Yoga for Beginners

Yoga is one of the many ways to achieve a fit and healthy body.  Those who are not fond of going to the gym, does aerobics or weight training might find yoga a wonderful alternative.  Yoga can give you great muscle tone without the tired feeling.

Yoga and its associated practices have been known to combat diseases.  At the same time, it increases your body’s flexibility and increases the lubrication in your ligaments, joints and tendons.

Yoga practitioners also attest that yoga “massages” all body organs by stimulating it.  It is also believed that yoga gives a practitioner a sense of awareness, detoxification, improved blood circulation, anti-aging effects, and energy.

For beginners, however, it can be daunting.  If one is not taking classes and is doing it on his or her own, these tips might help.

1. Get into the spirit.

Remember that yoga is more than just an exercise regimen. It can help you with your personal outlook and attitude towards life.  However, to last longer in the practice and acquire yoga as a lifelong habit, you should start with the right attitude: no ego and an accepting mind, coupled with an open heart.

2. Consider the logistics.

You can practice yoga just about anywhere you want.  However, choose a place that‘s clean, quiet, free of distraction, and has good ventilation.  Wear comfortable and stretchable clothing.  You can opt to wear socks.

There are also people who like to do yoga in the buff; this is fine, and in some circles, encouraged.

For added support and comfort, you might want to use a yoga mat or a blanket.

3. Follow the Empty-Stomach Rule.

It is best to eat nothing two hours before your yoga session and to abstain from drinking fluids 15 minutes from the start of your session.

4. Strike the yoga pose!

There are countless yoga poses, and it would be fruitless to try and do them all in one sitting.  If you are just a beginner, it is best that you avoid the complicated and difficult poses and just stick to the basic and simple ones.

Here are some sample poses you can try.

Sukasana: This is the pose that you see on most yoga books and is a very comfortable pose that helps you meditate.

Knee to Head: This position helps you stretch your hamstrings.

Down Dog: This pose is a great way to strengthen your body while also helping you rest.  It is also a good stretch exercise.

Extended Side Angle Pose: This pose stretches your legs, hamstrings and groin area.  It will also help open the shoulders and chest.

Squat: This opens your groins and hips.

The Staff: This allows you to improve your alignment while also fortifying your legs.

Happy Baby:  This pose helps you rest on your lower back while also stretching your hamstings.

Corpse and Up the Wall Poses:  These restorative positions will help you rest after your workout.

Make sure to consult a yoga professional or research on the Internet for a recommended set of poses you should do and get instructions on how to do them properly.

5. Schedule your session.

A good yoga session does not have a required time period.  You could do yoga for as short as 30 minutes.  Just be sure you allow yourself time for actual exercises, breathing and mediation.

You could do yoga in the morning after you wake up to help revitalize your body and mind, while you can do your meditation and breathing exercises at night to help you rest.

Be sure to warm up first before starting your poses.  After you have sufficiently conditioned your body, you can proceed to do the standing poses, sitting poses, twists, supine poses, balance and inverted poses and then the backbend poses.

After these, you should cool down with the finishing poses.

Yoga Precautions

*      As with any exercise, you should exercise care, when doing yoga.  You should be focused on each movement, carefully moving to attain any position.

*      Do not strain yourself and stop doing a pose if it causes you even mild pain.  You should do yoga for yourself, and as such, you should not compete with anybody.  Remember that the extent and intensity of the stretching you do is secondary only to the technique that you use.

*      Mind your posture.  It is best to do each exercise perfectly, achieving the right posture each time.

*      Execute the poses in order, because each pose is meant to help strengthen and balance various muscle groups.