Yoga used to be the kind of thing someone's eccentric aunt did - a woman with a braid wrapped around her head who entertained the children by putting her foot behind her neck.
I tried screening three different videos on a day when my neck and shoulder muscles were tighter than last year's jeans. I had knots the size of Rhode Island that had been there for weeks.
Jane Fonda's Yoga Exercise (A.Vision) relaxed them. Kathy Smith's New Yoga (BodyVision) warmed them up. Three hours later, after falling under the reassuring southern spell of actress Dixie Carter's Unworkout (MCA Universal), they melted away.
Here's how it went:
An all-natural Jane Fonda appeared on a set that looks like a craggy moonscape, wearing plain red leotards and tights, and sporting a French braid down to her hips. (It's a hair extension, but what do we care.)
She demonstrated the classical Sun Salutation, a choreographed yoga routine traditionally used to greet the day, her huge Ted Turner diamond gleaming in the spotlight.
Then she asked us to join her in a warm-up, several rounds of the Sun Salutation, and a relaxation and breath awareness segment, 60 minutes all told.
Yoga is slow, I decided, slow enough that I have time to examine the webs between my toes and the lint on the carpet while holding each pose. While nearly standing on my head, I meditated on the most profound of Jane's statements: When in doubt, breathe.
After the relaxation segment, my thoughts switched to her final message: I am relaxed, and I will carry this feeling with me.
She said this hour would help me stretch, tone and energize my body. At that moment I felt lethargic, noodled, ready for lunch. The knots are still there.
Kathy Smith also appeared in a red leotard and tights and urged me to do the workout on an empty stomach, preferably just before dinner. She worked with Rod Stryker, yoga instructor of the stars, to update the ancient disciplines and merge them into a workout for fitness fans.
Kathy stood on a raised pylon as she led a more athletic version of the Sun Salutation, a half dozen other poses and a meditation, 60 minutes total.
The great thing about yoga, I'm learning, is the great names attached to each exercise: the downward dog, the cobra, the plank.
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So many people shy away from starting an exercise or keep fit program if they feel a little bit overweight, as they feel self-conscious and uncomfortable if attending a gym or a class. Lack of fitness may stop someone from attending an aerobics class but starting yoga is less intimidating.
The yoga positions are ideal for the beginner, as there are varying intensities and students can push themselves further if the body allows. Yoga is non-competitive so individuals should progress in their own time, allowing their bodies to relax into the yoga positions naturally.
Those who are unfit or overweight will find that by focussing on the correct alignment of each of the yoga positions, they will start to tone up, slim down and increase their flexibility. As the strength and suppleness increases, students tend to find that their appetite diminishes whilst their quest for knowledge towards healthier eating increases.
When eating sensibly and following a careful exercise plan, there is no need for starvation diets or straining the body with unrealistic exercise programs. In effect, yoga offers realistic solutions to obesity.
Consider the gentle positive effect yoga has on the mind. It increases clarity, wisdom and provides a sense of inner peace so that the mind, body and spirit begins to work in harmony with each other, and this then helps to balance out the need for comfort eating. It can the student to begin to care for their body in general quite naturally without feelings of guilt.
The yoga positions are only one aspect of yoga as a whole but they are an integral part of any practise and a healthy body will eventually lead to a healthier mind. Quite simply, the student can take their practise and self-development to new levels, it only requires the ability to find time to practise regularly and with focus.
Ideally practise should be daily and the best time is early in the morning on awakening and prior to eating breakfast. This may not be the best time for everyone, so adapting the practise time and location may be advisable. The main aim is to practise regularly and this then becomes a way of life and not a chore. Dedicated students will use every opportunity to practise, be it in front of the television, at work or even in the garden. There are many opportunities to practise yoga positions which will all help ultimately with slimming and firming the figure.
For those who suffer with problem body parts, there are yoga positions, which can help to improve or alleviate certain conditions. Bad posture for example will be greatly improved as awareness is heightened, as the body grows stronger.
• Abdomen: Try abdominal lifts, child pose, cobra pose, boat pose
• Thighs and Hips: Hero pose, Sun Salutation, Dog pose, Triangle
• Arms and Legs: Bridge pose, Tree pose, Bridge pose.
Incorporate these yoga positions into a regular routine and the results will soon be apparent.
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