Frequently Asked Questions for Practicing Yoga
- Can I take this course if I’ve had a foot injury?
- Can I safely perform Yoga if I am suffering from disc herniatiion or scoliosis?
- Can you name any benefits from practicing Yoga or taking a Yoga class?
- Is it better to eat before or after a Yoga class?
- What is Yoga?
- If I have an injury can I participate?
- What should be the ideal age to start Yoga?
- How does Yoga help a person cope with stress?
- Will Yoga help me to lose weight?
- Yoga looks intimidating; will I be expected to twist myself into a pretzel like the pictures I see in magazines?
- Will I learn to meditate?
- Is Yoga a religion?
- What kind of clothes should I wear for a Yoga class?
- What is Vinyasa Yoga?
- Am I too old to practice Yoga?
Can I take this course if I’ve had a foot injury?
Every case and every individual’s situation is unique, so we can’t provide a general answer for everyone. For information purposes, below you can find an actual request from someone and our response.
(Q): I had an accident when I was younger and my foot is out of shape and there are some stretches in Yoga that I can not do because my foot is not strong enough. Will this affect my Yoga Training?
(A): Yes, your foot will affect your Yoga training, but with the right Yoga Teacher and medical care, you will be able to work around it.
Podiatric medicine is so diversified and foot ailments come in so many different varieties, that it would be hard for me to give you any specific Yoga advice without more information.
Lastly, tell your doctor you are taking Yoga classes. Your doctor may even know of a helpful Yoga instructor in your area.
Yoga training is much more than Asanas. Asanas are valuable, but they are just a part of Yoga. With modifications to your postures, you should do the best you can, be the best you can be, and see many improvements.
When you find a local Yoga Teacher who has this perspective, you will be in good hands.
Important Note About Health Related Questions
*The advice given is that of a Yoga Teacher. Always consult with your physician for a professional opinion.
Can I safely perform Yoga if I am suffering from disc herniatiion or scoliosis?
Every case and every individual’s situation is unique, so we can’t provide a general answer for everyone. For information purposes, below you can find an actual request from someone and our response.
(Q): My wife is suffering from disc herniation and this pain has caused 15 degree scoliosis. Some doctors has recommended surgery, but physiotherapists do not recommend it and they say just exercise will improve it. She is doing her exercises for 2 months but no improvement is observed. I would appreciate if you help me in this matter.
(A): Thank you for your inquiry. Please understand that my opinion is that of a Yoga Teacher and I have no medical degree. That said – I understand both opinions and both sides of the issue. Sometimes surgery is the only option left, but alternative methods, such as chiropractic medicine and Yoga therapy also have a proven “track record.”
In order to see if this situation can be corrected without surgery or further pain to your wife, you may want to locate a physiotherapist or chiropractic doctor with a Yoga teaching background. This would be someone with a medical background, who specializes realigning the spine, and teaches Yoga.
Since your wife has been in therapy for two months, with no change for the better. It would seem her present exercise routine is not sufficient. It is still possible for her to get relief without surgery.
Another possibility is a Yoga therapist. Yoga therapy improves the quality of life for many people with back problems and Scoliosis, but you need a therapist who will get you results.
Lastly, when it comes to the spine and back pain, there are no guarantees — even with surgery. That is why surgery is your last resort.
Important Note About Health Related Questions
*The advice given is that of a Yoga Teacher. Always consult with your physician for a professional opinion.
Can you name any benefits from practicing Yoga or taking a Yoga class?
Yes, below are “Eleven Benefits You Should Know Before Enrolling in a Yoga Class.”Yoga is a combination of exercise, breathing techniques, and meditation. It has been practiced in Eastern cultures for about 5,000 years and has recently been popularized in Western society. The word Yoga means “union” – as in joining the mind and body into a single harmonious unit. The purpose of Yoga is to create strength, awareness, and harmony in both the mind and body.More than one hundred different types, or schools of Yoga, exist; most sessions are typically composed of breathing exercises, meditation, and Yoga postures (sometimes called asanas) that stretch, flex, and tone various muscle groups.According to the National Center of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), relaxation techniques, such as those found in Yoga, can:
- Lessen chronic pain, such as lower back pain, arthritis, headaches, and carpal tunnel syndrome
- Lower blood pressure
- Lower heart rate
- Lower breathing rate
- Reduce insomnia
Many Yoga practitioners also generally report:
- Higher levels of energy
- Decreased levels of stress and anxiety
- Increased feelings of general well-being
There are so many kinds of Yoga practices, people with movement restrictions or other physical challenges can find a type of Yoga or a Yoga Teacher that meets their needs and abilities.
- Increasing flexibility – Yoga has postures that act upon the various joints of the body including those joints that are never really exercised.
- Increasing Lubrication of the Joints, ligaments and tendons – The well-researched Yoga postures, exercise connective tissue throughout the body.
