How Do You Do Yoga? 

How Do You Do Yoga

Every day we wake up having stressed or rested, taxed, or replenished our minds and bodies in different ways. Yoga therapy recognizes that relief of symptoms is just one facet of the healing process and that not all illnesses and diseases can be cured. However, it provides a methodology to heal lives, reduce pain, and stress. Yoga is all about posture, mindfulness, focus, breath, and rest. 

Here’s how to get started, whether you’re brand-new to yoga or have been practicing in classes and studios.

 

  • Create a comfortable spot for your yoga practice

If you have an extra room that you can devote to your yoga, great! Having your yoga mat unrolled and out all the time is certainly inviting.

Most of us, however, have to be more flexible and create a space when we want to practice. Try and find a spot where it’s peaceful and quiet, with as much space around you as possible. An empty piece of wall can be handy too since the wall is a great prop. If you like, it can be nice and even helpful to create some atmosphere with a candle or an incense stick. Things like candles and incense are just extras, and by no means necessary to practice yoga. You can do yoga anywhere as long as you have enough space around you without the risk of bumping into tables, chairs, etc.

  • Get your yoga accessories

All you really need is a yoga mat, preferably non-slip. The yoga mat market is huge but it’s worth paying a little more for a good quality mat that suits your needs and will last a long time. Blocks are a great addition but they can be replaced with books and other household things. A bolster is also nice to have, but for years I used a stack of pillows and blankets instead. 

  • Stay safe and injury-free

This is one tip with no shortcuts. Always watch your boundaries and especially be mindful of your body’s vulnerable areas. Particularly vulnerable areas are the knees, hips, spine, and neck. If you feel any painful sensations, adjust, soften, come out of the pose if you need to. Don’t force or push.

  • Choose your yoga style

Something active like Vinyasa Flow, to get the juices flowing or something more soft and restorative, to quiet your body and mind? The more you do yoga, the more you learn the effects of different practices, and the more you learn to recognize what it is your body and mind need at different times. 

Pick a style, teacher, specific use, and preferred class duration (or any one of these combinations) from the filters on the classes page, look for a title that speaks to you and go for it! The way you make the class perfect for you is through practicing with full awareness, with as little resistance as possible. If there is a part you don’t like, breathe through it and observe your reactions. Remember that how you react on the mat seeps through in how you react in daily life. 

  • Include a variety of yoga techniques

Practice a variety of yoga poses and breathing techniques. If you are crunched for time, fix a set of asanas to be done every day, and then treat your body with the complete package on a Sunday! Also, be sure to end your yoga practice with Yoga Nidra.

Remember that yoga practice does not include only yoga asanas. Pranayama (breathing exercises), meditation, and Sudarshan Kriya (if you have done the Happiness Program) are also a part of the home sessions.

  • Be consistent

It is essential to be regular with your yoga practice. Making it a part of your daily schedule will help turn it into a habit. Krishan Verma, a senior Sri Yoga teacher says, “Twenty minutes of daily yoga practice is more likely to show positive results sooner than two hours of occasional practice.”

  • Enjoy your practice!

Don’t overdo it; if you don’t enjoy your yoga practice you will never keep it up. It should be something you look forward to doing. Maybe try another style of yoga or teacher if you feel like yoga is becoming a chore.

 

End Words

Yoga is adaptable to different populations with a variety of physical needs. No matter at what age or condition you are in, there is a yoga for you out there. Even if you haven’t practiced yoga before, it is never too late to start. Specialized classes like “My Body Don’t Bend the Way” developed by PIES Fitness Yoga Studio can help you get started if you are a senior in Alexandria, VA, and the wider DMV metro area.