How Yin yoga can transform your life

Yoga_July27_AWhether you’re new to yoga or have been practicing for years, chances are you’ve heard of Yin Yoga and its many benefits to the bodies and minds of all who practice it. Yin is popular as it’s a deep and reflective style of yoga that offers a more meditative approach than the better known yoga practices. So if you’re feeling contemplative then we suggest you give Yin a try. But first, as with any new yoga practice, you should learn the facts before heading out with your mat.

So what exactly is Yin yoga?

Unlike most other forms of yoga that works the muscle through repetition, Yin postures are much more passive, focusing on floor-based moves for extended periods of time. When you perform Yin, you need to focus on exercising connective tissues, joints and bones by holding a pose for three to five minutes, and even up to 20 minutes at a time. The time spent in these poses are much like the time spent in meditation, allowing you to relax and get intimate with your feelings.

Benefits of Yin yoga

But there are similarities with other types of yoga too. Yin provides various benefits to your physical and mental wellbeing when performed correctly. Here are just some of the health benefits you get from practicing Yin.

  • Increases flexibility – Yin poses are demanding. You need to remain still for long periods of time. But this gives you a greater range of motion and increased flexibility in the longer term. By holding poses and stretches your body will feel longer, lighter, and looser. Yin also helps increase mobility in the body, especially the joints and hips.
  • Heals the body – Studies show that a Yin practice helps to stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, which in turn allows your body to rest and digest so that it can begin to recover from fatigue and chronic muscle pain. Blood, nutrients, and energy can flow more freely throughout your body so that it can replenish lost energy.
  • Alleviates stress and tension – In some other types of yoga, you need to hold your breath and tighten your muscles to complete the practice. Things are different in the Yin style. Instead of trying to bottle things up, you are free to deepen your breath and lengthen your muscle tissues, lowering cortisol levels (commonly known as stress hormones) and calm the mind during the process.
  • Improves balance – Yin yoga requires you to stay in a pose for several minutes at a time. The longer the length of time you hold the pose, the more effort you need to put in to balance your whole body. Yin can serve as a foundation for creating a well-balanced body and even after a few sessions you’ll enjoy increased coordination and better balance.

If you are tired, over-stimulated, or you feel that you have too much energy, then Yin yoga is probably worth a try. So if you want to learn more about Yin, and how it can have positive effects on your general well-being, then give us a call and talk to one of our yoga instructors.

Published with permission from FitnessAdvisory. Source.

Personal Empowerment | Transformation | Life Mastery | Realize Your Potential

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NOW ENROLLING – Fall 2015 Programs
YogAsylum Brookfield, WI Training


Classes meet in a convenient bi-weekend format as follows:

| Fridays 6:00PM – 9:30PM | Saturdays 9:00AM – 6:30PM | Sundays 9:00AM – 5:00PM |

YogAsylum® proudly provides one of the world’s most comprehensive Yoga Teacher Training Programs right here in the Midwest. If you have arrived at a point in your life where you are seeking significant change, then this program is for you. There are no experience or knowledge prerequisites for this program; all are encouraged to participate. Our internationally esteemed faculty fully prepares you with a solid foundation to safely and confidently teach yoga with skill and integrity, while celebrating your individuality.

Yoga asks three primary questions: Who am I? Why am I here? What is my life’s purpose? This is the central theme at the core of our program and initiates the path to self inquiry. YogAsylum® is committed to supporting you on your journey to self-understanding and provides an experience that is truly transformational on all levels: physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. We look forward to your participation.

Certification The Yoga Teacher Training + Certification Program at YogAsylum® is a Registered School with Yoga Alliance and approved by the Wisconsin Educational Approval Board (WEAB). Upon completion of the program students will receive a Certificate of Completion and can apply for registration with Yoga Alliance as a Registered Yoga Teacher at the 200-hour level (RYT 200).

We accept the Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts (MyCAA) Program. MyCAA Approved. Attention qualifying military personnel: spouses of eligible military can apply and receive financial assistance for the full amount of tuition. Please contact the studio at 262-781-8102 and request to speak with Pamela for more information. Apply at MyCAA today. https://aiportal.acc.af.mil/mycaa/

Payment Plans Available. Tuition Includes a four month unlimited yoga membership, plus discounts on select lifestyle enhancement services, events & boutique items. Students who pay in full 30 days prior to the program start date may begin their unlimited yoga membership at that time.