It has been found that the body, which may have been stiff, starts experiencing “new found” flexibility, even in those parts which have not been consciously worked. How can Yoga classes make this possible? It is here that the research behind Yoga postures and steady practice proves its worth. Seemingly unrelated and “non strenuous” Yoga postures act upon many different parts of the body in an interrelated manner. When a sequence of Yoga postures is practiced, they work in harmony to create enhanced flexibility.
- Massaging of ALL organs of the body – Yoga is possibly the only form of activity which massages all the internal glands and organs of the body in a thorough manner, including those – such as the prostate — that hardly get externally stimulated during our entire lifetime. Yoga acts in a wholesome manner on the various body parts. This stimulation and massage of the internal organs, benefits all of us by preventing disease and providing an “early warning system” at the first possible instance of a likely onset of disease or disorder.
One of the far-reaching benefits of Yoga practice is the sense of inner awareness, that is develops within the practitioner, of an impending health disorder. This in turn enables the Yoga student to take preemptive action.
- Complete Detoxification – By gently stretching muscles and joints, as well as, massaging the various organs, Yoga ensures the optimum blood supply to various parts of the body. This helps in flushing toxins out of every part of the body, as well as, providing nourishment. This leads to benefits such as delayed aging, energy and a remarkable zest for life.
- Excellent Toning of the Muscles – Muscles that have become flaccid, weak or lazy, are stimulated repeatedly to shed excess body fat.
Harness the power of Yoga and gain the 3-fold advantage of reducing stress for life, inner happiness, and complete fitness.
All of these enormous benefits of Yoga are just a “side effect” of this powerful practice. What Yoga does is harmonize the mind with the body and this — results in real quantum benefits. It is now known that the will of the mind has enabled people to achieve extraordinary physical feats; which proves, beyond doubt, the mind and body connection.Yoga through meditation works remarkably to achieve this harmony and helps the mind work in sync with the body.
How often do we find that we are unable to perform our activities properly and in a satisfying manner because of the confusions and conflicts in our mind weigh down heavily upon us? Moreover, stress which in reality is the #1 killer affecting all parts of our physical, endocrine, and emotional systems, can be corrected through the practice of Yoga meditation and Yoga postures. The meditative practices of Yoga help in achieving an emotional balance through detachment.
What this means is that meditation during Yoga practice creates conditions, where you are less affected by the happenings around you.This in turn creates a remarkable calmness and a positive outlook, which also has tremendous benefits on the physical health of the body.These are just some of the tangible benefits that can be achieved through regular Yoga practice.Having seen this, it is educative to note why the ancient Yogis performed Yoga and the interdependence of Yoga and meditation.
The ultimate goal of the Yogis was “self realization” or “enlightenment,” a concept, which perhaps sounds complicated.Enlightenment is simply, living in and making the most of the present moment. Appreciating life and making the most of it.What is interesting is that for this Yogis, past and present, meditated for days, weeks and much more. This required tremendous physical fitness, energy and the capacity to subsist on next to nothing. Yoga postures or “asanas” provided practitioners the fullest fitness with the least metabolism, and stress.Meditation in turn provided them the strength and will to perform these asanas effectively – a virtuous cycle of cause and effect. This mutually symbiotic relationship between asanas and meditation helped them on their path to a better quality life.
Health Related Questions
Important Note About Health Related Questions
*The advice given is that of a Yoga Teacher. Always consult with your physician for a professional opinion.
Is it better to eat before or after a Yoga class?
Yoga must be practiced with an empty stomach, bowels and bladder. Students should wait 3-4 hours after a large meal before practicing Yoga. At least 2 hours after a light meal (fruit, rice, yogurt, toast, or cup of tea).
My doctor referred me to your Yoga center in Attleboro, Massachusetts. Why can’t I just practice exercises at home?
We do appreciate the medical referrals we receive from physicians and chiropractors in the Greater Attleboro, MA and Providence, RI areas.You could practice Yoga at home, but you might want to learn the basics of Yoga practice with us, first, in order to practice safely at home, later. You should also have a positive frame of mind during your Yoga practice in order to get the most out of it. That level of positive mind-set can be easily attained in a Yoga class setting.
What is Yoga?
Yoga means union of body, mind and spirit. Hatha Yoga is the physical form of Yoga designed to bring balance and well-being into your life. It is the perfect lifetime fitness program and totally different from any other kind of exercise.We stretch the body from the bone to the skin and from the head to the toes, which helps to quiet the mind, and energize the body. The movements of Yoga reach deep into the tissue, relieve tension and stress, revitalize and assist in overcoming many physical and emotional problems, such as sciatica, back and neck problems, and depression.
If I have an injury can I participate?
