Yoga

Yoga in Norwich

How does it work?

Yoga helps your whole being through a combination of movement and awareness. Yoga poses aid posture/skeleton by making the body work in correct alignment and so making you aware of where correct posture and movement is. Yoga is famous for helping your muscular system through both dynamic movements that strengthen core and functional muscles, and held poses that release tension and stiffness from muscles and also condition tendons and ligaments. Some yoga poses, specially spine twisting and forward bends help your digestive system, massaging organs and directing blood flow. In various of the yoga postures your glands are enriched with blood stimulating and regulating the hormone production which influences weight and metabolism, immune system, reproductive cycles, aging, stress response, and physical-emotional reactions. Your circulation system is aided through exercises that either rest or exercise the heart, and through dynamic movements especially in vinyasa which heat the body helping to purify the blood.

Skin is stretched and toned keeping it supple and alive. The respiratory system is worked and strengthened in every pose as breath is combined with movement, some poses specifically enforce correct abdominal/diaphragmatic breathing, and in pranayama, breath control, yoga actually increases your oxygen consumption and efficiency of your breathing. Prana however is not only breath, it is also the subtle energy similar to ch’i learning to regulate prana and increase your capacity increases your energy levels and decreases tensions in the body and mind. Relaxation and Meditation are an important part of yoga, one could even say that each posture or breathing exercise is also a meditation. Meditation cleans out the mind, it returns you to your natural state of relaxed happiness and inner silence which allows you to respond to life without habitual tensions and stress.

Meditation is about awareness, and it is a truism in yoga that where awareness goes, tension is released, energy is increase, and healing occurs. Fundamentally yoga means ‘union’ this infers a unity between your body, mind, and spirit, and with your environment including your relationships. Unity of body means all your body works together, tensions not fighting your movement and tiring you, unity in your mind means no more confusion and anxiety but a peaceful mind all working together with energy and creativity, unity of spirit means experiencing who you are without intellectual interference or the ego pushing you, and unity with your environment means a lack of resistance to how things are, but rather a natural acceptance which allows you to experience fully and act skilfully.

What is it good for?

Yoga is a great preventative therapy. Because regular practice increase your bodies condition and your awareness physical injury is often avoided or you mend quicker if you are injured. Immune system is increased so you get ill less, or recover faster. Yoga increases your energy levels and the assists the efficiency of all the bodies systems, this means your body has more ability to stay healthy in body and mind.

Some specific disease that yoga has been scientifically proven to be effective therapy for include: Asthma, Anxiety, Arthritis, Asthma, Backache, Blood pressure, Constipation, Diabetes, Headache (migraine), Insomnia, Menstrual Cramps and Imbalance, Obesity, Piles, Digestive Problems, and recently a study has show a significant decrease in viral load for HIV sufferers. Yoga has also been a contributing factor in the recovery from many other diseases. If you do suffer from any chronic or acute pain or disease it is critical that you consult a doctor before commencing your practice of yoga, and also that you inform your yoga teacher before coming to class. Most classes will give a general lift to the health of the whole body and mind, but in some cases may be counterproductive for some ailments and specific yoga exercises would need to be practiced or avoided.

Yoga is also an excellent aid in pregnancy. Regular practice will help keep your body healthy throughout pregnancy, and can make childbirth less traumatic on body and mind. I hear countless testimonials of women who have practiced yoga throughout their pregnancy to say that they avoided back pain during pregnancy and that their labour was quite quick 4-5 hours and relatively painless with baby in correct position in he womb, and no tearing on delivery. After baby is born yoga is also an excellent way of returning your body to normal, reconditioning abdominal muscles and returning core strength. Also rebalancing hormones to avoid past partum depression (baby blues). I recommend searching out a dedicated yoga baby class early on in pregnancy or even better before you start trying to conceive.

What happens during a class

Avoid having food and drink in your stomach, so no eating for 2 hours or drinking for 1 hour before practice. wear comfortable clothes you can move in. Remove glasses, contacts, watches and jewellery. Bring a sticky yoga mat, and a thin blanket, you can also use foam brick/blocks, bolsters, belts, and even chairs to support practice.

After a lesson keep warm and drink lots.

Any other applicable or important information

Never strain in a yoga class, avoid being competitive with yourself or others, do no harm to yourself, take responsibility for yourself and  if a pose makes you feel uncomfortable or gives pain it is your right to not do that pose without letting it detract from your class, your teacher can show you a lighter variation or alternate.

You should feel uplifted, relaxed and energetic after a class. Early on is practice before you become aware of some parts of your body you may find muscles have overworked or over stretched and this is a good reminder of where to take it easier next time.

All information provided by practitioners.