Yoga Basics
Start by building a simple, yet SOLID, foundation.
Let's be clear from the outset, learning yoga basics is much more than learning a set of physical calisthenics! However, the Asanas - physical postures are a key part of the practice for a someone new to yoga.
It's through the Asanas that most people begin to glimpse the beauty of this timeless science. Along with the postures, breathing exercises are part of the yoga basics.In yoga terms, these exercises are commonly called Pranayamas...
Prana - Breath and/or Energy
Yama - Control
...in the West most people chose to forget the ENERGY part of this equation.
The purest meaning of Pranayama is ENERGY CONTROL.
NOTE: We share this with you because we will refer breathings exercises as pranayamas throughout these pages.
Are you a Beginner to Yoga?
Stepping into a packed yoga studio for the first time can be intimidating. Even more intimidating is stepping into a yoga class with only one other student.
This allows more of the teachers focus to be given to you. This can be great or uncomfortable, depending on your temperment.
Unfortunately the average yoga class doesn't take time to cover the yoga basics. For most students, their first class is like having a mixed bowl of fruit. Some parts are great, some are ok; other parts are bitter, and some even unrecognizable.
Example:
"Hello class, let's all come to the top of our mats into TADASANA. Good, now lets start with finding our DRISHTI, creating our UJJAYI breath. Continue this for about five rounds."
"Now we're going to start with our VINYASA. Lets begin with SURYA NAMASKARA A. Then to SURYA NAMASKARA B, flowing through each side twice."
Did you get all that? If you're new to yoga, probably not ALL of it. Some of it may have made perfect sense. Other parts, not so much; and the rest, well - unrecognizable.
Let's work on resolving these areas of misunderstanding, shall we?
Translation:
"Hello class, let's all come to the top of our mats into a STANDING position; feet together, arms resting at your side."
"Good, now lets start with finding our POINT OF FOCUS; it can be a point on the wall that is not moving."
"Now lets start controlling the breath, while CREATING THE SOUND OF DISTANT WIND IN THE BACK OF YOUR THROAT; continue this for about five rounds, (a round would be a full inhale and exhale.)"
"Now we're going to start off by CONNECTING EACH BREATH TO A MOMENT OR POSE. Lets begin with SUN SALUTATION A (A set sequence of poses). Then to SUN SALUTATION B (A different set poses synced together); flowing through each side twice (once on the left, once on the right)."
It takes a lot more time to explain things in English doesn't it? This is why Sanskrit is often used, but this is also why NEW students often get lost.
Skip Past Entry FormAre You New to Yoga or Practiced for Years?
Do share your first impressions!
Trying something for the first time can be an interesting experience.
We have all been there at least a few times in our lives. Share with us, and others, your first experience with yoga!
Was it fun? Was it tough? Was it weird? Was it amazing? For some of us, it was LIFE CHANGING.
Have fun re-living your adventurous journey of yoga!
Let's cover some of the yoga basics.
We will quickly teach you some of the most commonly used phrases in a typical yoga class.
As mentioned earlier, Sanskrit words are used quit a bit by yoga teachers; we also "loosely" translated the Sanskrit words into an "English" explanation or meaning.
To help you get some of the yoga basics, let's go over the "direct" translations of some of the most commonly used Sanskrit words, along with a brief explanation of the meaning...
Asana - Posture
Stillness of Posture is a much better translation. Most of the postures you practice in a yoga class are refered to as asanas, but it it's purest form...
...you've practicing asana when ever you are able to be calm, still, silent and relax. So laying in bed can be considered practicing asnansa.
In fact, there is a yoga pose that teaches you to do just that. It's called SAVASANA - Corps Pose. This simple, yet difficult pose teaches you the importance of letting go, of surrendering to the moment.
Did you notice the "asana" at the end of Savasana? When a yoga pose is qued in Sanskrit it always ends with "asana". For example: Tadasana - Mountain Pose, Bhakasana - Crow Pose, Balasana - Childs Pose.
Because Sanskrit is an older language than English, some of the words don't translate directly, but you get the idea.
Go to our Basic Yoga Poses page to learn some simple asanas - poses.
Pranayama - Breath/Energy Control
Let's start by braking down the work Prana-Yama. Prana means both breath and energy. Yama means control. So together they descripe breath and/or energy control.
As science has discovered, we are energy. Are cells are made up of atoms and those atoms are energy...
...what happends to us when are energy is down? We breath shallow. What happends to our breath when our energy is restless or anxious? If is quick and irratic, right?
Since our energy has such an effect on our breath it is logical that our breath has an effect on our energy. This is where the techniques of pranayama come into play.
In your yoga practice, you will use simple or advanced pranayama techniques in order to change your energy. By changing you energy, you effect your phyisical body, your mental mind, and your over-all consciousness.
To get an idea of how connected your breth is to the energy in your body, go to our Breathing Exercises page, and try a few of the techniques outline.
Note: Be sure to write down how you feel before you practice the pranayamas. Then compair it to the results you experience after practicing the techniques.
Don't worry about doing it perfect. Simply watching your inhalation and exhalation for a few minutes will give you a sense of calmness and relaxation.
Driesti - Point of Focus
In yoga, weatheer you're practicing the asanas, a pranayama, or meditating; you want to have your focus centered at your forehead - more specificly the point between the eyebrows, aka your Third-Eye Chakra.
Why the forehead? Because this is the frontal lobe sections of your brain. It is this part of the brain that allows humans to be self aware and highly intelligent. It is also what distinguishes us from the rest of the animal kingdon.
Now of course some of the asanas require that your physical eyes look elsewhere in order to maintain your balance, but that doesn't mean your mental focus can't stay focused at your third-eye.
One of the best ways to help you develop the habit of focusing at the point between your eyebrows is to start a meditation practice...
...go to our How to Meditate page to learn some easy techniques to get you started.Bandha - Lock
New! Comments