What is yoga?
Yoga goes back thousands of years and originated in India. It is part of a system of well-being that shows you the best way to live – from how to behave (with honesty, kindness and mindfulness), to how to eat (natural foods and not too much!), to how to keep the body and mind healthy.
The body bit is what people know best. Because yoga developed in India, many of the terms used to describe the postures or poses (asana) are Sanskrit. But teachers often use the English translation. So the Triangle pose can also be called Trikonasana. The standing mountain pose is often referred to as Tadasana.
What the postures do is keep the body very healthy. Both on the outside and on the inside. While a pose might be toning up a particular set of muscles, pressure put on different areas of the body mean that internal organs are also being toned (think liver, lungs, heart, kidneys, etc).
Where yoga differs from other forms of exercise is partly in the range of movements. There are forward bends (calming poses), back bends (energising poses), twists (keeping the spine, spinal cord and digestive system healthy) and upside-down (or inverted) poses. The upside-down poses such as headstand and shoulder stand are known as the king or queen of poses because they bring blood to the brain (and refresh the glands in the brain that control hormones). In these poses the head is below the heart, the heart gets a rest. But don't worry! Most classes won't include these poses as they are not for beginners. You can also get the same benefits from easier poses such as downward facing dog, child's pose, hare pose.
As a student learns the poses, they also learn about breathing. Breathing has a huge effect both on body and (more importantly) mind and mood. Oxygen is the main fuel of the body. If you don't get the right amount, it stands to reason that you aren't going to function at your best. And air is free. Make sure you get as much as you can. The breathing aspect of yoga is called pranayama. Not only does it help clear your mind, it also helps maintain a good flow of energy (prana) throughout your body.
Yoga is not a competitive activity. Some people are going to be more bendy than others. Others are going to be stronger. Comparing yourself to others is not helpful. As long as you move and act with the right intention, you are practising yoga.
The body bit is what people know best. Because yoga developed in India, many of the terms used to describe the postures or poses (asana) are Sanskrit. But teachers often use the English translation. So the Triangle pose can also be called Trikonasana. The standing mountain pose is often referred to as Tadasana.
What the postures do is keep the body very healthy. Both on the outside and on the inside. While a pose might be toning up a particular set of muscles, pressure put on different areas of the body mean that internal organs are also being toned (think liver, lungs, heart, kidneys, etc).
Where yoga differs from other forms of exercise is partly in the range of movements. There are forward bends (calming poses), back bends (energising poses), twists (keeping the spine, spinal cord and digestive system healthy) and upside-down (or inverted) poses. The upside-down poses such as headstand and shoulder stand are known as the king or queen of poses because they bring blood to the brain (and refresh the glands in the brain that control hormones). In these poses the head is below the heart, the heart gets a rest. But don't worry! Most classes won't include these poses as they are not for beginners. You can also get the same benefits from easier poses such as downward facing dog, child's pose, hare pose.
As a student learns the poses, they also learn about breathing. Breathing has a huge effect both on body and (more importantly) mind and mood. Oxygen is the main fuel of the body. If you don't get the right amount, it stands to reason that you aren't going to function at your best. And air is free. Make sure you get as much as you can. The breathing aspect of yoga is called pranayama. Not only does it help clear your mind, it also helps maintain a good flow of energy (prana) throughout your body.
Yoga is not a competitive activity. Some people are going to be more bendy than others. Others are going to be stronger. Comparing yourself to others is not helpful. As long as you move and act with the right intention, you are practising yoga.