What
should I wear and bring to the session?
Wear comfortable, stretchable clothing. T-shirts and track
suit bottoms are fine, but you might want something under
your T-shirt that fits close to the body for the inverted
postures. We work with bare feet, so please be able to remove
your socks. If you have a yoga mat, please bring it. Yoga
mats are available to purchase for £16 -- this option
is recommended for hygienic reasons. However, there will
be 'community' mats available.
Is
it okay to have a meal before practicing yoga?
It is best to wait for 1 ½ - 2 hours after a normal
sized meal. However, a light snack (i.e., a piece of fruit)
is okay if you need something to tide you over during the
lunchtime classes.
Are
there any restrictions for taking up yoga?
No. Yoga is for all ages, all ability levels, both male
and female. At Yorkshire Yoga, we realise that certain groups
would have their needs more specifically addressed in a
'dedicated' class. We hope to be able to offer these specific
classes across a broad spectrum. In recent years more and
more men have shown an interest in yoga, whether it be for
enhancing their regular sports activity or for reducing
the level of stress in their lives.
How
does a usual class proceed? What will we be doing?
Each hatha class will begin with a short relaxation period
to put aside the hustle and bustle of life so that deeper
concentration can occur during the yoga session. A series
of warm-up exercises and easy stretches will then limber
and prepare the body for working with the more intense asana
practice. Asana will usually be followed by a short pranayama
(breathing) practice. The class concludes with a 10-15 minute
Guided Relaxation. The beginners Ashtanga class follows
a slightly different format. Traditionally, the Primary
Series starts with five repetitions of two sun salutations,
moves on to standing postures, followed by a sequence of
sitting postures, then back bends, finishing postures, breathing
sequence and relaxation. We will be working towards this
with modifications.
Why
do I need to register and book for a payment-term in advance?
Although one gets fit with yoga practice, it is not an ordinary
‘keep fit’ class with the same basic routine each
week. The yoga student has to master certain asanas or pranayama
techniques before moving on to the next level. The sequential
nature of such a practice would mean that the class momentum
would be jeopardised whilst the teacher (for safety reasons)
went over an unknown posture or sequence with a drop-in.
It would not be fair to the other members of the class.
Due to the increased popularity of yoga, it is advisable
to register and book early for a particular course to avoid
disappointment. In certain circumstances, drop-ins are allowed
for a fee of £7.50 per session. Check with the office
to make sure there is availability in the particular session.
What's
the difference between Yoga and ‘keep fit’ classes?
Yoga is non-competitive. One works within the limits of
one’s own body. You should not compare your ability
to do a posture with someone else, nor should you be in
competition with what you used to be able to do. Your teacher
will offer modifications of a pose that are suitable for
you at the time. Traditional exercise is goal orientated:
How many press-ups can I do? Can I touch my toes? I'm going
to do 10 more sit-ups today than I did yesterday. Yoga,
by contrast, is a process. The idea is to focus your awareness
on what you are doing and how you feel as you perform the
postures. In exercise, you fail if you miss your goal. In
Yoga, you succeed by trying. The concentration and focus,
along with breath synchronization, are the most important
aspects of yoga practice.
What
if I can’t make one of the sessions?
Can I come on another day that week?
Yes, if you check with the office first to:
1) make sure that a particular class will be suitable for
you and
2) make sure that your attendance will not overcrowd the
session.
Will
there be time for me to ask individual questions about my
own personal practice?
There is usually a period before or after the class when
the teacher can answer questions. You can always email or
contact us by telephone. It could be that you need to book
a one-to-one session to get you on the proper track.
Is
it okay to practise Yoga while pregnant?
It is best to work with a Yoga teacher who has a specific
qualification in Yoga for Pregnancy and Yorkshire Yoga offers
a class especially for pregnancy. If Yoga is new to you,
you should wait until you are 16 weeks pregnant before starting
yoga classes. Yoga is a great way to keep fit during pregnancy.
In particular it can help strengthen the pelvic area, normalise
thyroid functioning and blood pressure, and help keep you
calm and relaxed -- all of which is good for the baby, too.
In general, however, you want to avoid strain, compressing
the belly or abdomen and inverted postures, especially in
the later stages.
Should
I practise Yoga during my period?
Mostly it is a matter of personal preference. Some women
don't want to do yoga during this time, many don't mind
and continue to practise. For women who do choose to practise,
it is suggested that they avoid inverted poses, abdominal
strengtheners, extended holding of any pose, or energizing
breaths (like kapalabhati). Some say that these practices
might interfere with the downward flow or cause discomfort.
What
kind of yoga is taught at Yorkshire Yoga?
Most of our teachers are qualified with the British Wheel
of Yoga and the teaching is 'Wheel-based'. Hatha Yoga is
the most common form of yoga in the west -- this is the
yoga of postures and breathing exercises. There are different
traditions within Hatha Yoga (Ashtanga, Iyengar, Viniyoga,
Shivananda, etc). Most of Yorkshire Yoga's hatha classes
are integrated from these different traditions of classical
yoga. The Ashtanga 'primary series' classes are true to
the Ashtanga tradition of Pattabhi Jois.
