The facts:
- the key is the teacher
- you can sweat
- it's ok if you are shaking
- you don't have to be flexible
- Yoga is for everyone
- practise Yoga more than once a week
- why Yoga anyway? In another post..
More than one year ago I knew word Yoga but I didn't have any clue what Yoga is and was just kidding friend of mine that it's for crazy flexible people..the suspicion came when she told me that it's hard and you can even sweat..
Now it has been one year since I started my Yoga journey (in my 30th) from ZERO and all I can say after one year I would recommend it to every single person. I have been practising regularly Ashtanga and Hatha, tried Acro Yoga and Sivananda Yoga and now give a go Bikram Yoga.
I never forget my first 2 classes. I'm very active and fit but I had big problems doing basic postures. This was just a shocking proof that even you are fit and tough you can struggle with Yoga. It was hard time for me, hard than lifting weights in gym, that was a trigger and that's why I found a passion and I'm very addicted.
What does Yoga give me or can give you?
I will try to say it in the easiest way as possible. Doesn't matter if you are tough or weak, fat or slim, old or kid or even disable! Everyone can find something which would affect and/or impress you. There are lots of kinds of Yoga from meditation ones with focus on breathing to dynamic ones where you have to use also your muscles and your body does get a nice toned shape!!! I have to mention it that the key is the teacher.
Every posture has got "more levels (newbie - advance)" or modifications. Everyone is different and it's so interesting that some people can do naturally some advance postures some people have to practise months or even years to get there and the same people who can do naturally the advance postures are not able to do other postures easily. Yes, everyone is different but Yoga is not a competition. Yoga is breathing. If you don't breathe properly through your advance postures you don't practise Yoga!!
If there is a 70 year old person next to you and practise his/her beginners postures and focuses on inhale or exhale while you do your advance postures with the shallow breathing, guess who is doing Yoga? :-)
As I mentioned before the key is the teacher like in the school. The teacher can make classes very funny or boring and also can impress you so much that you are looking forward to come back.
I went beyond and tried teaching 3 kids (5-7years) what was really fun for them. Also, I tried teaching 3 of my best friends and I impressed them all so much that they are looking for a way how and when they could practise Yoga.
Why you should do Yoga?
Why not other sports? There are lots of benefits. I personally enjoy the physical part as you became stronger and after one year I can admit that I am even more flexible than I was before. But why to be flexible or stronger anyway?
I will try to explain and "convince" in other post as this is actually very important and there is no place for this in this post.
Classes I attend
I started with 3 classes:
Saturday: 2 classes (45min, 60min) Hatha
Monday: 1 class (75min) Ashtanga
Later added 2 classes:
Wednesday: 1 class (75min) Hatha
Friday: 1 class (60min) Hatha
New Year 2009 challenge is Yoga everyday :-)
Above +
Tuesday: 1 class (90min) Bikram Yoga
Thursday: 1 class (90min) Bikram Yoga
Sunday: 1 class (90min) Bikram Yoga
Nameste :-)