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| WHAT IS YOGA? |
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The word Yoga comes from Indian philosophy, it literally means union, and in this context refers to the union of the individual's soul with the universal. |
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Yoga is an ancient philosophy of life as well as a system of exercises that encourages the union of mind, body, and spirit. In the words of Patanjali, author of the Yoga Sutras, "yoga is the ability to focus the mind on a single point without distraction." Yoga is a physical discipline; it uses the body and breathing to develop self-awareness and mental clarity. |
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| Q1. IS YOGA SAFE? |
Yoga is a safe mode of exercise. Where other forms of exercise might put a strain on your heart, muscles and joints, yoga, practiced properly (with an awareness of your physical limitations), is a completely harmless form of exercise. |
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| Q2. WHAT PREPARATORY STEPS DO I NEED TO TAKE UP BEFORE STARTING PRACTICE? |
| It is essential to follow some preparatory rather precautionary steps before you start practicing: |
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Study each asana properly before practicing it. |
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Follow the breathing instructions. |
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Do not hold your breath before attaining your final posture. |
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| Q3. CAN YOGA BE BAD IF DONE WRONGLY ? |
Yes, if done wrongly, yoga can have a bad effect. In any type of exercise you can get injured, that's just the nature of the body. Yoga is no exception to this rule, and therefore considerable emphasis should be placed on practicing safely. Most injuries from practicing hatha yoga come from either a reckless, overeager student who wants to "get really deep into that pose", or a student who is simply unaware of how the body works, and therefore how it should be treated. Practicing asanas with little to no attention on the precise structural position of the joints is sketchy. Every asana, done correctly, is therapeutic. |
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| Q4. WHAT STEPS SHOULD I TAKE TO PREVENT ANY INJURY ? |
| In order to minimize the risk of getting injured while practicing yoga, one should take the following steps: |
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Choose poses that seem appropriate to your mood and energy level. |
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Breathe evenly and slowly through your nose throughout the postures. |
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Never rush in and out of a posture, take your time to move softly and smoothly to the next stage. |
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Never strain in a pose; if it hurts, just stop. |
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Do inform your instructor about your injuries and medical conditions. |
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| Q5. DON'TS OF YOGA |
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