What is Yoga?

Yoga is a generic word and means union. It is often interpreted as the union of mind, body and soul, and can provide perfect harmony and balance.

There are four main forms of yoga, Karma Yoga ~ Selfless service, Bhakti Yoga ~ Yoga through devotion, Jnana Yoga ~ Knowledge or wisdom, and Raja Yoga ~ Royal path.

The Royal Path is made up of various steps:

*yama (with five abstinences, e.g. ahimsa ~ to not cause pain)
* niyama (with five observances, e.g. saucha ~ purity of thought, word and deed)
* Asana (seated posture ~ usually translated as posture)
* Pranayama (the practice of breath awareness)
* Pratyahara (the practice of withdrawal of the senses)
* Dharana (the practice of concentration)
* Dhyana (effortless meditation)
* Samadhi (enlightenment)

In the West when we think of yoga, we usually think of physical yoga, usually called Hatha yoga. This is actually a combination of postures, breathing and some form of meditation or focusing.

There are different schools of hatha yoga including Iyengar, Ashtanga, Bikram, viniyoga, dru etc. You can find our more about the different schools below.

What is a Yoga session like?

At most yoga classes you will need to where loose comfortable clothing and will need to take or borrow a mat. The teacher will want to talk to you before the class to find out if you have any injuries of illnesses that may effect which postures you can do. Your teacher will instruct you in the various postures. Most people find that some postures are easier than others and that they gain in both flexability and strenght with practice. As with any exercise its also a good idea to take a bottle of water with you.

In Iyengar yoga classes you will make use of blocks, belts etc. to help you get the most from postures that you are not yet supple enough to hold unaided. Some teachers will work a lot with the breath, some will include meditation and breathing exercises, some will include advice about diet and lifestyle. It is worth trying a number of different classes to find a style that suits you.

What are the benefits of Yoga?

Yoga improves both the strength and flexibility of the body. It works on the muscles, tendons and ligaments, but also on all the organs of the body. Yoga also helps to still the mind, reduce stress, lower blood pressure, boost the immune system etc. Yoga will help to improve your general health and can also help with specific ailments. Some yoga teachers offer one to one classes to help those who have particular health problems.

Yoga Articles

Read the following Yoga articles on this site.

Yoga, The Missing Link - a personal story of a life changing moment by Janine Lear

Why Do Yoga? by Subash Rao (yoga teacher)

Mind the Gap by Ruth White (yoga Instructor)

The Healing Power of Yoga by Ruth White (yoga Instructor)

Find a Class/Teacher

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Yoga Links

http://www.bwy.org.uk The British Wheel of Yoga
http://www.healthandyoga.com/index.html Lots of information about yoga
http://www.iyengar-yoga.com/iyengaryoga/ Find out more about Iyengar yoga
http://www.iyengaryoga.org.uk/ Iyengar Association of Great Britain
http://www.ashtanga.com/html/background.html Find out more about Ashtanga Yoga
http://druyoga.com/ Find out more about Dru Yoga
a2zyoga.com A practical and inspirational site for anyone who wants to promote harmony and well-being in their life with yoga. Find the A2Z of Yoga over here.

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