Posted on

Why newbies shouldn’t give up on yoga

2016Feb15_Yoga_AYour first yoga class can be intimidating. You’re in a room full of strangers, some wearing very little clothing, all stretching and contorting their bodies. As you see some of the more experienced students shifting into poses straight out of the cirque du soleil, you may feel a mixture of shock, amazement and embarrassment. How will you ever get to that level? Do you even want to get to that level?! If this sounds like you, we have two words for you: stop it. While you may be a few years off being a top yogi, you have to remember that even the students effortlessly standing on their heads in class were once nervous beginners like you. So if your first yoga class has left you feeling afraid and insecure, here are a handful of reasons why you should keep practicing.

You’ll find the right teacher

Finding the right teacher is key to developing a yoga practice you feel comfortable with. If you’re lucky, you’ll find a teacher you love right away. For those who don’t, there’s nothing wrong with looking elsewhere. Some teachers are gentle, and others are more demanding of their students. Some will play music you enjoy, and others won’t play music at all. Some will race you through poses like a drill sergeant, and others at a slow pace. There are an endless variety of teachers out there. Keep looking till you find the right one.

You’ll learn to love props

Maybe you’ve seen those blocks, blankets and straps sitting in the corner of the classroom. Yes, they can look a bit scary at first, but remember, they’re there to help beginners like you. The block, for example, can help bring the floor higher. So if you’re having trouble touching the ground in triangle pose (the pose where your feet are spread apart so your legs create a triangle shape), use the block. It can prevent you from toppling over and help you stabilize the pose. Just like the block, all props have a distinct purpose that can help beginners tremendously. If you’re confused how a prop can help you, watch how other students use them or better still, ask your instructor.

You’ll learn it’s okay to go easy on yourself

Besides the teacher, who is there to motivate and train you, no one could care less whether you’re completing a pose or falling on your bum. Other students in class are focusing on their own practice, not you. So if you don’t want to participate in the chanting or breathing exercises, it is completely acceptable. As a beginner, just keep it simple: focus on your poses. Be respectful to your classmates and teacher, and they’ll treat you the same. Go easy on yourself, and you’ll quickly start getting the hang of yoga.

You’ll learn to love the back row

As a yoga newbie, there is no better place to be than the back row. From the back of the classroom, you can easily see how the more experienced students get into, and hold, poses. Of course the teacher is there to help you as well, but watching how others do it can be invaluable.

You’ll make progress

While it may be hard to believe, even the most advanced students in class are still deepening their yoga practice. That’s why it’s important to remember that yoga is not only a practice, but also a process. You’ll get better over time, but there will never be a point at which you’ve achieved yoga perfection. And you shouldn’t expect to.

In your class, focus on doing the best you can today. With this mindset you’ll soon notice your own progress, which will deepen at one month, six months, a year, five years of practice, and so on.

You’ll become more centered and calm

You’ve probably already heard that yoga can relieve stress, and make you more calm and centered. Today, there is actually some evidence to back it up. Over a three month period in 2005, researchers in Germany observed 24 stressed out women as they participated in two 90-minute yoga sessions a week. At the end of the three months, the women noticed a reduction in their anxiety and depression, and also a 65% boost in their overall feeling of well being. How would you like to experience that?

Remember, no matter how good you are at a given task today, there was once a time when you were a beginner. Yoga is no different. Put in the practice and you’ll eventually be contorting your body into crazy poses like the rest of them. Until then, come down to our studio and benefit from the guidance of our experienced teachers. They are happy to help you become the yogi you are meant to be.

Published with permission from FitnessAdvisory. Source.

Posted on

The benefits of Hot Yoga

2016Feb8_Yoga_AYou’ve likely heard of hot yoga. And if you’re like any sane individual, the idea of performing yoga in a room heated to 105 degrees may not sound all that appealing. So why do people do it? Well, there are quite a few benefits to this relatively new yoga practice. Here are a few of them that inspire people everyday to give hot yoga a try.

Add a healthy glow to your skin

Regardless of whether or not you’re exercising, if you’re in a room heated to 105 degrees you’re definitely going to sweat in a matter of minutes. And when you add exercise to the equation, your body’s flood gates will open even more. While the idea of this may sound nauseating, it can produce benefits for your skin. Essentially, the heat opens up your pores, and in the process eliminates impurities from both your body and skin. What’s more, the moisture of the humidity maintains the skin’s hydration level, and in turn gives it a natural glow.

