"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." -Margaret Mead
WHAT IS YOGA?
Yoga is an ancient tradition from India documented to be over 4,000 years old and commonly thought to be a 10,000 year old tradition. Yoga is relatively new to the west
and came to the United States about 100 years ago. Yoga is about disciplining the
opposing forces of nature in one’s body in order to bring balance. When the physical
body is in balance, internal organs and glands begin to function better and overall
health improves. Yoga has many physical benefits because it improves the immune
system and also helps balance the emotions leading to reduced stress. Yoga is widely
recognized for its ability to increase flexibility, yet it also increases strength and
improves posture and alignment. The style of yoga most often taught in the U.S. is
Hatha Yoga. “Ha” means sun and “Tha” means moon. Hatha is a very general term that
can encompass many of the physical types of yoga and does not describe a specific
style, but rather it denotes the physical yoga asana (posture) practice. Hatha classes
are usually slow-paced and gentle. Hatha classes can provide a good introduction to
the basic yoga poses. Compared to Vinyasa, Hatha yoga tends to be a slower
practice where postures are detailed and held for longer periods of time.
In terms of yoga practice, Vinyasa means breath-synchronized movement. Compared to Hatha classes, Vinyasa tends to be a more vigorous style based on the
performance of a series of Sun Salutations in which movement is linked to the breath.
Most Vinyasa classes start with a repetition of Sun Salutations to warm up the body for
more intense stretching which is usually done at the end of class. Vinyasa it is free-
flowing and each movement is linked to the inhalation and/or exhalation of breath.
SHOULD I EAT BEFORE YOGA?
It is advisable to not eat a large meal two hours before the class. The twists and other movements of yoga may disturb your digestive process. People whose
digestion runs more quickly may be able to do yoga sooner after a meal. A cup of
herbal tea or a piece of fruit can sometimes be enough hold you until class is
over. Make sure you drink a lot of water before, during and especially after class.
Similar to after a massage, water will help flush out any toxins in the body that
may have been worked out during your yoga practice.