Frequently Ask Questions (FAQ)

In very simple terms, yoga is a system for bringing balance into your body and mind. It involves the physical practice of yoga postures called asanas, and breathing exercises called pranayama. Yoga also includes meditation, self-enquiry and the study of yoga philosophy.‘Yoga' in the Western world tends to focus mostly on the physical asana practice – the yoga poses. This is a great place to start but there is so much more to discover as you develop your yoga practice.

We have over 20 styles of yoga on EkhartYoga but how do you know which is right for you?Hatha yoga is one of the main forms of yoga and many other yoga styles derive from it, so it's a great place to learn the foundations and names of the poses. My Yoga for Beginners course takes you through the basics and is based on Hatha Yoga. You'll learn how to move and flow with the breath, which will prepare you for other styles of yoga including Vinyasa flow and Ashtanga. These are often more energetic and strong so are good for people looking for a physical challenge. More relaxing forms of yoga include Yin yoga and Restorative.

If you are practicing yoga at home without a teacher you might wonder if you are doing the poses properly at first. It's good to bear in mind from the beginning that our bodies and bone structures are all very different so there isn't just one 'right' way to do a pose. It's about finding out what works for our own bodies. Developing this body awareness takes practice so follow beginners' yoga classes at first for more in-depth extra instructions and variations offered. It's always a good idea to go to a teacher in person as well as online yoga if you can. The main thing to know is that yoga is not meant to hurt - that goes for whether you're at practicing yoga at home on your own or in a class with a teacher. You will probably experience different sensations than you're used to, and you may feel your muscles working, but if you feel any type of 'warning' pain, such as sharpness or pinching, listen to your body and come slowly out of the pose.

Practising yoga has loads of physical benefits: it creates a flexible, toned and strong body and improves breathing, energy and metabolism. Yoga improves circulatory and cardiac health, as well as fitness levels, pain and posture. It also has benefits for your mental health, making you happier, more balanced and emotionally calmer. It helps you relax so you can handle stress better. Yoga encourages self-confidence and helps you to focus your energy.The spiritual benefits of yoga are also key: Yoga teaches you to be aware of what is going on inside and outside of you. Yoga teaches you to be present in your surroundings and open to what is all around – in other words, more mindful.You will feel some benefits immediately, such as the release of physical tension, the body opening and muscles strengthening – the 'feel good' factor that keeps people hooked on yoga. Other benefits depend on how much you practice and every person is different. But most people will feel a positive change after a few weeks, if not before.

Even if you practice once a week, you'll feel the difference. If you can, try to practice two to three times a week but don't let unrealistic expectations stop you from doing shorter practices. 10 or 20 minutes is better than doing nothing at all. In short, do what you can, when you can. Focus on, and be proud of what you do, rather than focusing on what you think you should be doing.

If you're practicing yoga at home you can get started right away without any special equipment or expensive yoga pants. Wear clothes you feel comfortable in that won't restrict your range of motion. A yoga mat will provide some cushioning and help stop your hands from slipping in poses like Downward Facing Dog. For some poses you might find a yoga block or two is helpful – but most of the time you can use something in its place.

Basically, it comes down to whenever you can fit yoga in. The morning is a great time to practice; you might wake up stiff, so opening up your body with some energizing yoga sets you up for the day. In the evening, a more relaxing yoga practice can be a nice way to unwind after work. Some of us are early birds while others are night owls, so experiment with finding your own yoga rhythm and what works for your schedule.

It's better to have a more or less empty stomach during a yoga session, so leave at least two hours between a main meal and yoga. Digestion of food requires energy and when you do yoga straight after a meal, your energy goes to the muscles you're exercising and the body can't digest the food properly. Personally I might have half a banana or a handful of nuts if I feel I'm too hungry to practice, to give me the fuel I need.

Some women prefer to pause their yoga practice when they have their period while others keep going. Many teachers advise not to do inversions such as Headstand, Handstand, Shoulderstand where the head is lower than the heart as they feel they interrupt the downward flow. Strong yoga twists may also be uncomfortable for some women. It really depends on the individual so listen to what your body tells you. For more on this topic, read, Should you practice yoga when you're on your period? If you're interested in finding out more about practising yoga during your cycle, José de Groot has an interesting talk on this subject from a Chinese medicine point of view.

Many people practice yoga as a way to manage their health conditions. There are many different types of classes which suit different health needs and can also be adapted and modified for injuries. However, if you have a medical condition or injury and haven't practiced yoga before, we recommend that you speak to an experienced yoga teacher (or physical therapist with knowledge of yoga) to get advice about any poses or movements you need to avoid.We offer lots of Therapeutic yoga videos on EkhartYoga for specific ailments and body parts. However, if you have a medical condition or injury and haven't practiced yoga before, we recommend that you speak to a medical professional to get advice about any poses or movements you need to avoid.