Forget that it’s winter

In this gloomy month of February with short days and frigid temperatures, it can be exceedingly difficult to forget that it’s winter outside. All this can lead to seasonal depression, and a lack of motivation to do anything else but veg out on the couch. When you step into a hot yoga class, the cold temperatures outside are quickly forgotten about. Suddenly it’s as if you’re in some exotic location, sweating you bum off in hundred degree temperatures. While hot yoga may not be quite as enjoyable as soaking up some rays on a tropical island, it can certainly temporarily help you forget that it’s the coldest month of the year.

Intensify your concentration

And speaking of forgetting February, hot yoga also boosts your concentration in other positive ways. If you’ve practiced yoga before, you already know the amount of concentration it requires to get your pose right and focus on your breathing. When you add hundred degree temps into the mix, you’re forced to up your focus even more. Suddenly, all the thoughts whirling through your mind about your job, bills or family drama, disappear. Instead, the intensity of the heat and yoga pushes you to bring your undivided attention into the classroom, to your body and breath. After a few sessions, this added concentration will carry into your life outside of the studio, and you’ll become more present in your daily life.

Hot yoga high

Last but certainly not least…if you’ve ever talked with someone who’s done hot yoga, you may have heard of the hot yoga high. After class, when the temperatures dramatically change and your body relaxes, you may suddenly find yourself feeling elated. Like all vigorous exercise, hot yoga causes your body to produce endorphins. But the heat also produces a number of other effects that create the hot yoga high. Fresh blood circulates throughout your body as your heart rate elevates. Add to that all the sweat and impurities you just flushed out of your system, and it’s no wonder that hot yoga practitioners often feel a sense of euphoria after class.

Want to learn more about the different kinds of yoga and their benefits? Call us today. We have a number of classes that can help improve your mind, body and spirit.

Published with permission from FitnessAdvisory. Source.

Posted on

How to tell if you have a good yoga teacher

For a lot of people who do yoga, they end up sticking with the first instructor they visit. This is out of convenience or fear of the unknown more than anything else. Maybe it’s because the studio is close to their house or maybe it’s because they get a great discount for buying class sessions in bulk. There’s no shame in this, but perhaps you’re wondering if your teacher is actually any good.

After all, there is a reason you continue to go to their class, but is it because you are learning from the teacher or some other non-experience related reason? Here are 6 questions to ask when trying to better understand if your yoga instructor is good.

Does your yoga teacher make you feel comfortable?

This is something a lot of students don’t necessarily realize until after they reflect upon the question. A big part of yoga is mental and if you don’t feel totally comfortable during your class because of something the teacher is or is not doing, then that’s a problem. For instance, if you don’t like being touched, having a hands-on instructor might make you a little uncomfortable. A good yoga teacher will take the time to understand you and help you find your comfort zone during their class.

Where’s the teacher’s attention going?

We have heard our fair share of stories that involve male teachers, and even a few female ones, paying attention to a handful of the best looking students and basically ignoring the rest of the class. This is a sign of a bad instructor and one who is not in tune with the basic principles of yoga. A good teacher is aware of his or her surroundings and will assist those students who may be struggling as well as provide support to everyone, not a select few people in the class.

How prepared are they?

Each yoga instructor has a different style, but it’s pretty easy to tell if one is unprepared. You don’t want a teacher who rolls into class five-minutes late and just starts throwing out poses for everyone to do without any rhyme or reason. We aren’t saying a yoga teacher needs to have the entire class planned out from start to finish, the good ones are able to read the class and go with the flow, but they must be prepared to teach.

Are they flashy?

There are yoga instructors out there who will make sure their students know just how great they are by doing ridiculously complex poses and bragging about how much their yoga mat costs. These are arguably the worse kinds of teachers because they don’t understand that the class should be about you, the students. If the session has become focused on the teacher then the class dynamic is backwards and it can be difficult for anyone to learn.

Do they challenge you?

One of the most important aspects of yoga is challenging yourself, both physically and mentally. A good yoga teacher will help prepare you for these challenges and push you when you need it. We tend to not test our boundaries and instead try to find a routine which we can stick to. A good yoga teacher will make sure this doesn’t happen and present you with challenges when you are ready for them.

What do other students say about the teacher?

While you’re entitled to your opinion, it’s good to ask around to see what your classmates think about your yoga instructor, especially if you haven’t practiced with a number of other teachers. If they share similar complaints you might want to consider what they are saying and see for yourself if it is true or not.

