Yoga Frequently Asked Questions
Answering some of the most common questions from yoga beginners.*
Who can practice yoga?
The beauty about yoga is that it is available to anyone, regardless of their age, gender, or physical limitations. Yoga is a deeply personal practice that is based on the concept of “being in the present moment”. It is a practice without judgment of any kind, and without competition.
"Yoga is for everybody and every body"
Do I have to be flexible?
No, you don’t have to be flexible to do yoga… It’s an urban myth that people who are tight can't do yoga. Yoga isn’t just stretching its extremely toning, calming, meditative, spiritual, healing and opening. Flexibility is only one aspect of it. Once you practice yoga for a period of time naturally you will gain flexibility with a myriad of other benefits.
Is yoga for women only?
In the old days in India yoga was almost only for men. Yoga then was meditation, controlling the body and the mind, performing rituals that would bring the yogis closer to the gods and give super powers to gain immortality. Women were not allowed to practice yoga. Or, only very rarely. Later, also asana practice, which became popular in the Middle Ages, was almost only practiced by a militarized yogic order, Nath yogis, who were mostly men. Almost all the great teachers were men and many refused to have women as their students. About at the same time as yoga became popular in the west, indian women started to practice and some even teach yoga.
When yoga was introduced to us here in the western part of the world in the late 1890s and when it really started to bloom in the 1950s and 1970s, somehow women found it appealing. There are many theories why. One is, that at that time women were mostly housewives who had time. Another theory is that meditating, turning inside and practicing self-reflection was something, that was considered too feminine for western men to practice, since men were taught to focus their energies outwards. Hence, asana practice, which sadly in the West has become the Yoga, even though it is only a small part of the whole philosophy, was not considered a real work-out. We have to remember that there is also a cultural difference going on here: West vs. East.
It is true that even today, when you go to a modern yoga class, the majority of students are women. Also, the majority of yoga teachers are women. But, the poses are not made for women only. Some poses are easier for women, especially poses which demand flexibility, since women tend to be more flexible than men, but not always! Some poses are easier for men, like arm balances, since men often are stronger than women, but not always! Then again, you practice the poses that are a challenge for you, to become more flexible or/and stronger and at the same time to get to know, what are you really made of and who you really are.
So, you don’t need to modify a pose, because you are a man, but because your hamstrings are tight or just to get a better feeling in the pose. If you really feel uncomfortable practicing with a woman and you live in an area, where there are yoga studios, find a public class, which is taught by a male teacher. There are also yoga classes specifically only for men. Also, you can find classes by male teachers online, if you just want to see how a yoga class by a man is like.
Yoga truly is for everyone: for women, for men, for children, for young people, for old people… ― By Anu Visuri
What is Hatha Yoga?
“HA” means sun and “THA” means moon. Branches of the yoga practice that involve physical exercise, breathing practices, and movement. These exercises are designed to have a salutary effect on posture, flexibility, and strength and are intended ultimately to prepare the body to remain still for long periods of meditation.
What is Ashtanga Yoga?
Patanjali's eight-limbed path, also called Raja Yoga. This yoga contains or should contain eight components: morality; ethics; posture; breath control; sense control; concentration; meditation; absorption. Also, the "brand" name for the style of yoga developed and taught by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois* with a set sequence of yoga postures that take a student from A-Z in Asana.
* This teacher, despite having developed this important method, is not a reference as a spiritual teacher for me, due to the many accusations of sexual harassment committed by him.
What is Vinyasa or Power Yoga?
Power yoga is a Vinyasa style of yoga in which one pose is linked to the next by breath (flow). It is a vigorous class and often modeled after poses in Ashtanga Yoga. The only difference between the two modalities is Power Yoga is more body-focused while Vinyasa is more breath-focused.
What is Iyengar Yoga?
Iyengar Yoga, created by B. K. S. Iyengar, is a form of yoga known for its use of props, such as belts and blocks, as aids in performing asanas (postures). This style of yoga is extremely alignment based and the asanas are often practiced individually.
What is Yin and Restorative Yoga?
Both styles are a branch of Hatha Yoga which balance the right and left sides of our bodies. The main difference is that in a Restorative Yoga class the practitioner is asked to be 100% comfortable. In a Yin Yoga class discomfort is welcome.
In Yin Yoga props can be used or not it is up to the teacher and Yin Yoga is not necessarily soft as it can be quite challenging. Introduced by Paul Grilley in the late 1980s, Yin Yoga is based on the ancient, Taoist concepts of yin and yang, the opposite and complementary principles in nature. It works synergistically with the principles of traditional Chinese medicine to shift ‘Chi’ or 'Qi' through the body. In Hatha Yoga, the Sanskrit word for 'Chi' is ‘Prana.’ The word 'Prana' in English means life force. All Yoga works with life force, but Yin Yoga works with the bones, ligaments, joints and fascial network as well. Once in the asana, the practitioner is asked to stay in this stillness and breathe for two minutes and sometimes up to ten minutes. You will practice a lot less poses in the same amount of time as a more general yoga class. Although Yin is a passive style of yoga, the length of time in postures combined with the intensity of sensations, make this practice challenging. It is deceptively powerful. When the body begins to unravel and the mind begins to still, a real sense of peace occurs. It is the permission to let go of whatever the practitioner is holding on to that makes this yoga one of the most popular styles today.
