Below are some questions frequently asked from Beginner to Advanced Yogi's (Male Yoga practitioners) and Yogini's (female Yoga practitioners). Yoga is a continuous and wonderful journey so we are always asking questions and seeking answers. Should you have any questions, contact us.
Q: After praciticing yoga for 6 straight months, I haven't seen any real changes in the muscle tone in my legs. What am I doing wrong?
A: To realize muscle tone in your legs, you may need to incorporate faster paced movements and exert yourself at least 4 times per week. Have you tried a Vinyassa class? Read up on types of yoga for more info on calories burned. Some types of Yoga often require participants to hold positions that mimic seated lunges, two legged seated squats (chair pose), or balancing positions that challenge the quads, hamstrings and calf muscles.
Q: Do I have to close my eyes during yoga?
A: Yoga is really your own experience. If keeping your eyes opens will make you feel comfortable, then by all means keep your eyes open. It is not a requirement. Closing the eyes during yoga hass a calming effect because you physically shut out the distractions around you. It may help you find that focus but again, if it's not working for you, then please do what you need to do in order to gain the best experience.
Q: Do I have to be flexible in order to do yoga?
A: No. Flexibity is not a prerequisite in practicing yoga. True, images of yoga positions that we see on TV, in magazines and tutorials are those of extremely flexible yogi's, but that doesn't mean that every single person in your yoga class is going to be able to bend that way. Yoga tests the limits of your muscles both by flexing them and enlongating them. The unique combination of both functions can improve overall flexibility especially through the hamstrings and groin. But I disagree with any notion that flexibility is a "must have" in order to practice.
Q: How can I feel less self-conscious during class?
A: Try to remember that regardless of how flexible or thin or muscular the person next to you is, that yoga isn't about or practiced for the sole reason of anyone but YOU! As best as you can, realize that Yoga is a very personal experience and one that should make you feel better, not worse about yourself. Now with that said, it's much easier said than done. I suggest using others as your motivation rather than your competition. Realize that someone may be looking at you or your outfit or your figure and wishing they had what you did.
Q: What does research say about Yoga?
A: According to the National Insitutes of Health, Yoga can help reduce stress, lower blood pressure, slow breathing, alter brain waves and assist the heart to work more efficiently. It has been found that people who practice have reduced their dependency on medication with mild to moderate asthma. Improvements in overall backpain have been studied with those improvements lasting several months. Even those with osteoarthritis, experinenced less finger pain after taking yoga classes. There are many ailments that people live with every day, but research has shown that Yoga can in many cases, alleviate them.