The teachers at our studio always put students first. No matter what your level is, our yoga instructors will help guide you on your journey.

Published with permission from FitnessAdvisory. Source.

Posted on

Practicing Yama off the mat

2016Jan25_Yoga_AIt’s quite common to see advertisements portraying yoga as a workout to achieve a flat belly and toned arms. However, behind its misconception as a modern fashionable trend for physical health, true practitioners know that real yoga is a balm for the soul, not the body. Ultimately, practicing yoga will set your mind and body free from the discomforts of everyday life. In this post, we will zone in on the practice of Yama, the practice or discipline of right conduct that serves as a reference for living a lifestyle that is in complete harmony with the world around us.

At least 1,700 years ago, the great sage Patanjali shared his compilation of the Yoga Sūtras, one of the most important texts on classical yoga philosophy. In it, we are taught Ashtanga, or the “Eight Limbs of Yoga” – a framework for humans to achieve spiritual development and reach the summit of their human experience.

There’s lot to be written about each of the Eight Limbs, but instead of tackling them all, we will briefly touch on putting an effort towards Yama, the first tangible limb.

Practicing Yama

Yama has a lot to do with how a yoga practitioner conducts himself in daily life. It acts as a universally moral, ethical, and societal guideline for a yogi to behave and relate to his world when truly immersed in the unitive state of yoga. There are five Yamas — Ahimsa, Satya, Asteya, Brahmacharya, Aparigraha – that should be practiced at all levels of actions, words and thoughts, and should not be confined to any class, place, time, or concept of duty (Yoga Sutra 2.31). Here are emphatic descriptions for each Yama, along with some advice on how to start practicing them today.

Ahimsa (Non-violence)

The highest ranking of the Yamas, Ahimsa is the practice of non-violence (physical, mental or emotional) towards one’s self and other living beings. Violence is often created in our habitual reactions to events and other people and works under many subtle disguises like judgement, criticism, anger, and irritation. This is not easy to do, but when Ahimsa is fully embraced, you will have a more harmonious relationship with the world and a deep-seated peaceful inner life.

Satya (Truthfulness)

Satya urges us to be truthful at all times. Truthfulness is seeing and saying things as they are, rather than the way we would like them to be. All aspects of your life can benefit from practicing Satya when you know that it means a whole lot more than “not telling lies”. In this case, be careful in choosing your words. Thoughts, emotions and moods are extremely interchangeable, yet we rely on them to create our own truth and our whole life experience.

Asteya (Non-stealing)

The third Yama may be pretty self-explanatory and easy to accomplish, however, Asteya actually means much more than the physical act of stealing. Practicing Asteya encourages us to be more generous and helps us overcome greediness. Because wealth is ultimately a state of mind, Asteya helps you give up the desire for things and instead have an inner sense of wealth, and outer wealth will come to you by itself.

Brahmacharya (Continence)

Brahmacharya is the control of our senses. The more people gratify their senses, the less energy and less ability they have to meditate for higher spiritual purposes. When a yogi has the courage and will to control his physical impulses in excess (moderation), he breaks the bonds of attachment and becomes a stronger, healthier and wiser person.

Aparigraha (Non-coveting)

The last of the five Yamas, Aparigraha, urges us to let go of everything that we do not need, possessing only as much as necessary. Accumulating these things out of greed or fear is not only wasteful; the desire for possessions will take over and you will lose the ability to see your one eternal possession — the Atman, or our true Self. To practice Aparigraha, rely on your own abundance and creativity and celebrate what is yours without comparing yourself to others. You don’t need more and more if you are grateful and feel fulfilled with what you have at the moment.

In conclusion, rather than thinking of the five Yamas as a mandatory “to-do list”, view them as opportunities to truly transform your life and help you reach your highest aspirations such as peace, truth, abundance, harmonious relationships, contentment, self-acceptance, purity, love, and a meaningful connection to the Divine — the essence of happiness. If you wish to know more about cultivating Yama or the rest of the Eight Limbs on and off the mat, do pay us a visit or get in touch with us.

Published with permission from FitnessAdvisory. Source.

Posted on

Improve your poses with vibrating yoga pants

164_A_YogaThere’s no doubt, yoga pants are in style these days. While they have a practical use in the studio to add additional comfort to your practice, what if they could do more? The fashion tech company known as Wearable Experiments believes they can. Later this year, they plan to release vibrating yoga pants that will help guide you into postures correctly. Here’s what you need to know about these radical new yoga pants.

