About Yoga
General Overview
Yoga is an ancient form of meditative exercise that focuses on strength, flexibility and breathing to enhance physical and mental wellbeing. The primary elements of yoga are postures (movements to increase strength and flexibility) and breathing.
The practice originated in India about 5,000 years ago and has been adapted in other countries in a variety of ways. Yoga is now commonplace in leisure & community centers, Yoga facilities, Outdoor Parks in the summer, health clubs, schools, hospitals. Yoga is also practiced by many at home as well.
There is much more to Yoga that goes beyond the physical activities. In some cases the practice can also be associated with spiritual and meditative aspects. More to come later about this.
Are there Health Benefits to doing Yoga?
Many Scientific trials have been published on yoga and there is so much information online across websites, Youtube & more. It's up to each person to decide what they understand and believe and generally you will know by how you feel if you are benefiting from practicing Yoga. We would like to suggest that before undertaking any new physical activity to check with your doctor before if you have any pre-existing medical or health issues.
Many studies suggest yoga is a safe and effective way to increase physical activity, especially strength, flexibility and balance, but we are not experts on the subject and recommend you your own research.
There's some evidence presented online that regular yoga practice is beneficial for people with high blood pressure, heart disease, aches and pains – including lower back pain – depression and stress. This is a general opinion and is worthy of examination and more research.
We can't recommend or suggest one way or another but it's good to find what works best for you and to be well informed. We will add more official information here at a later time as we do more research.
Can you be too old for yoga?
People often start yoga in their 70s, and many say they wish they had started sooner. There are yoga classes for every age group. Yoga is a form of exercise that can be enjoyed at any time, from childhood to your advanced years. Again, we recommend you check with your doctor first if you have any pre-existing medical or health issues.
Do you need to be fit to do yoga?
Not really but it helps. You can join a class suitable for your fitness level. For example, to join a mixed-ability yoga class, you need to be able to get up and down from the floor. Some yoga classes are chair-based. Consult with a Yoga instructor or guide to see what they recommend for you. Make sure any consultations are with certified instructors to make sure you get proper & reasonable guidance.
Do you need to be flexible to do yoga?
Yoga can help improve your flexibility and help you go beyond your normal range of movement, which may help to make performing your daily activities easier.
Can a person get injured doing yoga?
Yoga-related injuries are rare. Some injuries can be caused by repetitive strain or overstretching, depending on your physical condition. Yoga is the same as any other exercise discipline – it's safe if taught properly by people who understand it, have experience and are qualified and certified instructors. We recommend you learn from a qualified yoga teacher and choose a class appropriate to your level and capability. We will work to connect with local teachers and facilities and add a contact section to this group at a later time.
What type of class should I take?
We can't recommend what type of class to take or what type of Yoga to do. Please check out our section on Types of Yoga. Classes can vary in duration but typically last between 45 and 90 minutes. A longer class will give you more time for learning breathing and relaxation techniques, and will possibly give the teacher time to work with your individual ability depending on class size.
It's worth speaking with a qualified & certified instructor or teacher about their approach before you sign up for a class.
Using a Book, DVD or Online learning Program
As with anything online or produced, there are good and bad programs. It's good to use care when learning or taking on new physical activities. We recommend first talking with a qualified local instructor or to take a local class or classes to learn then perhaps do on your own later if you desire.
We will work to setup some online learning events with local & global qualified and certified instructors.
Volunteers & Contributors
Are you a Yoga instructor or teacher or know one who would be interested to help our group members? We have programs to help connect volunteer instructors and provide a channel fo them to connect with new students and vice versa. Contact Us for more information.
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