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Yogi Bruce: Yoga Teacher
Yoga Basics
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Sun, 12 Feb 2006
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What the Heck is YOGA?
Y
OGA is a science (5,000+ years old) practiced as
an art. YOGA is a Sanskrit word meaning “union”
or “bring together” – it is an ancient practice
of self-discovery, uniting the body, mind, and
spirit; finding the “oneness” that exists at the
core of every being. YOGA is NOT a religion. Our
Western culture has embraced YOGA as a fitness
tool. The physical practice of YOGA (Hatha)
balances strength with flexibility and tones the
muscles along with the vital organs of the body.
It is non-competitive and always geared to your
personal needs at that particular moment. This
will make sense as your practice matures.
Practice is the term used for “doing” yoga; one
never masters it. YOGA is a phenomenal tool used
for self-discovery. While practicing yoga –
LISTEN to your body. Focus on your breath and
allow your body to speak to you. If something
hurts, don’t do it.
General Structure of the yoga class
1) Centering: Settling in and connecting with
your breathing, state of mind & body
2) Warm-ups: Warming muscles & joints for an
effective & safe session
3) Postures (asanas): Learning alignment,
strengthening & toning
4) Cool Down: Stretches to further improve
flexibility
5) Deep Relaxation (savasana): The time to rest
focusing on the breath and relexation
How to prepare for class
1) Have a sense of humor. You will find yourself
in positions you never thought possible. That's
where the sense of humor comes in. Yoga is non-
competitive. Yoga is not about being perfect in a
posture: that's why we call it "practice."
2) Wear comfortable clothes that will not come
over your head if you bend over, or split when we
do leg stretches. Yoga is done with bare feet so
you stick to your mat and are able to feel the
floor and maintain balance. A hand towel is good
to have as well.
3) Avoid eating less than two hours before class.
It’s smart to drink plenty of water throughout
the day to stay hydrated.
4) To help you learn and to keep you from being
injured, we may come around to do hands-on
adjustments. If you are not comfortable being
touched, please let us know quietly or with a
gesture to keep from disturbing others.
5) Yoga is non-competitive—it’s all about YOU—how
you feel—it’s your chance to be totally selfish.
It is okay to rest whenever needed during class;
we’ll show you some great poses to do so.
Posted 11:40
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