If you’ve dabbled in yoga or are a beginner, you know firsthand just how difficult it can be to get into the right position. When you’re just starting out doing yoga, getting hung up on and over-thinking your poses can be a distraction. Instead of focusing on your breathing, stretching and enjoying your new practice, you’re worried about whether or not your posture is correct. This is obviously frustrating. And Billie Whitehouse, the CEO of the company that is making the new yoga pants, understands the need to get your posture right. “As someone who doesn’t always know the correct form or alignment in poses, I find having that proper guidance is crucial.”

How vibrating yoga pants work

Named Nadi Smart fitness pants, the tights use haptic vibrations to ensure you nail your yoga poses. These vibrations vary in intensity and frequency depending on your body position and mimic the sense of touch, providing an experience similar to a teacher guiding you in your pose. The only difference is that your pants are doing it instead!

To be used in tandem with the pants is an app that will be compatible with both Google Android and Apple iOS devices. This app monitors your form and flow as you move from one pose to the next, and shows you the correct pose as well as where you need to make adjustments.

Because these pants vibrate and obviously use technology, you may think they’ll look awkward and clunky. However, this does not appear to be the case at all. Reportedly, the technology is subtle and unobtrusive. And judging from images on the company’s website, technology is nowhere in sight. The tights look like a normal, yet fashionable pair of yoga pants.

However, when it comes to yoga, we understand that many people will still prefer the guidance of an instructor. That’s why the teachers in our studio will not only guide you in your poses, but will also provide support and be there to answer all your questions. So until a pair of pants can do that, we recommend you swing by our fitness center for all the assistance you need in developing your yoga technique. Get in touch with us today.

 

Published with permission from FitnessAdvisory. Source.

Posted on

Busting the myths on Yoga body types

Yoga_2016Jan11_AOne of the most harmful yoga stereotypes that continues to circulate is that overweight people shouldn’t or can’t do it. We’re here to tell you that is 100 percent false. Anyone, regardless of how much they weigh, can take part in yoga if they choose to. You have probably heard many of the myths about why plus-sized people shouldn’t try yoga, but today we will debunk those once and for all because we believe and we know that yoga is for everyone.

For overweight people, getting into yoga has been one of the most intimidating experiences around. It has been a skinny-person’s pastime for years now and there have been reports of students and even teachers at certain yoga studios fat-shaming overweight people who wanted to even give it a try.

One way this has been done is by the spreading of myths about overweight people in regards to yoga. It is likely that you have heard at least a few of these and they all have one thing in common – they’re completely and utterly false. That’s right, you don’t have to be skinny to do yoga. In fact, body size doesn’t matter at all. Let’s take a look at some of the common myths floating around and prove why they are wrong.

Overweight people can’t perform the poses

The myth here is that overweight people can’t do certain poses because they weigh too much. This is just silly. At the end of the day, the only reason a person can or cannot perform certain poses is based on training and experience, not weight. With enough practice, anyone can do any pose. That is because a person’s body will build flexibility, stamina and strength over time when they perform yoga.

Let’s think about it another way. If a skinny person who doesn’t exercise and an overweight person who doesn’t exercise start doing yoga at the same time, they will be at the same skill level and require the same amount of time to do certain poses as they build up their flexibility, stamina and strength. If anyone tells you otherwise, they don’t know what they are talking about.

Overweight people aren’t elegant when doing yoga

This has to be one of the most ridiculous myths out there for the simple fact that at the end of the day it doesn’t matter. Doing yoga has nothing to do with how you look. And if other people are looking at other students during a yoga class, they are doing it wrong anyway. Yoga isn’t about elegance, it’s about self realization and finding tranquility. Anyone worried about the other stuff isn’t practicing yoga for the right reasons anyway.

Yoga won’t help you lose weight

There is more to life than what the scale says. While yoga won’t help you shed pounds, it can improve your health and fitness in other ways. Through proper breathing and stretching, you can help reduce your stress and obtain a general feeling of wellbeing. You will also notice physical improvements when you practice yoga including greater strength and improved flexibility which can help, should you wish to try another form of exercise.

You’ll make other people feel uncomfortable when you do yoga

If this is something you believe or something you have heard other people say at your yoga studio, then you have been misinformed. Yoga is a welcoming practice that does not discriminate. Because yoga is an inward-facing practice, you should not be worried about the people around you nor should they be concerned about you. The focus should always be on what you’re doing.

