Advice for Beginners Considering Yoga as a Form of Exercise

Beginning yoga is an exciting and enormously rewarding step towards achieving harmony of both the body and the mind. Discover how to maintain a safe routine and sequence postures.

With its meanings originating from the Sanskrit language, Yoga has become a popular exercise regime because of its head to toe means of achieving fitness and its therapeutic effects that encompass both the mind and the body. When coupled with other practices such as meditation, Yoga has been praised as a path to a more alternative way of life. The training emphasizes the importance of balance and moderation in both mind and body, and the postures or asanas reflect this practice.

Perseverance is the Key

For any novice, the images of the magnificent yoga asanas and Sanskrit words such as chakra, prana, and pranayama may be intimidating. It is essential to realize that some yoga poses are not achievable immediately and take constant practice and dedication. Yoga is rapidly gaining popularity as a substitute for traditional workout regimens due to its many advantages, including greater endurance and energy levels, improved muscular tone, and an overall feeling of peace and well-being.

Safety First

The careless practice of Yoga may result in injury and discomfort. Some essential safety guidelines must be considered before commencing exercise:

• Individuals with questionable fitness, medical disorders, illness, or pregnant women are advised to consult a medical practitioner before engaging in any form of exercise. It is required for every form of exercise and does not discriminate against Yoga.

• Whether individual yoga exercises are done using an instructional DVD, book or online, specific warm-up exercises and the correct sequence of the movements to be done are always included and recommended.

• On an empty stomach, Yoga should not be done. At least four hours should have elapsed after a substantial meal, whereas one hour is needed following a small meal or snack.

• When trying yoga asanas, caution should be used to avoid forcing the body into the poses. At the prime sign of pain or struggle, the exercise must be discontinued. The human body is flexible, and with practice, it will bend into those impressive yoga asanas!

Beginners Workouts

According to Richard Rosen, in his article in the online Yoga Journal called “Sequences for Beginners,” each school of Yoga, including Viniyoga, Ashtanga, Vinyasa, and Iyengar, sequences their postures in different ways. He insists that despite the school of Yoga being practiced, the sequence need not be a linear step by rigid step procession but can be repeated and adjusted according to the exercise routine.

For a beginner who wants to practice Yoga at home but is not within the range of instructors conducting yoga classes, there is an abundance of printed and online material providing detailed information on beginner’s sequences and postures. Two of these online resources are:

• www.yogajournal.com
• www.abc-of-yoga.com

The benefits of Yoga are numerous; with the emphasis on achieving a balance between mind and body, the results could only be a toned body, a more positive outlook, and peace in an ever-changing, turbulent world.