Namaste! Today is Yoga Day USA--a great time to try out a yoga class. I started practicing yoga in college, when a friend and I signed up for a weekly 90-minute hatha yoga class at our university rec center. With plenty of stretching, basic poses and a slow pace, this was a great introductory class. Over the next few years I took classes at my gym and did DVDs at home, but I really didn't consider yoga much more than a nice stretching workout that helped tone my muscles a bit. Almost two years ago, a good friend of mine started training as a yoga teacher. She came to visit and took me to an Ashtanga (sometimes called power) yoga class. I'm naturally flexible but not very strong, so the class was a great combination of comfort and challenges. By the time we left Savasana (corpse pose) and chanted a closing "Om," I was hooked. I felt so centered, so relaxed, so healthy. I now make time for almost daily yoga practice. Sometimes I take classes, sometimes I do a DVD, but most of the time I practice on my own. On busy days, I just do stretching poses for 10 minutes or so, but usually I find time for 30 or more minutes. In addition to the fitness benefits (flexibility, balance, coordination and strength), yoga offers relaxation and spiritual benefits for many people. Today, many studios around the country are hosting free yoga classes and workshops. Find one near you. If you can't get to a class, check out some of our yoga resources: A Beginner's Guide to Yoga Yoga Body Bliss Relax Your Mind and Body with Yoga Do you practice yoga? What type of yoga do you prefer? What pose is your favorite? For those of you who practice yoga regularly, which pose is the most challenging for you? |
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