Health benefits which are visible:

Stress relief – Through a series of physical postures (asanas), breathing techniques (pranayamas) and meditation, it has helped the people who practice regularly to reduce the stress levels.

Pain reduction – The inclusion of physical postures in Yoga works on most of the internal glands and organs. There is an ease of aches and pains in the body, thus giving you a healthy body.

Breathing techniques – Perhaps the most significant advantage of Yoga, your lungs will function better because of longer and deeper breaths during the practice.

Flexibility – The stretching of muscles whilst doing asanas will make your body more flexible by removing stiffness in tendons, ligaments, etc.

Metabolism – Your rate of metabolism improves with the constant practice of Yoga and hence, makes your healthier because of the release of toxins from your body.

Immunity – There are some specific postures in Yoga which improve the immune system in your body making you less susceptible to diseases.

Blood pressure –Yoga improves blood circulation in your body and hence, reduces the blood pressure. Nutrients and oxygen are constantly made to move throughout the body with regular observation.

Benefits of yoga outside the body:

Aging – Because of its positive effect on detoxification, Yoga delays aging and makes you look younger.

Strength – With the inclusion of vigorous physical postures, your body organs become stronger as the entire weight of the body is used in the process.

Posture – You will have more control on your body and can hold any posture for a longer time without discomfort.

Weight management – The improvement in metabolism and exercise involved will help you keep your weight right.

Sleep – Many insomniacs have found Yoga to help them in getting a peaceful and better sleeping pattern due to the meditation and asanas effect.

Sexuality – With better control over your body and an increase in relaxation, there is a profound improvement in your sexuality.

Balance – Your general body balance will improve with the continual practice of Yoga.

Emotional health advantages:

Inner peace – Everyone strives hard to get this and with the help of Yoga, it can be done very easily. There will be a calming effect on your mind whilst meditation and this will keep you peaceful.

Mood – The strong culmination of body and mind creates a healthy atmosphere and lightens your mood.

Depression – People who suffer from depression have benefitted a lot from Yoga. There are some postures which release the negativity suppressed inside you, thus making you happier.

Positive outlook – Yoga works on many hormones and the nervous system. Your mind is more controlled and steady and your attitude will become positive.

Anger control – The meditation and relaxation techniques involved will help you to control yourself when you are angry, thus reducing your blood pressure and stress.

Memory – Blood circulation to the brain increases thus improving your memory.

Disease prevention:

Heart diseases – Because of the increased blood circulation and the reduction of stress, you can prevent many heart diseases from affecting your health.

Osteoporosis – Since your entire body weight is used during the exercises, all your bones and other tissues become stronger.

Alzheimer’s – The constant blood circulation and the effect of meditation will prevent you from getting the Alzheimer’s. It has been proved in many cases that the progress of this disease is also controlled with the help of Yoga.

These are only some of the many benefits of practicing Yoga. You will become more aware of your body and the atmosphere around you. You will understand the needs of others as well and your social well being will be improved.

Forgiveness, patience, calm mind, etc are some of the other spiritual benefits which make Yoga the best practice for an overall improvement in your life.

The following tips should be followed whilst buying the precise kind of clothes:

The cloth should be light in weight. Heavy clothing can restrict movement of limbs and you may become tired very fast. Wear material which is stretchy. The heavy cotton shirts will not work as you will sweat a lot during the session.

Cotton will absorb more sweat and will make you uncomfortable. For women, tight clothing is best. Since women are more flexible, stretchable and light clothes work wonders for them.

It is advisable to wear black as it allows you to sweat more and you could burn some extra fat. Denim wear like jeans should be avoided during Yoga sessions.

For the footwear, comfortable sandals are usually preferred and heave shoes are a big ‘no’. The teacher advise you to be barefooted, however, in case you are uncomfortable with the same, you can wear tennis or athlete shoes also.

Since there will be a lot of bending, stretching and you will probably be made to lie upside down, wearing clothes which do not expose much of your body is recommended.

Whatever you wear should make you comfortable or your mind will not be able to concentrate on the teachings. Shorts or loose pants are ideal for men. For women, leggings, tank tops, etc are the most comfortable.

Yoga has a very positive effect on your entire life style and hence, a few changes are expected to be made. However, it is not advisable to spend a fortune on your clothing. Your main goal should be to focus on Yoga and not look for matching accessories for your clothes.

The footwear should also be light weight and should support the whole weight of your body. Practicing Yoga in high heels is condemned. Some other accessories are bags, yoga mats, neck pillows and eye bags.

These are easily available in many stores and are reasonably priced. All said and done, it is important not to give undue significance to clothing and footwear and concentrate on practicing yoga for better physical, mental and spiritual health.

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

There are several reasons why people quit yoga shortly after starting with the classes. Some get frustrated because they can’t do the meditation techniques properly. Others are unable to execute the yoga poses or are uncomfortable with their body. Still, there are those who give up because they don’t see immediate results from their yoga sessions.

If you want to get the most out of yoga, there are certain things you have to set straight first. Here are three important things you should do before you even attend your first yoga class:

1. Figure out what you expect to get from yoga.

Many people who give up on yoga quickly do so because they don’t have any clear expectations in the first place. They may think they will feel huge changes in their minds and bodies after only a couple of sessions and if they don’t see any of these changes, they become disappointed and decide to quit.

The good thing about yoga is that it comes in several different forms and styles, each of which can deliver different results. So if you have a particular expectation, talk with your yoga instructor and ask which particular yoga class to take that will give you your desired results.

2. Do your research beforehand.

Another common reason why people give up on yoga is they don’t know enough about it. Without adequate information, it is very easy to end up joining the wrong class and not being able to enjoy your experience. You can maximize the benefits you can get from yoga by doing sufficient research before signing up for a class and making any commitment.

If you don’t have any experience with yoga before or if you have no clear idea how to go about the entire process, it is best to join a beginner class. A beginner class will give you a general idea about the different forms of yoga, as well as help you figure out which particular style will work best for you.

After attending a few sessions of the beginner class, you might be able to make a better decision as to which type of yoga is right for you, and only then should you make the commitment to join a more advanced and long-term class.

3. Work with a qualified instructor whom you are comfortable with.

The benefits you can get from yoga are directly proportional to your ability to completely relax while attending the class. It’s counterproductive to sign up for a yoga class where the teacher causes you to feel insecure or stressed out. To avoid this, check the background of the yoga instructor before you sign up for a class. Make sure the instructor is not only qualified but also pleasant to work with.