Learning Beginner Yoga Exercises

Monday, November 24, 2008

There are many kinds of yoga exercises, all which seem to have derived from the original eight stages of reaching a state of bliss. Hatha yoga is the most popular type of yoga which encourages good health through the practice of varfious poses and breathing techniques.
A nice thing about yoga is that you don’t need any fancy equipment in order to practice it. A positive attitude is all you need to bring. Clothing does not have to be special either. Simply wear some loose fitting, non-restrictive clothing.
Many people like to practice yoga in a class but there is no reason you cannot simply find a quiet spot in your house to start. Make sure that you have no interuptions, the area is quiet and is environmently comfortable. A soft mat may be handy together with a blanket and a pillow which will help give you some form of support and added comfort for the laying or sitting down positions. Yoga is normally practiced barefoot, so you don’t need any expensive shoes though you may wish to wear some socks or soft shoes.
Try not to eat a heavy meal for at least two or three hours before doing any yoga exercises. Eating too much can leave you feeling too full which is not comfortable as you move through the exercises. You can eat some fruit or an energy bar and drink a glass of juice an hour or so before doing yoga. As you exercise you will want to make some water available though as the exertion will tend to dehydrate you.
Many people like to practice yoga first thing in the morning as it helps to revitalise the mind and body using the postures and breathing techniques. Some yoga practitioners prefer to exercise at night to help relieve the stress from a busy day. It is perfectly fine to do both. Yoga can be performed anytime and anywhere, you just have to find best time.
Basic yoga poses always start with easy poses, building up to the more difficult poses. Take a pause if you feel pain or too much fatigue. Relaxing in between difficult exercises is also considered to be beneficial.
Daily yoga exercises is optimal. You can do as little as 15 minutes of fitness exercise and 15 minutes of breathing and meditation each day and you will start to reap the benefits.