If you are pregnant, check with your doctor or health professional before starting yoga. If you've never done yoga before, it's generally recommended not to to start during the first three months of pregnancy, since your body isn't used to it. However, if if you're a regular practitioner, you can continue. But there are some poses to avoid, including twists and strong core work.You also need to be aware that during pregnancy and breast feeding the body produces hormones (relaxin) which will make you more flexible, especially in the hips and pelvis. Therefore you will need to work more on maintaining stability in the joints so that you don't overstretch them.

The practice of Yoga includes a very holistic approach to health. It includes practices which focus on the well being of the body, mind and soul. Initially the benefits are very subtle but over a period of time when iy becomes a way of life, the benefits are very obvious.

If by yoga, you mean asanas, then definitely it is not enough to keep you fit. Fitness depends as much on the state of mind as on the state of the body. Thus a well balanced diet, healthy lifestyle, an appropriate yoga routine (asana, pranayama, meditation) and using the knowledge given in the courses can help keep you fit. And doing all these things are very natural and effortless for all of us. That's why in the yogasutras it is said, 'Prayatna shaithilya anantha samapattibhyam. Letting go of the effort and merging with the Divine presence are the two aspects of asana practice. To experience yoga, it is best to learn with a trained teacher and experience the totality of yoga.

When done under proper supervision of a trained yoga teacher, there are no side effects. If at all the effects are only positive.

Just bring yourself, in appropriate clothing and bring a small bottle of water.

Some people wear baggy, loose fitting bottoms or shorts and a t shirt. Other people wear tight, stretchy leggings + tops. The only thing that matters is that you wear comfortable clothes that you can easily move and stretch in. It's good to have clothes that keep you cool when you are active in yoga, but to bring a jumper for relaxation, when the body rapidly cools down. Some people also bring socks and a jumper (maybe even a small blanket) for the relaxation. some additional guidelines are as follows:
* Wear light, comfortable clothing.
* Choose a quiet and peaceful environment.
* Practice barefoot, remove contacts, remove wrist watch and jewelry, and tie up long hair.
* Do some warm-up exercises before asanas.
* Start at the appropriate level. Do not force yourself into difficult postures. Go at your own pace.

All the equipment, including mats, you need for class is provided. If you prefer to bring your own yoga mat that's fine too. If you want to also practice at home then having your own mat is a great idea, they are available from lots of places and I also have ones you can buy like the ones we use in class.

Unlike stretching or other fitness training, yoga is more than just physically working your body. Within the physical practice of yoga we connect the movement of the body to the rhythm of our breath, which helps to focus and relax the mind by directing our attention inward. Yoga can improve your bodies strength, flexibilty and balance, whilst also calming your mind and improving your posture and how you breath.

Meditation (dhyana) is a part of total yoga practice. Yoga is composed of eight basic principles.
* Rules for living in society (Yama)
* Self-restraining rules (Niyama)
* Low physical impact postures (Asana)
* Breathing techniques (Pranayama)
* Detachment of the mind from senses (Pratihara)
* Concentration (Dharana)
* Meditation (Dhyana)
* Complete union with super consciousness (Samadhi)

oga stimulates parasympathetic nervous system (hence relaxing) / Exercise stimulates sympathetic nervous system (hence tiring)
* In yoga, subcortical regions of brain dominate /In exercise cortical regions of brain dominate
* Yoga is anabolic which conserve energy / Exercise is catabolic which is capable of breaking down the energy
* Yoga practices slow dynamic movements / Exercise involves rapid forceful movements
* Yoga practices reduced muscle tension, progressive movements / Exercise involves increased muscle tension
* Low risk of injuring muscles and ligaments / Exercise has a higher risk of injury
* Yoga leads to relatively low caloric consumption / Exercise leads to moderate to high caloric consumption
* In yoga, energizing (breathing is natural or controlled) / Exercise fatiguing (breathing is taxed)
* Yoga is non-competitive, process-oriented / Exercise is commonly competitive, goal-oriented
* In yoga, awareness is internal (focus is on breath and the infinite) / In exercise, awareness is external (focus is on reaching the toes, reaching the finish line, etc.)
* In yoga there are limitless possibilities for growth in self-awareness / In exercise there is generally no aspect of self awareness

Simply put, mindfulness is using meditation to enter the present and work through problems that arise throughout your day. Yoga seeks to strengthen your mind and body, by incorporating meditation and mindfulness into the physical requirements. Mindfulness can be practiced without yoga, but yoga cannot be practiced without mindfulness.

Yoga:
Yoga is union of body ,breath and mind or the conscious mind and sub-conscious mind.Yoga means uniting with the self.
The ultimate aim of yoga is self realization.This is the state in which one is ultimately free from miseries and sufferings of life .This happens when you realize the nature of self that is absolutely pure and non-changing.

Asanas:
Where asanas is part of it to reach that aim.