Yoga for Wellness Guidelines
Intention:
Set an intention or goal for your practice. Examples of intentions include: to work a certain area of your body, to focus on breath, to be present in the moment, to be gentle with yourself.
Efficiency:
Limit the number of postures – better results for both body and mind are achieved by doing fewer poses with intention rather than racing through and not be mindful of the experience.
Breath:
Use breath to link awareness to the body. The two most basic and important yoga principles are to inhale and to exhale.
Internal Focus:
It can be tempting to focus on the external form of the posture, but when we focus on the internal experience – the mind, the breath, the movement of the spine – we begin to feel from the inside how our body is responding to the movement.
Transition:
During your practice, be aware of transitions. Also, take time to make a transition from other activities into your practice.
Risk:
Be aware of your body’s limits. Find a teacher who assists you in finding ways to adjust poses to fit your body’s needs. It is tempting, particularly in classes, to compare oneself to others and push the body in ways that are risky – remember, poses can be challenging, but they should never hurt!
Rest:
Use rest frequently. When the breath becomes unsteady, after transitioning from one pose to another, or simply to observe the effects of a pose on your body. Always rest in Savasana (“corpse pose”) at the end of practice. A longer rest at the end of practice is important in order to absorb the effects of the practice and to make the transition to the next activity.
Definitions
Yoga: Derived from the Sanskrit root “yuj” which means “to join.” Words commonly used in translating the meaning of yoga: joining, union, junction, combination, application, use, means, result, deep meditation, concentration, contemplation of the Supreme Spirit. A short definition: the union of body, mind, and soul.
Asana: A Sanskrit word that in the context of yoga means to sit, to be present in a particular posture.
Some Benefits of Yoga
Physical benefits of yoga include balancing neurological and hormonal activity, strengthening cardiovascular and respiratory functioning, improving absorption of nutrients and elimination of wastes, and strengthening the body’s ability to resist and even overcome disease. Emotional benefits of yoga include decreasing anxiety, increasing self-awareness and compassion for both ourselves and others.