Please note: Advance Registration Required – call the studio at 262.781.8102 to schedule an interview for enrollment.

The benefits of Vinyasa yoga

164_Yoga_AWhether you’re on your 100th class or have recently been considering giving yoga a try, you’ve probably heard of one of its more popular forms: Vinyasa. As with yoga in general and other types of exercise, there are of course benefits. But are you aware of the specific ones Vinyasa has to offer? Here’s how this unique style of yoga can benefit practitioners of all levels, but first…what exactly is Vinyasa yoga?

Vinyasa is a series of yoga poses that links breath with movement. In a typical session, the inhale and exhale of your breath synchronizes with your movement as poses smoothly flow from one to the next. This is why classes are often called Flow.

Here are a few of the benefits to practicing this popular type of yoga:

Tone your muscles – when you practice Vinyasa yoga, you’re essentially strength training. And with movements such as arm balance poses, backbends and inversions, this practice can help you build lean muscle that can give you that fit and toned look you’re after. Best of all, the range of poses performed in Vinyasa gives you a total body workout, exercising everything from your calves to your shoulders.

Feel looser and more relaxed – like other types of yoga, Vinyasa helps build flexibility. In addition to strengthening your muscles, you’ll also be stretching and elongating them. This gives you greater mobility, gets rid of muscle tightness and loosens your body up.

Increased flexibility also takes stress off your ligaments, tendons and joints, which will help prevent injuries.

Reduce stress – like many other types of yoga, Vinyasa also increases your mindfulness and focus, which over time can help you reduce stress. As you pay attention to your breath and body while smoothly transitioning through the poses, you withdraw attention from the daily stresses that may have been running through your mind. This allows you to bring your focus into the present, which produces a calming effect on your central nervous system.

Improve general health – In addition to what’s already been mentioned above, there are a number of medical and physiological benefits that Vinyasa offers. It can help reduce the risk of stroke, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure.

By calming your mind, it can help you get a better night’s sleep, ease anxiety and improve your general disposition. And in case you forgot that Vinyasa is still an exercise, it can also help you lose weight.

Want to learn more about Vinyasa and other type of yoga? Interested in signing up for a class? Call us today, and talk with one of our yoga instructors.

Published with permission from FitnessAdvisory. Source.

How to enjoy yoga again

Yoga_Jun23_AYou’ve just got home after what seemed to be a long day at work. You then head out to a local studio to join a yoga class. After putting on your yoga gear, you roll out the mat and stare blankly into space, and find yourself thinking: what am I doing here? After practicing yoga for some time, all the motivation and enthusiasm has left you, and your mind seems to be somewhere else while your body is still in the studio. If yoga is becoming less than enjoyable, take a look at these reasons why yoga might not be working for you, and what you can do about it.

Be flexible with timing

Sometimes life can really get in the way of your classes. You’ve probably convinced yourself that nothing will be able to keep you from attending that 90-minute weekday class in the evening. But more often than not, somehow something always comes up and brings you up short. If you have a hectic work life and busy schedule, aim to keep things simple. Try shortening your yoga sessions and see how it goes. It’s better to stick with a short routine first, then take things from there.

Choose the right yoga style

Yoga has become so popular these days that there are a variety of classes offered for practitioners of all levels. While all styles of yoga are designed to help you improve your strength, flexibility, and balance, choosing the wrong one could lead to a frustrating experience. If you feel the need to move around and do something active, joining a Hatha yoga class where people perform basic poses might feel awkward and unfulfilling. The key is to find a class that you enjoy doing, so if you feel like you’re in a rut, try a number of different styles until you find the yoga practice you feel most comfortable with. That way you’ll have a better chance of sticking with it.

Listen to your body

Yoga is about cleansing, strengthening, and releasing tension – it’s not about injuring yourself so you can keep up with the class. Learn to listen to your body and respect its physical limitations. If you feel pain when you’re performing certain moves, take that as a sign to stop. There is always a modification that can be made to accommodate your body. But don’t take things too easy – strive to find the “edge” where the intensity of the posture challenges you, but doesn’t cause you extreme pain or discomfort.

Don’t give up on yoga until you’ve tried your best to keep up your practice. If you want to learn how yoga can improve your health and wellbeing, get in touch with our yoga fitness experts today and see how we can help.

Published with permission from FitnessAdvisory. Source.