New Students

10 Reasons to do Yoga, By Yoga Alliance

1. STRESS RELIEF: Yoga reduces the physical effects of stress on the body. By encouraging relaxation, yoga helps to lower the levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Related benefits include lowering blood pressure and heart rate, improving digestion and boosting the immune system as well as easing symptoms of conditions such as anxiety, depression, fatigue, asthma and insomnia.

2. PAIN RELIEF: Yoga can ease pain. Studies have demonstrated that practicing yoga asanas (postures), meditation or a combination of the two, reduced pain for people with conditions such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, auto-immune diseases and hypertension as well as arthritis, back and neck pain, and other chronic conditions. Some practitioners report that even emotional pain can be eased through the practice of yoga.

3. BETTER BREATHING: Yoga teaches people to take slower, deeper breaths. This helps to improve lung function, trigger the body’s relaxation response and increase the amount of oxygen available to the body.

4. FLEXIBILITY:Yoga helps to improve flexibility and mobility, increasing range of movement and reducing aches and pains. Many people can’t touch their toes during their first yoga class. Gradually they begin to use the correct muscles. Over time, the ligaments, tendons and muscles lengthen, increasing elasticity, making more poses possible. Yoga also helps to improve body alignment resulting in better posture and helping to relieve back, neck, joint and muscle problems.

5. INCREASED STRENGTH:Yoga asanas (postures) use every muscle in the body, helping to increase strength literally from head to toe. And, while these postures strengthen the body, they also provide an additional benefit of helping to relieve muscular tension.

6. WEIGHT MANAGEMENT: Yoga (even less vigorous styles) can aid weight control efforts by reducing the cortisol levels as well as by burning excess calories and reducing stress. Yoga also encourages healthy eating habits and provides a heightened sense of well being and self esteem.

7. IMPROVED CIRCULATION:Yoga helps to improve circulation and, as a result of various poses, more efficiently moves oxygenated blood to the body’s cells.

8. CARDIOVASCULAR CONDITIONING:Even gentle yoga practice can provide cardiovascular benefits by lowering resting heart rate, increasing endurance and improving oxygen uptake during exercise.

9. FOCUS ON THE PRESENT:Yoga helps us to focus on the present, to become more aware and to help create mind body health. It opens the way to improved concentration, coordination, reaction time and memory.

10. INNER PEACE: The meditative aspect of yoga help many to reach a deeper, more spiritual and more satisfying place in their lives. Many who begin to practice for other reasons have reported this to be a key reason that yoga has become an essential part of their daily lives.

Yoga Essentials and Etiquette

People who are new to yoga and long-time students sometimes need a refresher in etiquette when it comes to yoga. Some of it is common sense. Other tips are not so obvious.

Experiencing a yoga class for the first time or the hundredth time should be enjoyable, stress-free and should include considerate behavior to all other students in the class and teacher.

Tip #1: Make it part of your yoga practice to arrive early. Arrive to class 5-10 minutes early so you can sign in and have time to center, focus and settle your soul. Arriving late can be disruptive to others.

Tip #2: Please turn off mobile phones and pagers. Or better yet, leave anything that makes noise in your vehicle. It is very distracting to hear the beep, ring or vibrate of a cell phone in the middle of yoga practice.

Tip #3: Remove shoes before getting on the mat. Since we walk around barefoot, it is most hygienic if everyone takes off their shoes first thing.

Tip #4:Please don’t come to class if you are ill. It has the potential of making others sick, and coughing, sneezing and blowing your nose can be disruptive.

Tip #5: Do not disrupt meditation by leaving early. If you must leave class early, please do so before final resting pose.

Tip #6: Avoid excessive perfumes and lotions. Many students have allergies and sensitivities.

Tip #7: Speak in hushed tones before and after class. Yoga is a time of inviting stillness, so please respect others by keeping silent as soon as you enter class.

Tip #8: Wear appropriate clothing. This allows full range of body movement.

Tip #9: Use the restroom prior to class.

Tip #10: Come in with an open mind and an open heart. It allows us to become present and may help you become more aware, compassionate, healthier or skillful.

Tip #11: Yoga is non-competitive. Relax and have fun!

Tip #12: If you have a question or something hurts, speak up. Please ask the instructor if you are confused. Most likely, someone else is too!

Tip #13: Set up your space mindfully. Unroll your mat quietly.

Tip #14: Avoid eating anything but a light snack within two hours prior to class.