Sport
Yoga for beginners Yoga has been practised for thousands of years. Modern yoga mainly focuses on Asanas (postures or poses) and Pranayama (breathing). Stressed? Achy? Stiff joints? You need some yoga in your life⌠What benefits do you get from yoga? Yoga can help to improve your flexibility, balance and muscle strength. It can also be a great stress reliever and may help to ease anxiety, lower your blood pressure and help you to get a better nightâs sleep. Who can practise yoga? Yoga is a low-impact exercise thatâs suitable for most people. No one will care that your downward dog pose isnât perfect or that you wobble a bit doing standing balances. Youâre never too old to start and there are even chair-based classes for people with limited mobility. Are there different types of yoga? There are several types of yoga. Hatha is the one most commonly practised in the UK. If a class just says âyogaâ, itâs likely based on Hatha principles. Other styles include Vinyasa, Iyengar and Sivananda. Bikram and other forms of hot yoga takes place in a studio thatâs been heated to 33-41°C. Is yoga the same as pilates? Pilates often incorporates yoga poses, but itâs also influenced by other exercises and tends to involve more movement. Pilates is less spiritual than yoga and places more focus on improving core strength. What should I wear for a yoga class? Youâll want to wear comfortable clothes that wonât restrict your movement, trip you up or fall over your
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head when youâre bending down. You can invest in exercise clothes designed specifically for yoga, but a T-shirt and pair of leggings will do fine to start with. Yoga classes often end with students lying still for a mindfulness or breathing exercise, so you might want to bring a jumper or light blanket in case you get cold. What equipment will I need? For most types of yoga, you wonât need any special equipment other than a yoga mat. This provides a bit of cushioning from the hard floor and helps prevent your hands and feet from slipping when youâre moving through the poses. Your instructor might suggest using other equipment, such as yoga blocks and straps, but these will usually be provided by the studio. If youâre planning to try hot yoga, youâll need a towel and a water bottle. How can I learn yoga? Itâs best to join a beginnerâs class led by a qualified yoga instructor who can check youâre doing the moves correctly. Not only will this help you to get the most out of the poses, itâll also reduce any risk of injury. Can I learn yoga online? If you canât afford to sign up for a class right now or want to practise yoga more often, you could try a class on YouTube. Adriene Mishler is probably the best-known online yoga instructor and has hundreds of free videos on YouTube, many of which are suitable for beginners. Search for âYoga with Adrieneâ.
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