What
is Yogilates?
Yogilates is a fusion of Yoga and Pilates. It is gentle
yoga with an emphasis on postural alignment and core stability.
It is highly recommended for people with back or neck problems,
post-operative periods, post-natal mums or for people who
have been sedentary for a long while who are wanting to
build up their strength. Our Yogilates teachers have qualifications
in both Yoga and Pilates.
What
is remedial yoga?
At Yorkshire Yoga we believe all yoga is therapeutic and
can help bring comfort to those suffering from dis-ease.
However, certain conditions may be addressed more thoroughly
in a remedial class where the teacher has been trained in
yoga for special needs. Yorkshire Yoga is affiliated not
only with the British Wheel of Yoga but also with the Yoga
for Health Foundation which has over 25 years of experience
in helping people with disabilities. For further information
about the Foundation, see “Links”.
Yorkshire Yoga is starting its remedial yoga programme soon
and hopes to obtain funding so that more remedial yoga can
be made available to the community.
What
is Baby Yoga?
Baby Yoga classes are for babies and their mums (or dads
or carers). You learn how to practise infant massage and
gentle yoga exercises with the baby. Nursery rhymes and
songs help to keep the atmosphere fun and enjoyable for
all. There are also postpartum exercises for new mums. An
important part of any yoga practice is Relaxation, but these
techniques are even more important to learn when a new baby
arrives on the scene. Baby Yoga not only helps with the
baby's physical and mental development, but also provides
a means of communication through direct multi-sensory contact.
It helps you to bond with your baby and it provides a way
for the two of you to relax together.
What
is Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga?
Ashtanga is a dynamic form of yoga suitable for the physically
fit and healthy individual. Although Yorkshire Yoga aims
to stay true to the primary series of Pattabhi Jois, we
feel it is important to modify certain postures for individual
safety. All of our weekly classes will be conducted in a
safe and relaxed manner. For the more advanced student,
there will be plently of weekend workshops and 'master-classes'
to refine and strengthen the 'practice' in a more challenging
way.
Background
Information: Ashtanga Yoga is the name given to
the system of hatha yoga currently taught by Sri K. Pattabhi
Jois, a renowned Sanskrit scholar and yogi in Mysore, India.
However, the historical definition of ashtanga yoga is "eight-limbed
yoga, " as originally outlined by the sage Patanjali
in the Yoga Sutras. Written between 400 and 200 B.C., the
Yoga Sutras is the primary text of the science of classical
yoga in which Patanjali collated and systemized existing
techniques and knowledge of yoga.
Ashtanga Yoga as taught by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois began with
the rediscovery, early in the twentieth century, of the
Yoga Korunta -- an ancient manuscript describing a unique
system of hatha yoga practiced and created by the ancient
sage Vamana Rishi. Under the direction of his guru Sri T.
Krishnamacharya, Sri K. Pattabhi Jois helped decipher and
collate this system of practising asana (postures). Entrusted
with preserving, refining, and teaching the system of yoga
described in the Yoga Korunta, Sri K. Pattabhi Jois named
this system "Ashtanga Yoga," after Patanjali’s
yoga system.
The Yoga Korunta emphasizes “vinyasa” (‘breath-synchronized
movement’ ), a method of synchronizing progressive
series of postures with a specific breathing technique (“ujjayi
pranayama”)-a process producing intense internal heat
and a profuse, purifying sweat that detoxifies muscles and
organs. The result is improved circulation, a light and
strong body, and a calm mind.
Ashtanga yoga has become popular in the West, partly because
it is practised by celebrities such as Madonna, Geri Halliwell
and Sting. It is sometimes called 'Power' yoga because it
is a dynamic and energetic practice suitable for those wanting
intense physical exercise.
Some yoga purists have criticised the practice for its strong
emphasis on the physical, fearing that the real
purpose of yoga (union of the body, mind and spirit) is
often overlooked by Ashtanga teachers. In the original “Ashtanga”
or “eight-limbed” system of Patanjali, the physical
asana practice is merely the third step on the path towards
this union - a means to an end, not the end itself.
Most reputable Ashtanga teachers, however, find that the
breath-synchronized movements of vinyasa, along with the
“bandhas” (muscular ‘locks’ that seal
energy) and “dristis” (‘concentration points’),
uniquely intensify concentration so that their students
can more readily experience the sixth and seventh limbs
of asthanga - “dharana” (‘concentration;)
and “dhyana” (‘meditation’). The systemised
practice of Ashtanga can truly nurture all of the eight
limbs of the tree of yoga.
Some yoga anatomists condemn the Primary Series for having
too many forward bends which can be stressful to the lower
back. The theory behind the Primary Series is that forward
bends expel stagnant energy from the system and replace
it with fresh energy, making it an effective yoga chikitsa
or “therapy”. As with all yoga practices, it is
important to listen to your body. If you feel body stress
or pain, either work more gently, skip the vinyasas or stop!
What are the “Eight Limbs of Yoga”?
