
These are just a few of the amazing ways yoga can benefit your life. And the best part is it only takes a few minutes of your time.
We can’t think of a better reason to release inner yogi and get your paws onto one of our sustainable and eco-friendly yoga mats.
What Does “Namaste” Mean?
Namaste means “may the light in you greet the light in me”. The “light” refers to your soul or Higher Self. It is a lovely way to end your practice by taking a moment to honor your practice and everyone around you.
The greeting comes from India where they use it as a daily greeting, it is a way to say you respect someone.
Do I Have to Be Flexible?
Being flexible is great but yoga is so much more than that! It is a great goal to aim for but not necessary to enjoy practicing yoga.
However, yoga classes will have people of all levels, ranging from beginner to advanced. So make sure you are comfortable and in a class where the yoga teacher will accommodate your skill level.
How Do I Know What Type of Yoga Will Be Right for Me?
Yoga at its core is all about connecting with the breath. The movement is secondary. The foundation of your yoga practice is inhaling to expand and exhaling to release.
But if you are looking for something a bit more dynamic then vinyasa yoga is great for flowing through moves and feeling the burn!
However, yin yoga is very restorative where you move slowly through poses and sit in them for periods of time. This helps to promote healing and is great for stiff and sore joints.
Is Yoga Easy To Learn?
Yoga is nothing like going to the gym and lifting weights or going for a run. It is all about listening to your body and doing what feels good.
You can learn how to practice yoga in a variety of ways. You can search for local classes in your area and join a yogi community.
Or you can practice at home, there are loads of amazing videos online. YouTube is an incredible resource to help join the yogi community. There are quality challenges for all levels whether you are a beginner or a seasoned pro, there will be a video and challenge to suit you.
Either way, you will be getting your paws on the mat and nourishing your body through movement and listening to your breath.
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