Yes, Yoga is therapeutic. Sore backs, necks, knees, and other injuries can be addressed in a Yoga class. Yoga is also helpful and therapeutic for ailments such as elevated blood pressure, sciatica, and arthritis. You should inform your teacher prior to a Yoga class if you have any injuries or physical issues.
What should be the ideal age to start Yoga?
There is no ideal age for learning Yoga and there are many styles of Yoga, which focus on the many different aspects within such as Diet, Hygiene, Asanas (postures) for strength, Asanas for flexibility, Asanas for better health, Pranayama, Relaxation, Meditation, Enlightenment, and much more. The fact is; anyone who can breathe can practice Yoga. Older Yoga students will be more familiar with their bodies and less prone to injure themselves, due to competitive thinking. Younger students are usually more flexible than older students, but there is much more to Yoga than flexibility.
How does Yoga help a person cope with stress?
Books have been written on this very subject and I would suggest reading one if you are looking for the big picture. In short, Hatha Yoga has a combination of postures, breathing techniques, relaxation techniques, and meditation – which help to release the muscular tension created during our daily lives. This muscular tension creates head aches, back aches, hypertension, chest pains, and many more ailments. Yoga is a natural way to help your body and mind deal with this daily tension, which becomes stress.
Will Yoga help me to lose weight?
Maybe, Hatha Yoga will definitely develop muscle tone without adding size. Your practice can be gentle or vigorous depending on the pace of the class and how often you workout.
Yoga looks intimidating; will I be expected to twist myself into a pretzel like the pictures I see in magazines?
No, Yoga practice is a gradual process and everyone has limits. However, with steady practice, you will amaze yourself in regards to improvements in strength, range of motion, and balance.
Yoga looks intimidating; will I be expected to twist myself into a pretzel like the pictures I see in magazines?
No, Yoga practice is a gradual process and everyone has limits. However, with steady practice, you will amaze yourself in regards to improvements in strength, range of motion, and balance.
Will I learn to meditate?
Yes, meditation is an important part of Yoga practice. With meditation as part of the curriculum, Yoga is a very complete health maintenance system for mind and body.
Is Yoga a religion?
No, although there are some Yoga schools that mix the two: Yoga is not a religion. Yoga is a way of life. At Aura Wellness Center you can be guaranteed that your religious beliefs will not be infringed upon.
What kind of clothes should I wear for a Yoga class?
Any clothes that you find comfortable to stretch in are fine. Some Yoga practitioners prefer loose clothing likesweat pants, shorts, and tee shirts; while others prefer more snug Yoga wear.
What is Vinyasa Yoga?
Vinyasa is a Sanskrit word, which refers to breath and movement. For example each Yoga posture is matched by one breath. This is what you do when you perform Sun or Moon salutations, and these are also a form of Vinyasa Yoga.
So, any sequences of postures that are synchronized, with your breath are classified as Vinyasa. There are many forms of Vinyasa and even the gentle ones are vigorous. The postures are not held in a fixed position for long and classes flow with rhythm, similar to music. The energy used in flowing from one movement, to the next, continues throughout a typical Vinyasa Yoga class.
This type of Yoga class will challenge aerobic endurance, enhance flexibility, and build overall strength There are many variations of Vinyasa Yoga classes. Some are related to or offshoots of Ashtanga Yoga, some are very gentle, and others are variations of extended Sun or Moon sequences. The variety of Vinyasa classes is further expanded when you consider different sequences, pace of the class, and the temperature of the room. What about heated Yoga classes; is this hot Yoga? The temperature can vary depending upon the policy of the Yoga studio.
At our wellness center in Attleboro, MA, the temperature can be near 80 Fahrenheit during winter months. During the summer months, we keep the temperature in the low 70’s. That is a far cry from a 105-degree hot Yoga or Bikram classes.
Most of the heat generated in a typical Vinyasa class is internal body heat. As a result of all this internal heat, you will most likely sweat. Therefore, bring a towel and a bottle of good quality water.
When used for personal health maintenance, Vinyasa Yoga is the ultimate cross training system, with low impact movement, aerobic, and muscle toning benefits. Your body will go through an incredible transformation, but it does require determination. This explains why Vinyasa Yoga attracts so many type A personalities.
Even if you don’t have a type A personality, it will rub off. As a “by product” of Vinyasa practice, your self-esteem will be improved. You will manage stress and develop a much more calm personality.
Now, where do you start? Find a local school with at least two levels of Vinyasa practice. If you have been on the couch for a while, it will be best to take some gentle Yoga classes first. However, if you are very active, you may want to jump right in. You should have an honest talk with your Yoga teacher, before starting Vinyasa Yoga practice. It’s always best to be honest with yourself, about your level of fitness. Have fun, but do not push yourself, when you are in unfamiliar territory.
Am I too old to practice Yoga?
Absolutely not, Yoga is a great mind – body health maintenance system with students of all ages taking part in daily practice.