In Restorative Yoga, props are always used and soft is more often the way to practice. Restorative Yoga is perfect for people recovering from illness or injury as lots of props are offered and the poses are not super challenging. Based on the teachings of the late B.K.S Iyengar, Restorative Yoga at its core is a practice of passive healing. It is intended to carry the student into a deep state of relaxation by completely supporting the body in propped-up asanas. These props equal release and therefore allow the practitioner to surrender completely. When practicing Restorative Yoga the physical sensations are minimal as the body finds space to gently surrender and soften into the support of the props.
What does Asana mean?
Asana is the physical practice of yoga poses. In addition to referring broadly to the physical aspect of yoga, asana can also be used to describe a single pose. Asana is traditionally defined as a “seat.” Most commonly, it is the seated posture used for meditation. More typically now in yoga, the term is used for any physical posture of Hatha yoga. It is the third limb of Patanjali’s eightfold path of Ashtanga, following after the Yamas and Niyamas (the ethical precepts set forth in Patanjali's Yoga Sutras as the first and second of the eight limbs of yoga).
What does Pranayama mean?
Pranayama is the conscious awareness of breath: the life force that both energizes and relaxes the body. The term is derived from the Sanskrit, "prana", meaning "life force," and "ayama", meaning "extension."
Pranayama is an integral part of yoga, is the fourth aspect, or "limb" of the spiritual Ashtanga yoga practice. The controlled breathing enables both the rhythm of performing yoga poses and relaxing the mind for meditation.
What does OM mean?
According to the ancient Hindu and yogic texts, practicing Om yoga connects the yogi with the Supreme Being who controls prana, or life force. Chanting Om promotes peace and serenity.
In a yoga setting, the chanting of Om at the beginning of class ushers practitioners into the time and space that is about to be spent on the mat or in meditation. Likewise, an Om at the end of class signifies that your physical practice has ended and it is time to reenter society.
Chanting with a group of people also serves to unify the group and create a sense of community. As you feel the vibration of the chant and lose the sound of your own voice among those of your classmates, it's possible to feel at one with other people and even with the Universe.
What does Namaste mean?
Namaste is an Indian gesture of greeting one another. Wherever they are, when Hindus meet people they know or strangers with whom they want to initiate a conversation, "namaste" is the customary courtesy greeting. It is often used as a salutation to end an encounter as well.
Namaste is not a superficial gesture or a mere word, it is a way of showing respect and that you are equal to one another. It is used with all people one meets, from young and old to friends and strangers. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Though it has its origins in India, Namaste is now known and used throughout the world. Much of this has been due to its use in yoga. Students will often bow in respect to their teacher and say "Namaste" at the end of a class.
Because of its global usage, Namaste has many interpretations. In general, the word tends to be defined as some derivation of, "The divine in me bows to the divine in you." This spiritual connection comes from its Indian roots.
In Sanskrit, the word is "Namah" (to bow) and "te" (you), meaning “I bow to you.” In, other words, "greetings, salutations, or prostration to you."
Is Yoga a religion?
Yoga is a philosophy, not a religion, though it does have a spiritual component. You do not need to be religious to practice. It has been practiced by individuals of widely differing beliefs and any and all people can practice. In order to practice, you only need to believe in the possibility that we can transform ourselves, that there is always more to learn, and that there is a better way to approach life than the old habits that tie us down. Yoga seeks to put us in touch with our spiritual core —our innermost nature— that which or who we truly are.
Why do we end yoga classes in Savasana?
Savasana, also known as Corpse Pose or Final Relaxation Pose, is an essential part of every yoga practice. It’s that relaxation time that synthesizes a well-rounded Asana practice. Some reasons why we do Savasana at the end of classes:
To Rest
For some yogis, savasana is their favorite pose. With all the strenuous asanas of yoga practice complete, it’s time to rest. It feels good to soak up all the benefits of our physical practice. It allows our body and mind to integrate and to drop into that blissful sensation that yoga gives us. By practicing corpse pose, we’re able to lengthen those feelings of relaxation, rather than jumping off our yoga mat as soon as we’re done and rushing back into the whirlwind of our busy lives.
To Practice Pratyahara
Patanjali teaches us that pratyahara, one of The Eight Limbs of Yoga, is a necessary step along the journey to enlightenment. Meditation is one way to practice pratyahara, or sense withdrawal, and so is savasana. When we move inward, we allow space for our intuition to speak to us. We allow space for deep insights to arise and space for our bodies to fall into the earth, getting deeply grounded. This grounding takes place as we drop back into our body and let the chatter of our mind find stillness.
To Reset Our Nervous System
As we lie in corpse pose, our nervous system has time to reset. It gets a chance to be calmed and soothed, allowing our body’s innate healing mechanisms to kick in. Restoration, rejuvenation and recovery all take place – essential for maintaining a healthy body and mind post-workout.
To Energize
What’s more, savasana gives you energy. This is important as our energy tends to get drained by numerous things throughout the day and sometimes even when we sleep. The more you practice savasana, the more energy you’ll have.
If you find yourself wanting to get up after your home yoga practice, or skip out early as your teacher guides the class into savasana, remember its benefits and that the more you allow yourself to let it ground you, the more you’ll fall in love with it.
Good practice for you! Namaste🙏
*All information on this page has been extracted from different sources on the internet.
If you have other questions, please feel free to contact me.