Yoga, a discipline for all of us!

Yoga has become a popular form of exercise. In fact, there are more types of yoga than most of us will get to try. I prefer to consider yoga as a discipline rather than exercise which, at its best combines stretching, postural alignment, body awareness and mediation techniques. Yoga practices do include a type of strength training, mostly isometric, that when practiced correctly, will increase functional strength..

When practiced safely (as is important with any exercise), Yoga can be a great vehicle for improving our flexibility, coordination, balance, and most importantly, we can use it as a great stress management tool. Many of the techniques practiced in Yoga such as deep breathing, can be taken "on the road" and practiced during a stressful day. I always recommend to my clients to take a " time-out" (not just for children) when stress hits, so if we practice a yoga position using its breathing techniques (for even 3 minutes), we can go a long way to bring our heightened stress responses down (responses such as increased blood pressure, heart rate, etc.). Let's also remember that, as our emotions rise, our cognitive function declines, so a quick time out might help us to think better too! Here then, are a few tips whether we're just beginning, or we've have been practicing for some time.

Let's look for a class that is an appropriate level for our ability. We can speak with the instructor before the class starts, and we should especially if we are a beginner. An instructor will more likely monitor us if we mention that we're just learning.

Get a physician's approval if we're pregnant, or have or have had any injuries including orthopedic including minor ones or if we have High Blood Pressure (this particularly applies to a type of yoga given in a room with high temperatures, or during static poses), arthritis; we're just starting to exercise (especially if we're over 45) or if we have any other medical concerns. We might need special instructions if we fall into any of these categories. Let's discuss it with the instructor as well.

Start slowly. Let's start with the easiest poses to allow our body time to warm up.

Not bounce or jerk into the stretches as this may cause an injury.

Not hold our breath during any poses even if the pose is to be held for only for a few seconds.

Let's trust our instinct. If the position is too difficult, or does not feel right, let's question it or not do it. We are not ballerinas and we do not need to bring our toes to our ears, for example. All our joints have a "range of motion". This means that there is a healthy limit to which they and their connecting muscles can be stretched. More is not necessarily better.

Okay, now that we're ready, let's use yoga to learn some stress reduction breathing techniques, improve our flexibility (most of us don't stretch enough), while we learn to connect our body and mind in a quiet peaceful environment. Let's even yoga for a 2 or 3 minute time out at the office when the "you know what", hits the fan (even if we decide not to continue taking classes). Our bodies and minds will function a lot better with a little less stress.

Here's to Yoga, a Discipline for All of Us!

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