| © 2008, Green Tea Yoga, Salem, MA |
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| Is Yoga for You? |
Is Yoga for You?
Much has been written about the benefits of yoga. However, some people we talk with
seem convinced that they have to be flexible, or lose weight, or have some kind of
experience before they can attend a yoga class. Our answer is this: now is the right
time for you to begin. No matter what the shape of your body, or what your body can or
cannot do at this time, we have a class for you.
Wear stretchy, comfy clothing that makes you happy. We practice barefoot. All you
need is a yoga mat and an open mind. We rent mats here for $1 if you don't have one or
forget to bring yours. We recommend that everyone bring his or her own mat if possible
as it is more hygienic that way. Many people like to bring a water bottle, but we sell
water for $1 here also. Mats and water are cash only.
Please read our class descriptions to find one that sounds like a good fit for you, or
please call us and we will point you in the right direction.
Much has been written about the benefits of yoga. However, some people we talk with
seem convinced that they have to be flexible, or lose weight, or have some kind of
experience before they can attend a yoga class. Our answer is this: now is the right
time for you to begin. No matter what the shape of your body, or what your body can or
cannot do at this time, we have a class for you.
Wear stretchy, comfy clothing that makes you happy. We practice barefoot. All you
need is a yoga mat and an open mind. We rent mats here for $1 if you don't have one or
forget to bring yours. We recommend that everyone bring his or her own mat if possible
as it is more hygienic that way. Many people like to bring a water bottle, but we sell
water for $1 here also. Mats and water are cash only.
Please read our class descriptions to find one that sounds like a good fit for you, or
please call us and we will point you in the right direction.
Basic Physical Benefits
What happens when you, or anyone else – and we mean virtually
anyone – committed to attending a yoga class on a regular basis?
You know what would happen!
What happens when you, or anyone else – and we mean virtually
anyone – committed to attending a yoga class on a regular basis?
You know what would happen!
- Your muscles would become more flexible and you would be
able to move more easily. - You would lose fat and increase muscle tone
- You would increase strength in your muscles from head to toe.
- You would improve digestive function and boost metabolism.
- Your balance would improve, decreasing your chances of injury.
- You would calm and relax your mind and decrease stress
You would feel more comfortable in your body and easier in your mind. You would feel more vibrant, perhaps more
energetic – as if you could do things with your body that you could not do before.
Whatever you do in your life, you do it with your breath and your muscles. And so, feeling better within your body
will affect how you feel in everything you do. We kid you not.
These effects are real and almost immediate. Don’t believe us – try it for a couple of weeks. You will feel
significant changes after the first few classes.
energetic – as if you could do things with your body that you could not do before.
Whatever you do in your life, you do it with your breath and your muscles. And so, feeling better within your body
will affect how you feel in everything you do. We kid you not.
These effects are real and almost immediate. Don’t believe us – try it for a couple of weeks. You will feel
significant changes after the first few classes.
Sit back comfortably in your chair (preferably an easy chair where you
awareness on the top of your head. Move your awareness to your neck.
Relax your neck until it is totally relaxed (without your head falling
over!). Move to your shoulders. Concentrate on relaxing your
shoulders. Keep doing this as you move lower and lower down your body
– all the way to your feet. Take a few minutes. Or even a minute. Or
even 30 seconds.
After you are done, go back to your neck. What did you find? It was
relaxed, but now it’s just a bit more tense than it was after you had
relaxed it. Relax it again. Do the same with your shoulders, your arms,
your chest, your belly, and so forth.
awareness on the top of your head. Move your awareness to your neck.
Relax your neck until it is totally relaxed (without your head falling
over!). Move to your shoulders. Concentrate on relaxing your
shoulders. Keep doing this as you move lower and lower down your body
– all the way to your feet. Take a few minutes. Or even a minute. Or
even 30 seconds.