People who believe this myth tend to be superficial and are practicing yoga more to be seen and not for a love of the art. Everyone at a yoga studio should feel comfortable and when people utter hurtful words like these, they are making those who are overweight feel uncomfortable. You should find a place where you feel welcome and comfortable because it is at these studios where superficial issues like weight don’t matter.

We welcome all body types here and would love a chance to show you the benefits of yoga. Get in touch or stop by today and see how yoga can change your life for the better.

Published with permission from FitnessAdvisory. Source.

Posted on

Is your Yoga Teacher Making these Mistakes?

Yoga_Dec28_AOf course, it takes a lot of time, dedication and effort to become a fitness instructor, whatever discipline you are primarily working in. But as in any industry some people are simply better suited to their role than others. Whether that’s through not keeping up with developments in their field, a tendency to believe anything spouted by a so-called authority without doing their own research, or simply not having the passion that a career in the industry demands, ultimately the person negatively affected is you. So what are the signs you should look out for that tell you that you might need to change yoga teachers?

Despite starting out with all the best will in the world the problem is that, as with any job, it can sometimes be tempting to tell the customer what they want to hear. Whether that’s down to wanting to close a sale or due to misinformation that sounds customer-friendly but is not actually based on any facts. The problem is, being sold a perfume that doesn’t make good on its promise to make you irresistible to the opposite sex and signing up for a yoga class that does you more harm than good are two very different things. The first is a waste of money at best (although at least you smell nice) but the second could be physically harming you.

The fact is yoga is a scientific practice which needs to integrate biomechanics – the study of a structure such as the human body. A good yoga instructor understands this and knows how to incorporate research in this field into their classes. In a quality yoga class you will not find your teacher spouting vague, flowery terms that have no grounding in biomechanics. Therefore if you’ve noticed your teacher offering pearls of ‘wisdom’ such as “shoulder stands increase activity in the brain” you might want to consider switching studios. No one is saying your instructor doesn’t mean well – they believe what they are telling you. They just haven’t thought to investigate why they are saying it. Worse, they could be putting you in danger.

Here are some other things that should be raising red flags:

Your yoga teacher is piling on the pressure

Manipulating the body to force it into an ideal of what a pose ‘should look like’ is an all round no-no. If your body is unable to attain a pose, no one is qualified or has the right to force you into a position that you find uncomfortable or are downright unable to achieve. Going deeper into your poses is something that you should work towards naturally and at a rate that feels right for you. Consider that a massage therapist undergoes intensive training and must apply for a license before they lay even a finger on a client and compare that to a yoga instructor fresh out of their 200-hour training course forcing you into a position that frankly may be dangerous for you to attempt.

Your teacher tells you yoga is the be all and end all of exercise

Yoga is hugely beneficial for people of all ages and fitness levels; that’s not up for debate, but what is, are teachers who claim that you’re getting all the physical activity you need in your yoga class. You spend an entire yoga class on your mat – this fact alone says that you are not being subjected to the range of physical movement you need to live your life to the fullest. For example, yoga will not help you develop muscles that enable you to run faster – whether you’re pounding the treadmill or sprinting for the bus.

No yoga class is complete without head and/or shoulder stands

There has been a lot of media attention given to the so-called benefits of shoulder and headstands lately and many rookie instructors feel that a yoga class is missing an integral part if they are not included. Furthermore the same teachers usually believe that holding stands for a long count is mandatory too. The problem is the claims that are being made about head and shoulder stands’ magical effects are not backed by any kind of scientific research. In fact, many instructors do not include stands in the practice, at least in general classes, for the simple reason that an average student will not have adequate neck muscles to support their body weight. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to work out that a head or shoulder stand performed incorrectly can put serious stress on the neck and lead to an accident or long term damage.

Your teacher tells you yoga gives you longer, leaner muscles

If you want to burn fat and achieve an overall sleeker look, of course yoga is only going to push you towards your goal, but the length of your muscles actually have everything to do with the length of your bones, and precious little to do with the downward dog.

If you’d rather know that you are practicing yoga in a safe, jargon-free, supportive and professional environment, talk to us today. Our highly qualified instructors are always happy to answer any concerns or queries you might have.

Published with permission from FitnessAdvisory. Source.

