6 Common Yoga Questions (and Answers)

What is Yoga?
Yoga is a very old way of life that came from India that encourages personal health, spirituality and wellness. It doesn’t clash with any religion but does have an influence on our spiritual path. Hatha based or alignment Yoga has been around for approximately 5000 years. More and more medical practitioners and therapists are using Yoga as a remedy for many kinds of poor health conditions. The rewards of Yoga practice are numerous and consist of increased strength and flexibility, cardiovascular vigor, healing injuries, produces mental clarity and emotional balance.
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To begin practice you need discipline, concentration and attentive breathing. The effect of serious Yoga practice is a union of mind, body and spirit. No matter your age, knowledge, body shape, or physical skills,you can implement a Yoga program.

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. 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. At the heart is the openness to see we have not yet tapped into our highest potential as human beings. Yoga seeks to put us in touch with our spiritual core; that which who we truly are.

How is yoga different from stretching?
The aim of yoga is body awareness, and internalization of the awareness. In the very beginning, yoga was not about the body, asanas were practiced only as a tool of moving meditation.
Today, asanas, flexibility, stretching and technique seems much more important in the practice, but one should never forget the true purpose of yoga. Yoga is more than a stretching, its ideal for your mind, body, and spirit.

Should I practice Yoga?
Anyone can practice yoga; from athletes to runners, the flexible, the not so flexible, young, old and everyone in-between. Yoga requires the perfect positioning of your body; as you hold the poses you develop physical strength and stabilize your emotional and mental condition. This does not happen overnight, but when you practice daily you will begin to see results and any health problems you may have had will soon dissipate.
If your long term goal is to reclaim your energy, health and dynamism, then yoga is for you. Yoga exercise is a perfectly balanced program that can be started by anyone from age 8 to 80. Your practice can be made more challenging as you progress or take it easy on days which you are fatigued.

Why do I hear people saying “Om”?
OM is said to be the sound of the universe. It is a symbol of our connection to all living things and beings. It is a way to seal in the lessons of the yoga class. It is however, quite new to some students, and you not required to participate.

Why should I practice yoga?
There are so many benefits of practicing yoga. Here are just a few:
 

• Improve and maintain the health of muscles, joints and organs
• Keep your mind healthy
• Get a better night’s sleep
• Improve performance and prevent injuries in sports
• Prevent conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and auto-immune disorders
• Increase your happiness and well-being

 
Yoga is a practice that is a physical exercise, helping improve toning, stamina, posture, strength, balance and flexibility, as well as a discipline that helps you de-stress, relax, feel healthier and more energetic.

No matter why you are interested in getting started with a Yoga practice, you will certainly gain self-control, understand the breathing techniques and the physical exercise you get while practicing Yoga.