After you are done, go back to your neck. What did you find? It was
relaxed, but now it’s just a bit more tense than it was after you had
relaxed it. Relax it again. Do the same with your shoulders, your arms,
your chest, your belly, and so forth.
Basic Psychological Benefits
Now, remember what went into those postures (asanas)? You didn’t just move your body. You had to concentrate
and coordinate your breathing with your movements.
Now, before going further, let’s perform a little experiment. Really. Give it a try. It may make a big difference.
You may have already done something like this.
Now, remember what went into those postures (asanas)? You didn’t just move your body. You had to concentrate
and coordinate your breathing with your movements.
Now, before going further, let’s perform a little experiment. Really. Give it a try. It may make a big difference.
You may have already done something like this.
If you really take this seriously, you are likely to find that you have become aware aspects of your body that you
were not aware of before. You are likely to find that you were not previously aware of having tension in various
parts of your body. You are likely to find that even after you released that tension, that there was still tension the
second time around!
This is called mindfulness.
Yoga teaches mindfulness. It helps you develop, little by little over time, the capacity to become aware of the many,
many things that occur that pass right by us. Mindfulness helps us to stop, become aware of, and appreciate what
we are experiencing in any given moment. So much of life passes us by – imagine being aware of more and more of it!
were not aware of before. You are likely to find that you were not previously aware of having tension in various
parts of your body. You are likely to find that even after you released that tension, that there was still tension the
second time around!
This is called mindfulness.
Yoga teaches mindfulness. It helps you develop, little by little over time, the capacity to become aware of the many,
many things that occur that pass right by us. Mindfulness helps us to stop, become aware of, and appreciate what
we are experiencing in any given moment. So much of life passes us by – imagine being aware of more and more of it!
Basic Stress Management
One more round.
In class, you are practicing asanas; you are focusing your
consciousness on your body and on your movements. And you
are coordinating your breathing with your movements.
Breathing is an enormous source of centering. When we attend
to our breathing, we literally become aware of our physical center
– the rising and falling of our chest and abdomen. When we
attend to our breathing, we can filter out other distractions in
One more round.
In class, you are practicing asanas; you are focusing your
consciousness on your body and on your movements. And you
are coordinating your breathing with your movements.
Breathing is an enormous source of centering. When we attend
to our breathing, we literally become aware of our physical center
– the rising and falling of our chest and abdomen. When we
attend to our breathing, we can filter out other distractions in
the world. When we attend to our breathing, we can calm ourselves and return to the center of our experience.
Imagine doing this in many different postures several times per week. What will happen?
Again, it’s not a mysterious process. You will be able to use your breathing to calm yourself and to “center”
yourself. With practice, you will be able to use your breathing you calm and center yourself during times of stress
and challenge – both on and off the yoga mat. And with further practice, by extending your capacity to control your
breathing, your conscious awareness, and your movements, you will gain greater and greater control over your
thoughts, feelings and actions. This is the path to well-being.
Simple
These basic effects are simple and real. And you can test these claims for yourself. Within a few weeks of classes,
you will notice changes in each of these areas. And this is just the start. There is much more to yoga than these
basics. We are happy to invite you to share the fullness of this practice with us. We are all on a journey. We
welcome you to join us any time.
Imagine doing this in many different postures several times per week. What will happen?
Again, it’s not a mysterious process. You will be able to use your breathing to calm yourself and to “center”
yourself. With practice, you will be able to use your breathing you calm and center yourself during times of stress
and challenge – both on and off the yoga mat. And with further practice, by extending your capacity to control your
breathing, your conscious awareness, and your movements, you will gain greater and greater control over your
thoughts, feelings and actions. This is the path to well-being.
Simple
These basic effects are simple and real. And you can test these claims for yourself. Within a few weeks of classes,
you will notice changes in each of these areas. And this is just the start. There is much more to yoga than these
basics. We are happy to invite you to share the fullness of this practice with us. We are all on a journey. We
welcome you to join us any time.
| © 2008, Green Tea Yoga |
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