Posted on

Kick-start your morning with yoga

Yoga_4Jan_ALet’s face it, most of us prefer the extra time in bed to getting up and hitting the mat for an early morning yoga session. But believe it or not, there’s nothing better than an energizing morning yoga practice to calm your mind and set yourself up for an amazing and productive day. So don’t think of it as torture – give it a go and, who knows, it might just become your next favorite thing! Here’s how yoga can give your morning a fresh start.

It encourages better sleep habits

Deciding to practice yoga first thing in the morning is like making a promise and commitment to yourself. You will be more likely to prioritize your bedtime and think twice before trying to burn the midnight oil. What’s more, once you make morning yoga practice a habit, your body becomes accustomed to waking up at the same time each day, which means you will wake up feeling fully refreshed and energized.

It calms your mind throughout the day

Practicing yoga early in the morning will steady your mind for the whole day, allowing you to stay calm even in the most hectic moments and be prepared for anything that comes your way, whether it’s a traffic jam, heavy workload, or a heated discussion with your colleague.

It boosts your metabolism

Yoga helps improve your digestion, facilitate the movement of nutrients through your body, and speeds up your metabolic rate. Once your body has a sufficient amount of nutrients circulating through, it will metabolize carbs and fat faster, meaning you can actually eat more food and burn calories quicker.

Check out these morning yoga poses that you can complete in as little as 10 minutes:

  • Balasana (Child’s Pose) – Start by kneeling down and bending forward to bring your chest to your thighs and your forehead to the floor. Then stretch your arms over your head and place your palms on the floor. Sit back down on your heels without changing the position of your arms. You’ll feel a sudden stretch in your spine and torso. Focus on taking a deep breath and exhaling to release the tension. The goal of this pose is to have your forehead touching the ground while your buttocks remain in contact with your heels.
  • Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward Facing Dog) – The Downward Facing Dog pose involves your whole body, especially your shoulders and hamstrings. Begin by sitting on all fours with your knees underneath your hips and your hands directly underneath your shoulders. Press the palms firmly on the mat and slowly lift your knees away from the floor, lengthen your spine backwards and lift your tailbone up as you straighten your legs. Hold the position for about 30 seconds to one minute to experience an energizing sensation throughout your whole body.
  • Anjaneyasana (Low Lunge) – This posture is a great way to open the front parts of your body, including your chest, hip flexors, and quadriceps. You can start by doing the Downward Facing Dog pose. From there, exhale and put your right foot forward between your hands. Then lower your left knee to the floor and, keeping the right knee fixed in its position, slide your left leg back until you feel a comfortable stretch in the left front thigh and groin. Now lift your torso up and sweep your arms out to your sides and raise them up overhead.

Whether you’ve got time for only one pose or all three, practicing yoga in the morning will definitely help you feel more resilient and refreshed as you start your day. If you want to give yoga a try, get in touch with our expert instructors today.

Published with permission from FitnessAdvisory. Source.

Posted on

Top 5 yoga trends of 2015

Yoga_2015Dec21_AWith a new year upon us, now is a great time to reflect on 2015 from a yoga perspective. It’s been a pretty crazy year yoga-wise, with old-timers yoga and “doga” (that’s yoga for dogs) being a few of the trends to rise in popularity this year. Whether you lived them yourself or missed them altogether because you spent this year at a yoga retreat in the Himalayas, here are the top five yoga trends of 2015.

Hot barre yoga

Regular hot yoga hasn’t been ‘hot’ for a couple of years now. In 2015, however, hot barre became all the rage as more and more people started giving it a try for themselves. This more intense form of hot yoga sees participants burning up to 200 calories a session, and not to mention, sweating like crazy. The practice is likewise good for detoxing the body and giving you a deeper stretch. As we observe more yoga studios across the country offering hot barre yoga classes, it’s likely this fat-burning practice is here to stay.

Yoga pants replacing jeans

Yoga fashion has been big business for a few years now, but 2015 saw the industry take off to a whole other level. In addition to yoga tops becoming an acceptable street fashion item during the summer months, yoga pants became a wardrobe staple both inside and outside the classroom. As Business Insider reported in October, yoga pants have replaced jeans as the go-to pants for this generation, and stores like Gap and Old Navy have already released lines of yoga pants to keep up with the trend.

Couples yoga

“The couple that practices yoga together, stays together” could very much be the new saying that makes its way around yoga studios. Believe it or not, more and more couples have started attending yoga classes together in 2015, and the yoga studio has become one of the hottest date spots around. It might not be up there with Netflix and chill just yet but, if you and your partner both enjoy yoga, why not enjoy it together? And with your partner around, you have the added benefit of not having to deal with creepy-ponytail-guy asking for your phone number after class.

