Tag Archive for: Yoga Studio Bundaberg

Yoga Myths: 3 Things About Yoga That Aren’t True

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Yoga has been growing in popularity for the last few decades but there are still a few things that hold people back from giving it a go. We love life and live yoga as it has so many benefits for your physical and mental wellbeing. 

1. Yoga is only for people who are flexible and fit

Yoga is something that you do for yourself, to help your mental and physical fitness, you’re not comparing yourself to anyone else, you just have to concentrate on your own abilities and needs. Start slowly, with a beginners class or workshop and try to build up your abilities through regular practice. Whatever your aim, whether you’re hoping to get fitter through yoga or use it to practice mindfulness and find some mental space, you can work within your abilities. 

You don’t have to be super bendy right now, your regular practice will help you improve your flexibility. Neither do you need to be young to start practising yoga. Whatever age you are, you can work at your own pace. The practice of yoga needs you to combine, flexibility, balance and power and even if you need to work on one or two of these areas you can take the time to do so. Perfection isn’t necessary and you’re not comparing yourself to anyone else, you are on your own journey. 

 

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2. Yoga is just for women

Believe it or not, but Yoga was originally taught and practised by men only but its popularity in the western world was driven by women and the yoga studio has felt dominated by the girls. These days men can still feel a little apprehensive about taking part in a yoga class but they needn’t worry, these days a class will almost always have several men taking part.

Yoga can be really effective in building strength and muscle, it can be a complementary part of a workout regimen or a stand-alone way to gain a little focus. In the Flow 60 yoga class, we practice of flowing from one posture from another, concentrating on your breathing as you go. Unwind 60 is popular with beginners as it is gentle and focuses on the alignments in the asanas (poses), it is beneficial as it concentrates on the mental as well as the physical fundamentals of yoga. 

You can start with one style and move on to something more challenging as you progress in knowledge and fitness.

3. Yoga is a religion

Yoga isn’t related to any formal religion, it’s more of a philosophy of keeping your mind and body healthy by giving you some space to breathe. 

The practice of yoga is for everyone. Whether your lifestyle is green smoothies and long walks, or chaotic and full of kids, taking a moment to recharge and nurture yourself is good for everybody. Old, young, male, or female there is a place for you in a yoga class. You will enjoy connecting with other yogis and appreciate the positive energy of a group yoga class.

The spiritual aspect of yoga centres around the idea of the joining of body and spirit in fostering a wholesome relationship with yourself, your environment and others. 

 

Ready to give yoga a try? Click here to claim your FREE $25 Yoga Gift Card to use for any of our yoga classes, workshops and retreats!

 

4 Mistakes Beginners Make When Starting Yoga

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Attending a yoga class when you have never done yoga before can be a little daunting. Most people are afraid of making mistakes or even looking silly when getting started and we totally get it. However, keep in mind that every yogi had to start somewhere. In fact, we’ve all been there. So, to help you feel a little more at ease, here are four mistakes most beginners make when first getting started with yoga and how you can avoid making them.

1. Comparing Yourself To Other Yogis

Let’s address the elephant in the room. When you start going to a yoga studio it can be tempting to spend a considerable amount of time checking out what other people are doing and start comparing. Are your asanas better or worse your neighbour’s? are you as flexible as the person next to you?

If you compare yourself to others in the class you end up losing focus on what you are doing and why you are there. Whether you look better or worse than other people in the class doesn’t matter, yoga should be a time to carve out some space just for you to relax and breathe.

Spend your time focusing on your asanas and letting go of your outsides stresses. As a beginner you won’t be perfect, your body may not be able to do everything straight away but you will improve with practice. Yoga is a personal journey, not a competition. Focus on your body and on your breath and you’ll leave class feeling fulfilled. Make sure to scan the yoga timetable for classes suitable for beginners.

2. Rushing Asanas

Give yourself time for each pose that you do and pay attention to your whole body. If you rush around in your day to day life it is tempting to treat your yoga class the same way. 

Remember that yoga is not a race to the finish line. Take time to find space, to settle on your mat and prepare your body for the asana. Ensure your body is in alignment before you start and most of all: Don’t forget to breathe! Slowly get into the different poses, checking your movements then allow time for several rounds of deep breathing as you remain in each pose. Remember to also come out of the pose in a gentle way with an awareness of your movements. 

3. Getting Frustrated 

Yoga looks deceptively simple, especially if you already do lots of sports or exercise. Often people new to practising yoga think they will be able to join a class and pick it up perfectly immediately. It is worth remembering that even if you are used to physical activity, that your body will be working in a new way. If you don’t do much in the way of exercise you will need to work the stiffness out of your body with gentle practice.

The asanas in yoga need you to begin to stretch and move your body in a way that’s new. Be kind to yourself, don’t get cross and frustrated, you will need time and practice to get into those perfect poses. Yoga is a gentle exercise and each time you come to class you’ll notice something get a little easier as your muscles learn the movements. 

 

4. Leaving Too Soon 

The final relaxation (also called Shavasana) is a great way to end a class, this is a process where you relax your body as the teacher guides you through a wind-down relaxation. This process can last from 5 minutes upwards and is important in giving yourself a moment to absorb what you have practised in class and get ready to go back to real life. 

Some new students can feel that this part of the class isn’t essential so they gather up their stuff and leave to get on with the rest of their day. This is a mistake as relaxation is one of the most important parts of the session. It gives your muscles a chance to stretch and relax but even more importantly it gives you the mental space to breathe and calm.