Yoga Works

Yes Yoga Works!

Many people have heard of yoga but fewer have tried it. Most people who try it find that it is wonderful and they get a wide range of benefits from it. Others try it and for some reason they have the wrong teacher for them at that time, or it is a style of yoga which doesn't work for their body and they give up on it. Other don't try it at all because they feel apprehensive about attending a class on their own or in case yoga is something a bit weird and mythical.

For the people who find Yoga the journey just gets better for the regular practice of yoga brings a load of health benefits. You tend to sleep better, breathe better, have more energy, tone your body and calm down - all from the regular practice of doing some postures. Of course having a good teacher to help you do the postures, or asanas as they are known within yoga circles, is a wonderful gift. Teachers are well trained and they will compile a lovely flow of asanas designed to take your body through a range of motions such as a forward bend, backward bend, spinal twist, an inversion and the ever popular relaxation posture. It is harder to achieve this kind of flow when you are taking yourself through a series of postures. A well run class will leave you feeling relaxed, refreshed and ready for the day - or the evening if it is a later class. Good teachers will vary their routines according to the time of day. Yoga came from the tradition of self realisation where monks wished to make contact with the divine and needed to build strong, flexible and healthy bodies in order to do the amount of prayer and meditation needed to travel within their own psyches and reach somewhere wonderful and spiritual. Because of this it is always very helpful in aiding people calm, centre and develop a higher level of self awareness.

Most people these days use Yoga as a fitness programme and it works well in that format. Doing some of the more active forms of Yoga such as Ashtanga or Bikram or Iyengar will certainly keep you fit and healthy. Other more gentle forms of Yoga are equally valuable and have slightly more impact on the mastery of the mind and calming of the spirit than the active ones do but nevertheless keep a body supple and toned.

For people who had a more negative first experience with yoga or who are worried about attending a class in case it is 'strange' I urge you to think again. Yoga is a holistic way to work with your body and health and is worth pursuing. Give it another try. Find another class. Speak to people who attend other classes and I am sure you will find a Yoga to suit you. Then you can really enjoy the benefits of an ancient practice but with a modern twist.

Find out about Restorative Yoga by attending workshops such as the 'Rising of the Phoenix' and then use it yourself at home as part of your self help regime. You will find it quite amazing in its effects.

Restorative Yoga Workshops and more information about how to use this form of self healing can be found on restorative-yoga.net Restorative Yoga and yin-yoga.net Yin Yoga. The Fifty, Fit and Fabulous programme provides a step by step approach to wellbeing through holistic care and is outlined on these sites.