Yoga weight training

Another relatively new form of yoga making waves in 2015 was weight training yoga. Here you practice yoga as normal, but also add dumbbells to the mix. The result is a more intense workout that not only allows you to work on your muscles and improve strength, but can also assist you with calorie-burning and toning. While this a good way to add a challenge to your yoga routine, adding weights can also make it harder for you to focus on breathing, which can lead to you losing some of the relaxing and meditative aspects of practicing yoga.

The beach yoga photo

If you have a friend who practices yoga and they happened to make their way to a beach in 2015, chances are they posted a picture of themselves doing a yoga pose on the sand. While this wasn’t the first year that people have done this, for whatever reason it really blew up in 2015. It seems Facebook and Instagram are awash with pictures of people contorting their bodies on fine, sandy beaches. There’s no doubt that 2016 will see much of the same. If you ever find yourself vacationing on a beach, it’s likely you’ll be unable to resist the urge to snap a yoga pose of yourself.

This has been a great year for yoga, and we think 2016 will be even better. Contact us today if you have questions on these trends or want any other yoga-related information.

Published with permission from FitnessAdvisory. Source.

Posted on

Yoga’s going to the cats, literally

Do you love yoga? Do you love cats? If you answered yes to both of these questions, then we are about to make your day. That’s because we want to share with you a little knowledge on a growing trend that is starting to gain more recognition across the world. That trend is cat yoga, and it is purr-fect if you want to do yoga and have cats around. In fact, we would even dare to say that it’s the cat’s meow.

Believe it or not, cat yoga has actually been around for a while now, but it has gained a lot of attention over the past few weeks as Instagram photos have begun to circulate of two popular cat cafes offering yoga classes. At the moment, over 30,000 pictures on Instagram have the hashtag “catyoga”, and you will now see pictures of various people doing yoga with cats around.

Before we get into the basics of cat yoga, we should probably mention a few things first. For instance, if you are allergic to cats, you should avoid cat yoga as it will not cure this condition. If you don’t like cats, or yoga for that matter, combining the two is equally unlikely to make either one more enjoyable for you.

With that out of the way, let’s get to the details of just what in the name of Garfield cat yoga really is.

What is cat yoga?

Cat yoga is doing yoga with a cat or cats around you. It’s more or less that simple. You do not force the cat to join in or perform any poses of its own. You do your yoga, the cat will do its own thing. That’s cat yoga.

What does the cat add to yoga?

Having a cat around will certainly make your yoga session more interesting. By letting the cat interact with you, you add a new dynamic to the yoga equation. You will constantly be kept on your toes because, let’s face it, you never know what a cat will do.

Does cat yoga have any benefits?

It all depends on how much value you place on spending time with cats. Realistically speaking, there is no advantage of doing cat yoga over regular yoga. However, if you enjoy spending time with your feline friends, the benefits are endless.

Where can I do cat yoga?

At the moment there are cat yoga classes in New York City, Washington DC, London, and Sydney. Given the growing popularity of cat cafes and cat yoga, it looks as if this is a trend that could carry on into 2016 and beyond.

Is it possible to do cat yoga at home?

Yep. If you have a cat and a yoga mat, you have the tools of the cat yoga trade.

Do I interact with the cat during cat yoga?

No. You should be focused on completing your poses and going through your movements as normal. Let the cat do as it pleases, and work around it should your furry companion decide to get comfortable on your mat or start pawing at your leg.

Do cats like cat yoga?

For one reason or another, cats seem to be intrigued by a person practicing yoga. When it comes to cats, we feel as if “like” is a strong word, but we will say they don’t seem to hate it – which is fairly high praise when coming from a cat.

When should I consider doing cat yoga?

Cat yoga is perfect if you find yourself stressed and maybe focusing too hard. Sometimes during yoga we are liable to hold onto thoughts or ideas, especially negative ones, that can cause us to become tense. Having a cat around can provide a pleasant distraction, which just might brighten your mood and allow you to focus on more positive energy during your yoga routine.

Cat or no cat, we love yoga more than a kitty loves a ball of yarn. You could even say yoga is like catnip to us. If you want to learn more about yoga classes, give us a call. We promise to have you feline good.

Published with permission from FitnessAdvisory. Source.