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Welcome to Yoga Tips
Hi, I'm Heidi Splete, one of the hundreds of writers here at LifeTips.com. Enjoy these 329 Yoga Tips! If you’re a business, why not hire the expert writers at LifeTips? And if you’re a writer, apply for freelance writing gigs.
Beginners
When you're starting out, the important thing to focus on during your yoga practice is the balance between body and mind. You want to perform poses to the best of your ability, without stress or strain, and to remember to breathe. Your flexibility and the duration you can hold positions will increase over time.
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Keep Your Mat Clean Between Classes
Gaiam Tip: Some yoga mats come with a yoga mat bag, but some don’t. But never fear, you can buy a yoga mat bag separately from the mat itself.
A yoga mat bag is not only useful for carrying your mat to and from classes, but a bag keeps the mat clean and protected between classes when it is sitting at home in your closet.
Because yoga mats are a fairly standard size, your mat bag doesn’t have to be the same brand as your mat, and you can find yoga mat bags to accommodate your personal taste as well as your mat. Most yoga equipment makers offer bags in a variety colors made of nylon or cloth. The eco-conscious yogi practitioner can buy a yoga mat bag made of hemp canvas, but a hemp bag costs about three times as much as a nylon or cloth bag.
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Improvement Time
Beginners often wonder how long it will take before postures get easier. While there's no simple answer to that question, you will notice that if you practice consistently (on a daily or weekly schedule) rather than intermittently postures gradually become less difficult. If you find you hurt after practice, try doing shorter, more frequent sessions to improve your flexibility.
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Don’t Compete, Love Thy Yoga Neighbor
Gaiam Tip: Yoga is not a competitive sport. The best way to a yoga pose is to focus on yourself and what you can do on any given day, and not whether your neighbor on the next mat can put his or her foot behind his or her head.
Some people can do certain yoga poses more easily but they find certain other poses more difficult for many reasons, including body shape and history of other activities. For example, if you have long arms and a long torso, but short legs, forward bends aren’t difficult, but if you are a longtime distance runner with tight hips, a lotus position may not be something you can do anytime soon. If you are particularly tired, or sore from another workout, don’t let that worry you or keep you from a yoga class. Often, yoga helps relieve the delayed-onset muscle soreness associated with other activities, especially an Iyengar or Bikram-style class.
What counts in each yoga pose is that you be honest with yourself and work in the pose to the best of your ability, without being intimidated or distracted by the person on the next mat.
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Insomnia
Sometimes it´s hard to turn off the day and relax enough to fall asleep. We all have those nights.
If you can´t sleep, try using calming poses to help you relax - forward bends, gentle twists, and simple inversions are good choices. Remember to breathe slowly and fully. This will also help you relax.
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Yoga Contributes To Weight Loss
Gaiam Tip: Different types of yoga burn different amounts of calories. If you are looking towards yoga for weight loss, choose a power yoga or Ashtanga yoga class that is a more demanding workout than an Iyengar class, which moves at a slower pace. Remember that although you’ll be sweating, yoga doesn’t get your heart rate going as much as running, aerobics, elliptical trainers, or other cardiovascular workouts. But if you cut your calories and add yoga classes several times a week, yoga can contribute towards a sensible weight loss program.
A caveat: Some people think that “hot yoga” classes in which the room temperature is purposely kept high, will promote weight loss, but if you weigh yourself after class and you are suddenly 2 pounds lighter, remember that it is mostly water weight. For sensible weight loss, watch your calories and exercise regularly including yoga.
But the field of weight loss is complex, and muscle weighs more than fat. You may find that regular yoga leaves you with a leaner, slimmer silhouette, even if the numbers on the scale remain the same.
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Yoga for Weight Loss
One of the five principles of yoga is diet. Think of your body as an instrument through which you can play the music of the universe. Like any instrument, you want to keep it well cared-for. By eating healthy -- vegetables, fruits, whole grains and limited (or no) meat products -- you will develop a stronger leaner body, especially as you practice your yoga technique. Yoga also has many physical benefits, including a leaner body, a straighter posture and more defined muscle tone. With all this in mind, it's easy to see why so many choose to use yoga for weight loss and generally better living.
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Warming Up to Yoga
Most yoga for beginners classes start off with introductory poses to warm up your body. These prepare your body for safe transition into the asana (posture) practice. For beginners, these introductory poses poses may take up the entire practice session. With gentle stretching and breathing, theses exercises are designed to open the shoulder muscles, the spine, the hips, the lower back, and the groin.
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The Best Time To Take Yoga Class
When is the best time to take a yoga class? There are benefits to morning, day, and night time classes. Early morning yoga -- often held around sunrise -- is a great way to open your channels and start the day. During an afternoon slump, a yoga class is a perfect pick-me-up, and certainly better for you than a candy bar! However, you should be aware that after a yoga class the body and mind might not be in the best state to attend an important meeting or meet a deadline. Be sure to allow time after class until you know how you will adapt to yoga. Evening or night time classes are ideal to put you into a state of relaxation that will allow you to have a deep and restful sleep.
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Eight Limbs
Traditional yoga has eight steps, or limbs, for guidance in living a meaningful and purposeful life. They are: Yama, moral disciplines; Niyama, self disciplines; Asana, postures; Pranayama, breath control; Pratyahara, sensory withdrawal; Dharana, concentration; Dhyana, meditation; Samadhi, transcendence.
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Benefits
Headstand, and other inverted poses, increase circulation, stimulate the brain, enhance glandular system functioning, and relieve pressure on the abdominal organs.
Remember that pregnant or menstruating women should NOT do inverted poses.
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Hatha Yoga: Pranayamas
Pranayamas, or breathing exercises, are extremely important to practicing Hatha yoga properly. Once the breath is controlled, the mind is controlled, according to the yogis. Our energy (Prana) is altered though the exercises, which often involve deep inhalations (usually through the nose), exhalations (through the mouth), and even holding the breath for a few counts. These practices prepare the way for Samadhi (enlightenment). Pranayama practice is also a vital part of Kundalini yoga.
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"Easy Does It Yoga"
The American Yoga Association's “Easy Does It Yoga” program is designed for the elderly or anyone with physical limitations. Developed in the 1960s the program student's manual “provides a comprehensive routine of exercise, breathing, and meditation, many of which are designed for chair or bed.”
Information about the program can be found at http://www.americanyogaassociation.org/EasyDoesIt.html
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Differences: Yoga vs. Pilates
There are both differences and similarities between Yoga and Pilates. The biggest difference is that Pilates uses a line of equipment that does not exist in yoga. But the theory of mind-body connection exists in both Yoga and Pilates. They also share a fluidity of movement.
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Bikram Yoga: Why the Heat?
Why is it so hot in a Bikram yoga studio? The heat actually works to loosen your muscles. This in turn allows you to move more fluidly into a deeper yoga pose. Also, the heat challenges you to move past your comfort level into a focused mental state. Finally, the heat also helps you sweat, which facilitates the removal of toxins in your body.
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Footwear
You should NOT wear shoes when doing yoga.
Having bare feet when you practice will help you to have proper balance and stability. However, since maintaining a comfortable temperature is also important, you can wear socks if the floor surface is cold.
