While it is important to practice at home, attending yoga classes on a regular basis is highly recommended. Initially for the beginner, it is so that they can ensure that they are doing the postures correctly, including alignment in the ultimate position and it is also useful for the complete novice to understand the benefits of each posture. The yoga teacher will be able to explain these benefits whilst the students are in the postures, so that they can visualize these benefits as they practice.
Yoga classes also provide a connection with other like-minded people and a class can become a social environment where everyone supports everyone else’s progress. Remember however that yoga is non-competitive, so it does not matter if the person next to you is more flexible and supple than you, the aim is on personal self-development and all students develop on an individual level.
If attending a yoga class it is vital that you are completely honest with the teacher about your personal fitness level, any medical problems or conditions that you may have experienced. This is because the teacher needs to be aware if there are any postures, which may be counter-productive for your needs.
Students are encouraged to practice outside the yoga classes so that they can maintain their progress. Many students find that they may have some difficult practice sessions, almost as if the body is regressing. This is quite common and the body then seems to become even more flexible as a result.
Finding a good class is often by word of mouth, however if you do not have anyone to recommend you, it is worth doing a little bit of research. For example, choose the type of yoga carefully. A complete beginner may find the intensity of Ashtanga yoga classes a little daunting to begin with especially if they are not overly fit or flexible.
Hatha yoga or Iyengar yoga classes will be widely advertised locally and either would be perfectly acceptable for beginners. There are always a wide level of abilities and ages at any class from beginners to advance. Seemingly impossible postures being performed with relative ease, all of which will be achievable by the beginner in due course with regular and sustained practice.
Tips:
• When starting a new class, be brave and take your position near the front so you can have a good view of your teacher.
• Take water with you so that you do not feel dehydrated.
• Do not trying to be competitive with others, just focus on your own development.
• Do not eat 2 hours prior to the class
• Remember to enjoy the movement and the class.
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If the catchy name is anything to go by, Yoga Booty Ballet is likely to be a huge hit with both yoga and dance enthusiasts, but does the content of this new fitness regime stand up to scrutiny?
Now available on DVD for use at home, Yoga Booty Ballet is hugely popular in America and in Hollywood in particular, where in-person classes are given. Gillian Marloth and Teigh McDonough are the creators of this program and they both have strong fitness backgrounds, and they have designed three yoga, cardio and body-sculpting workouts, which is alleged to treat mind, body and spirit.
The concept behind this new form of exercise is to make exercise fun using yoga and sculpting coupled with dance, which will make the body fit and strong. It is created for women specifically and targets women’s weight loss, which is of course important to most women. To really see the benefit of Yoga Booty Ballet, it is recommended that the program or aspects of it be carried out each day for a set period of time. This may be difficult for some people to commit to, and some despondency may follow as a result if people cannot manage to keep to the regime over a period of time.
Yoga or dance enthusiasts may feel even more excited about the prospect of this exercise craze, because it is building on techniques or moves which they already have an awareness of, but most importantly the moves will be fresh and interesting. Those who have limited yoga or dance experience may not connect with the movements in the same way and they may not feel the same benefits. This could lead to disappointment unless they are patient and persevere.
Ultimately, even the die-hard traditional yoga fans should look at changing their routines and incorporating different styles of fitness within their regime, and Yoga Booty Ballet would enable them to do this. As with all exercise programs, stimulating the mind is essential so as to help keep the student keen and motivated, variety at least keeps the postures or movements fresh and exercise is exercise at the end of the day.
Keeping the body supple, strong and flexible is the aim of any yoga student but coupled with the physical aspect is the spiritual side of yoga, which should be developed in addition. It is perfectly acceptable and reasonable to attempt to expand current horizons by studying different styles and practicing meditation as well. Meditation can accelerate the physical aspect of exercise programs as the student can visualize the required movements bit by bit as if watching a film being replayed, this will enable the student to grasp the concept, imagining themselves successfully learning and completing all of the postures and movements.
So embrace Yoga Booty Ballet but incorporate additional styles with existing exercise sessions, which will help to keep workouts varied and exciting plus body, mind and spirit will then be truly enhanced.
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