| Yoga has so many benefit to both mental and | | | | to take your practice to the next level? That's |
| physical health that I can't stress enough how much I | | | | fantastic, here are some suggestions: |
| recommend it as a supplement to any fitness | | | | -Take the certification course. It doesn't have to |
| program. Many people don't know where to start and | | | | mean you will be a teacher but you will know yoga |
| I don't blame them! Certified yoga instructors go | | | | more intimately than the average student. There are |
| through 300-500 hours of in-class training. The art of | | | | smaller weekend courses for the hobby yoga |
| yoga is a very deep and complex system but worth | | | | student that will give you a better understanding of |
| getting familiar with and practicing. | | | | your chosen practice, without the two year |
| Here are First Three Steps to Developing your Yoga | | | | commitment! |
| Practice | | | | -Go on a retreat. This is the most perfect way to |
| 1. Read, research and try it out on your own. | | | | better your practice, go on a vacation and meet new |
| There are many styles of yoga. Take a look online | | | | people all at the same time. Yoga retreats are taught |
| on a site like Wikipedia to familiarize yourself with the | | | | by known instructors in beautiful places anywhere |
| different paths. Next, either by a book or look for | | | | from the Caribbean to Greece. You will spend the |
| online instruction and try out some poses or | | | | day between being in class on a beach to relaxing by |
| sequences. Don't try to twist yourself in to a pretzel | | | | the ocean. |
| on your first try! Chances are, your form will be all | | | | -Start practicing on your own. If you find you like |
| wrong but that's okay. We all have to start | | | | many styles or you prefer training in your home, |
| somewhere. | | | | start developing your own routines. The great thing |
| 2. Take Classes. | | | | about being a solitary student is you have it your |
| Once you have an idea of what style you wish to | | | | way. Do you like starting out with challenging |
| pursue and you know the basics, look in to classes. | | | | strength poses like in Ashtanga, then moving more |
| Nothing beats a class or individual instruction for | | | | quickly through sequences sequence like in Vinyasa? |
| proper form and technique corrections. A real yoga | | | | Maybe you'd rather hold poses for a long time and |
| instructor ALWAYS beats a book or the Internet, | | | | focus on breathing like with the Hatha style. |
| hands down. In class, you definitely learn new things, | | | | Whatever you want, it's your choice! |
| be worked harder than you can on your own and | | | | Yoga is a powerful and rewarding practice that |
| along the way, meet some like minded people. | | | | makes you strong, flexible and well grounded. If you |
| 3. Putting it all together. | | | | haven't started developing your practice, what are |
| So you have been in class for a while and you want | | | | you waiting for? |