106
How to Select a Yoga Class Yoga is one of the country’s most popular and fast-growing health and exercise trends, and it’s easy to see why!
Yoga increases your strength,
balance, flexibility, and peace of mind. Whether you’re a beginner or experienced practitioner, the right practice can improve your physical and mental health. Here are some tips for picking a yoga class.
STYLE
Ask yourself what you like about the
classes you’ve enjoyed, and what hasn’t
COMMUNITY For many people, yoga is as much a
worked for you. Do you like to move fast?
social experience as it is an invigorating
Do you prefer to hold poses? Do you want a
workout. For others, it’s a form of
teacher who gets into the philosophy of yoga?
exercise to be done in solitude.
Or are you looking for a physical workout? Try several styles of yoga to see which one
works best for you.
sphere based on the teachers and partic-
PROPS AND MODIFICATIONS
A common yoga misconception is that
Each studio will have its own atmo-
ipants. Think about whether you want a laid-back, friend-like social setting with lots of talking after class or prefer practicing in
you need to be flexible to do yoga. Not true!
peace and isolation and quickly leaving for
Certain practice styles and teachers lend
home afterward.
themselves better to using props and giving modifications than others. But blocks and
folded blankets can be useful in many poses.
tunity to practice online via video as well!
Technology has brought us the oppor-
The first step in picking the right class is
For example, in some standing or lunging
Whether you watch prerecorded classes, go
knowing the style of yoga and whether it fits
poses, you’ll set a hand firmly on the ground.
old school with a DVD, or join a “live” Zoom
with what you’re looking for. Common styles
But what if you can’t reach the ground? A
class, there are more options than ever
of yoga include Hatha and Vinyasa.
yoga block (or 2) can bring the ground a few
before to practice yoga from the comfort
Hatha and Vinyasa use many of the same
inches closer to help you find your pose.
of your home.
poses (like tree or downward facing dog), but the paces are different. Hatha tends
If you have knee pain, you can place a
In the end, the right yoga style is the one
to be slower paced and more focused on
folded blanket under your knees, or some
that will make you feel most comfortable
deeply stretching the muscles. Vinyasa is
yoga classes use a chair to modify those
overall. Some people say yoga is about
faster paced, often with movements changing
kneeling poses into standing poses. A chair
toning both the body and the soul, and
with each inhale and exhale. Power Vinyasa
yoga class can provide seated variations to
finding the right style of practice will leave
classes can really work up a sweat!
many traditional yoga poses as well.
you feeling better in both ways.
Gentle Chair Yoga
ONLINE CHAIR YOGA Practice when it’s convenient for you! WEEKLY FREE MEDITATION EnergyHealingwithCaitlyn.com
774-994-2973 106 |
OUR TOWN MAGAZINE
MAY/JUNE 2021
ANYONE CAN DO YOGA! Call for a free 15 minute consultation today!
IMPROVE • Flexibility • Muscle Strength • Energy • Balance • And so much more!