Frequently Asked Questions
10. What is yoga?
Yoga is perhaps the most time-tested, powerful method of self-improvement known to man. Over 5,000 years old, it utilises mental focus and deep breathing while performing a series of special postures. From the outside looking in, yoga appears to be primarily physical, but what makes this system radically different from western “workouts” is the remarkable internal impact of the practice. Yoga is a combination of:
- Mind (calm mental/emotional focus)
- Energy (life-force cultivation through breathing)
- Body (movement and postures)
Harmonising of these three components makes the yoga experience unique and profound. Whereas traditional fitness regimes aim at health and beauty only, yoga aims for a fulfilling and meaningful life, with health and beauty as a wonderful side effect.
11. How often should I do Yoga?
Come to two or three classes a week for about the first eight weeks. After this, you can build up to practising four days a week, or even more if your schedule permits. Momentum is gained from consistent practice, and you’ll see notable, exponential changes within a relatively short time. Since one of our aims is regenerating health and peace in the body and mind, competitive goal setting towards astounding flexibility or impressive feats of gymnastics is actually counterproductive.
12. What are the benefits of Yoga?
Leave the craziness of our lives behind to feel more vital, relaxed, and sane. Practising yoga, we can’t help but take from the yoga room a kinder, more focused, more patient, and of course, a more physically healthy sense of being. Simultaneously improving our health and vitality, we elevate not only our own lives, but also our family and community.
13. What is the best way to get started with Yoga?
For your first classes, take it easy and allow yourself the immense freedom of being a beginner. We highly recommend that you begin your yoga practice with Now Breathe’s Introduction to Yoga Course, or Intro to Astanga Yoga.
Aim to practise with breath awareness, and compassion toward yourself and those around you. Do this and you will find that your body will become stronger, more supple, healthier, and radiant. Let go of the constant self-critic we often unwittingly carry around with us.
We recommend that you wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothing when practising yoga.
14. Is there more to Yoga?
Our ideas are what we become.
At the heart of yoga is a transformational component which some call “self-improvement,” and others call “spirituality”. One of the great powers of yoga is that we practise non-dogmatic, unifying precepts that are embraced by virtually all religious, spiritual, and self-improvement paths.
- Kindness
- Honesty
- Mindfulness
- Respect
- Cleanliness
These precepts promote harmony and reverberate throughout all of our relationships, intimate, business, and casual. How we behave with one another both in and out of the yoga room determines how we affect the world.
“Harmonising mind, energy, and body makes the yoga experience unique.”