With Yoga becoming very famous worldwide, more and more people are turning towards it for a better life. It has proven to reduce your stress levels, keep you healthy and prevents several major life – threatening diseases.
If you have decided to take up yoga, there are many centers which offer such courses. Let us now look at some basic steps which will help you to get started.
You will need a yoga mat so that you can practice all the physical postures without any mishaps. Some other important accessories could be a neck pillows, eye bags, etc.
If you are not comfortable working in a group, you can even start alone. However, working in a group motivates you and you will need to check the various options available. There are many educational institutions and gyms which offer yoga lessons.
Get comfortable clothes for yourself which are light and will help you in performing the exercises better. It is best if you practice Yoga without footwear. However, sandals, tennis and athlete shoes are also advisable if you are not comfortable without footwear.
Practicing Yoga on an empty stomach gives the best results. You can even wait for a couple of hours after a meal and start exercising. Your bowels and urinary track should be empty and you should have a glass of water before 15 minutes of the class.
Now let us discuss what to expect in a Yoga class. You will be expected to be present a few minutes before the class starts. More often than not, the teachers and staff will try and make you at ease in the surroundings if you are new. There are many places where Yoga is taught and hence, the timings would differ.
Most classes run for a duration between 1 and 1 and a half hours. The basic session is the same and the following can be expected. The class will start with the teacher asking you to chant ‘Om’. The chanting will help you focus on the sound and keep your concentration from going elsewhere.
The next step is the warm up exercises so that the muscles open up to the more rigorous ones later. You will then be practicing standing poses so as to align your feet and body. It helps in opening the hips, stretching your limbs and strengthening your back.
The next step is sitting exercises. This is when you will be introduced to Pranayama or the technique of controlling and moderating your breath.
Then follow the twists which relax the spine, thus reducing back aches and flex your shoulder muscles. Supine and prone poses are next which relax your abdomen and gives movement to your spine. Inverted and balance poses improves your body balance and enhances concentration. Backbends are helpful for the kidneys and adrenal glands.
The last ones are the finishing poses to cool you down after the rigorous regime
