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Yoga promotes flexibility and muscle strength, and benefits the body in so many other ways, by reducing stress, improving emotional and mental health, and balancing other body functions. Those who begin practicing regular yoga often start because they’ve heard how good it is for health. While it’s true that any practice of yoga is beneficial, it’s even better if you can maximize your success by following several guidelines.

If you are taking formal yoga classes, it helps to arrive a few minutes early so you can get yourself in the right frame of mind before the class kicks off. If you find yourself rushing in at the last moment, it will take that much longer to get into the flow of the class. Ensure you take the time to have a drink of water and use the bathroom, and if you’ve got time, do a few poses or simply sit quietly until the class commences.

Starting a yoga class with a positive intention is a great idea, as it provides an excellent focus for the class. The intention may be something as simple as remaining calm in volatile situations, developing more tolerance and love, enjoying healthy foods, or on making time for spirituality. The intention simply needs to be something which is positive and reflects the spirit of yoga.

If you’re suffering from an injury, or have recently gone through an illness, it’s important that you let your yoga instructor know, as they are able to advise on poses to avoid and may offer alternatives. Those new to yoga should also tell their instructors, who can look out for them and assist with developing the correct poses to avoid strain or injury. Many people are so anxious to progress in their yoga that they inadvertently injure themselves, so it’s important to realize that it will take time. Be patient and work at a level you feel physically comfortable with. The philosophy of yoga is one of healing, so pushing oneself and getting injured really does go against that, and will hinder any success or health benefits.

After your class, take the time to digest what you have learned. Don’t simply rush out, jump back into the speed of life and forget why you attended yoga in the first place. Try and keep the peace of mind you developed in your yoga class, and think over what you learned. When you are a beginner you’ll have a lot to learn and remember, and it will take some time. If you can focus on learning and remembering just one or two new poses per lesson, you’ll find that it won’t take long before you know all the basic poses.

You should attend your yoga class on an empty stomach (it’s a good idea not to eat for at least two hours beforehand), as digestion uses energy and creates lethargy, and cramps and nausea may occur if certain postures are performed too soon after eating (especially those that revolve around the midsection, including twists, and forward bends).

Beginning a yoga class with the correct mindset is one way of maximizing yoga sessions, and so is focusing for the class on a positive intention, which can distract the mind from outside worries. Along with taking the right attitude to your yoga class, it’s just as important to maintain positivity and peace afterwards.

Ana Paula Hernandez is a yoga instructor with over twenty years’ experience in yoga. Ana’s focus in her teaching is getting the basic yoga poses perfected early to provide students’ the right grounding in yoga.

Topics: HEALTH | No Comments »

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