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Is it a bad idea to play music in a yoga class?

2016Mar28_Yoga_ANowadays, we listen to music wherever we are. We listen to it while we’re in the train, while we’re in a restaurant, while we’re working out and even while we’re walking around town. But should we be playing it during our yoga sessions? Since yoga is a meditative practice that involves movement, it can seem ineffective to listen to any sort of music while doing some much needed self-reflection. Here are the common reasons why people think it’s a bad idea to bring music in a yoga class.

Silence is required in yoga

In a class where silence is needed to achieve a ‘higher state of being’, blasting loud music during a yoga session can be counterproductive. Yoga is about concentration and calming the mind but erratic music tends to distract you from keeping this goal. Playing an album with varied rhythms and volumes makes it more difficult to focus on your breathing and poses. As soon as you’ve adapted your breathing to one song, another one immediately takes you out of sync when a song with a completely different tempo begins to play. This means maintaining your poses becomes a lot harder.

Music is emotionally suggestive

Studies show that music switches on different parts of your brain which elicit an emotional response from the listener. These responses can be apparent in roaring and aggressive rock and pop songs. So instead of trying to achieve inner piece, you’re off thinking about punching someone in the face while doing a downward facing dog.

Loud music and yoga just don’t mix

Equally, exposure to loud music can suggest your body to respond by pumping adrenaline and cortisol into your bloodstream. These are hormones secreted when your body is experiencing certain levels of stress to help your respiration and give you more energy. While this is usually good for more intensive exercise, it can seem out of place in a yoga environment and even make you feel quite uncomfortable while meditating. It’s also incredibly difficult to hear your teacher’s instructions while the music is just booming throughout the studio. Remember, the session should be used to help you reflect on yourself and not about the new Kanye West album.

However…

While these common ideas are being held by many yoga practitioners there are some that are open to the idea of having some music guide their meditation. Music in yoga supporters, believe that both music and yoga on their own provide therapeutic benefits for their mental and emotional state. So it only makes sense for them to combine these two types of treatment together to create an even better experience.

At the end of the day, meditation in yoga is not just about simply sitting still on a pose in silence. Yoga is about finding stability in your mind and if some music can inspire you to do this then what’s the harm? If the music supports and enhances your meditative experience then by all means use it in your sessions. There is no one way to practice yoga.

If you want to know more about the latest in yoga trends, give us a call.

Published with permission from FitnessAdvisory. Source.

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Is it possible to do too much yoga?

Yoga_2015Sep28_AYou love yoga. We get it, because we love yoga too. But if you are not careful, it can be easy to overdo it. One of the most important principles of yoga is to do no harm onto self or others. However, doing too much yoga or pushing yourself too hard can result in this ideal being neglected. It’s important to remember that yoga, just like anything else in your life, should be practiced in moderation.

The thing about yoga that makes it different from other forms of exercise is that you can do it every day and still feel great. Now this depends on the type of yoga you practice, but it is possible to partake in yoga seven days a week and not have any problems. Of course, whether you can and should actually be doing it that often are two very different questions.

While there is no definitive way of knowing when you’re overdoing the yoga practice, the first thing you should be doing is listening to the messages your body sends you. If you are feeling soreness and pain, it is important to stop and rest. You might think this sounds like a no-brainer, but many of us lose track of this in the heat of the moment and just put pain down to aches and sprains without thinking it could be a sign more more serious damage.

As we try to master a pose or push ourselves to the next level, we disconnect from the moment and let our minds become distracted. Once that occurs, we are less mindful of what the body is experiencing physically, and more focused on the end result. This negates many of yoga’s benefits and probably isn’t the reason you started practicing in the first place.

If you find yourself either experiencing physical pain or losing focus on what your body is telling you during yoga, it can be a sign you’re practicing too much. When you overpractice, it is possible to strain and sprain ligaments and tendons in your body, as well as cause problems for your joints, so it is important to be alert to what is happening in these areas of your body at all times.

The signs of doing too much yoga don’t apply only to the realm of physical or mental issues. Part of yoga is considering others, and it’s possible to get so caught up with practicing that you forget about friends and family. Much like you need to be mindful of your body as you are doing yoga, you should listen to what people say about how yoga relates to your life outside of the studio.

Do family and friends complain that you no longer have time for them because you are always practicing yoga? Have they expressed concern about how many yoga classes you participate in? It’s possible that there is some truth in these claims that you may have never even considered. Be mindful of the needs of other people in your life, and try not to neglect them in favor of yoga.

As long as you are practicing yoga in moderation, it is likely you won’t ever have to worry about doing too much. It’s also important to point out that the meaning of moderation will vary wildly from person to person. Some can do it five hours a day without it being an issue, while two or three classes a week will be the right amount for others. Don’t get caught up in what everyone else does, because you will end up losing sight of the most important aspect of practicing yoga in the first place – your mind and body.

We’re here to help you better understand all things yoga. Contact us today for advice, tips or answers to any questions you may have.

Published with permission from FitnessAdvisory. Source.

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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.

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How yoga can help you age gracefully

164_Yoga_AIt’s a fact of life. As your 30s dissolve into 40s and then evaporate into 50s, your body doesn’t function like it did when you were twenty. That’s why as a mature adult it’s important to place a higher emphasis on health and exercise so that your body stays in good condition. And with its low-impact nature, yoga may just be the perfect physical activity for the older generation. Here are some of the unique ways it can help mature adults everywhere.

Lower your stress levels

As you age, life’s big stresses are inevitable: parents pass away, kids grow up and leave home, friends fall out of touch. Feeling the stress of these changes is natural, and yoga can give you an effective way to deal with them. Just like meditation, yoga helps practitioners develop focus and mental calm. Because of this, you’ll be able to better put big changes in perspective and be less emotionally shaken by the waves and tumbles of life.

Additionally, yoga can do wonders for your body in terms of lowering the physical symptoms of stress. With regular practice, it can lower blood pressure, stimulate your immune system and regulate your heart rate.

Sharpen your mind

As you grow older, it’s important to find ways to keep your mind sharp. Yoga requires you to focus on both your breath and body postures. In a typical session, you need to listen carefully to your instructor to follow instructions and move your body correctly into the right position – all while paying attention to your breath. All of this mental activity helps your mind stay sharp, fresh and alert.

Build stronger bones

One way your body deteriorates when you age is through bone density. And if you’re inactive, the loss of bone density is even greater. The weight bearing postures of yoga help strengthen your bones. In fact, studies have even shown that yoga can prevent and slow bone density loss.

Of course, depending on your age and physical ability, it may not be wise to be doing an intense bikram yoga session five times a week. A gentle yoga practice works just as well to keep your bones strong and healthy.

Connect with others

It’s sad to say, but growing older usually also comes with fewer social connections. We live in a youth-centric culture, and unfortunately older adults don’t get the attention or respect that the younger generations garner. The result of this can often be loneliness. One way to prevent this and create new social connections is to get out of the house and join a class. With yoga, you’ll have the opportunity to meet other individuals while keeping your body in good shape. This can lead to new friends, connections and social opportunities.

Ready to give yoga a try? Have questions about our classes? Get in touch today to learn more.

Published with permission from FitnessAdvisory. Source.