Yoga is a form of exercise that uses slow movements and stretching. It is good for increasing flexibility, increasing balance, relieving stress and relaxing. The classical techniques of Yoga date back more than 5,000 years. In ancient times, the desire for greater personal freedom, health and long life, and heightened self-understanding gave birth to this system of physical and mental exercise. Since then Yoga has become a popular practice throughout the world. The word Yoga means to join or yoke together," and it brings the body and mind together into one harmonious experience. As you exercise, you meditate on what your body is feeling and try to be one with the universe. The whole system of Yoga is built on three main structures: exercise, breathing, and meditation. The exercises of Yoga are designed to put pressure on the glandular systems of the body, which increases its efficiency and total health. The body is looked upon as the primary instrument that enables us to work and evolve in the world. A Yoga student treats their body with great care and respect. Breathing techniques are based on the concept that breath is the source of life in the body. The Yoga student gently increases breath control to improve the health and function of both body and mind. These two systems of exercise and breathing then prepare the body and mind for meditation. The student finds an easy approach to a quiet mind that allows silence and healing from everyday stress. Regular daily practice of all three parts of Yoga produces a clear, bright mind and a strong, capable body. Yoga (Brief Description) Yoga is a form of exercise that uses slow movements and stretching. It is good for increasing flexibility and strength, increasing balance, relieving stress, relaxing the mind and body. The instructor will work with you and customize your session for what you need! Benefits of Yoga Stress Relief: The practice of yoga has been shown to reduce the physical effects of stress on the body. The body responds to stress through a fight-or-flight response, which is a combination of the sympathetic nervous system and hormonal pathways activating and releasing cortisol - the stress hormone - from the adrenal glands. Cortisol is often used to measure the stress response. Yoga practice has proven to reduce the levels of cortisol. Most yoga classes end with savasana, a relaxation pose, which further reduces the experience of stress. Pain Relief: Studies have shown 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. Better Breathing: Yoga includes breathing practices known as pranayama, which can be effective for reducing our stress response, improving lung function and encouraging relaxation. Many pranayamas emphasize slowing and deepening the breath, which activates the body's parasympathetic system, or relaxation response. By changing our pattern of breathing, we can significantly affect our body's experience of and response to stress. This may be one of the most profound lessons we can learn from our yoga practice. Flexibility: Yoga can improve flexibility and mobility, as well as, increase range of motion. Over time, the ligaments, tendons, and muscles lengthen, increasing elasticity. Increased Strength: Yoga asanas use every muscle in the body, increasing strength literally from head to toe. A regular yoga practice can also relieve muscular tension throughout the whole body. Weight management: While most of the evidence for the effects of yoga on weight loss is anecdotal or experiential, yoga teachers, students and practitioners across the country find that yoga helps to support weight loss. Many teachers specialize in yoga programs that promote weight management and find that even gentle yoga practices help support weight loss. People do not have to practice the most vigorous forms of yoga to lose weight. Yoga encourages development of a positive self-image as more attention is paid to nutrition and the body as a whole. A study from the Journal of Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine found that regular yoga practice was associated with less age-related weight gain. Improved circulation: Yoga helps to improve circulation by efficiently moving oxygenated blood to the body's cells. Cardiovascular Conditioning: Even a gentle yoga practice can provide cardiovascular benefits by lowering resting heart rate, increasing endurance and improving oxygen uptake during exercise. Presence: Yoga connects us with the present moment. The more we practice, the more aware we become of our surroundings and the world around us. It opens the way to improved concentration, coordination, reaction time and memory. Inner peace: The meditative effects of a consistent yoga practice help many cultivate inner peace and calm. Types of Yoga Meditative Yoga - Beginners: Learn gentle yoga where deep, relaxing breathing is combined with meditative, easy-to-do yoga poses. This is a wonderful class for you if you are new to yoga, or if you wish to let go of stress, tension and tightness by slowly moving into restorative yoga poses. Take this class to more deeply connect with your own deep center of peace. Flowing Yoga - Beginners: This introduction to yoga class will help those of you who are new to yoga, or if you wish to learn an easy-to-do yoga routine. You will learn yoga postures, breathing, and how to link the postures together in a flowing way. This is come as you are" yoga to relax and let go of stress as your body transforms from stiff and tense to limber and toned. Power Yoga - Any Level: Learn fun Power Yoga routines that dramatically improve flexibility, balance, strength, endurance, and mind/body integration. Combine deep yoga breathing, muscle strengthening movement and cool balancing poses. Like other class members, you'll discover yoga sequences that can lead you into a deeper level of your yoga practice... and into a more profound understanding of yourself. |