YOGA: Q&A
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to yoga home page)
I have a
lot of health problems. Should I do yoga?
I can't even
touch my toes! How could I do yoga?
Is yoga
a religion?
Is it safe
for me to do yoga if I have carpal tunnel syndrome?
I'm really
heavy/out of shape/sick/in pain, etc. Would I be OK in a yoga class?
What should I
wear or bring to class?
What's
the etiquette for yoga classes?
What's this
I hear about learning to breath "correctly"?
What kind of
yoga do you teach?
Is yoga
good for children?
Q: I have a lot of health
problems. Should I do yoga?
A. I always recommend that people check with their doctor before
starting any exercise program, but especially if they have existing
health problems. However, most people--healthy or not--stand to gain
huge mental and physical health benefits from beginning and maintaining
a yoga practice. Asthma, diabetes, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, heart
problems, and arthritis are just a few of the many ailments that yoga
can help alleviate. Keep in mind, however, that a beginning or restorative
style of yoga might be more appropriate for you than a practice that uses more standing and balancing poses, along with
vinyasa (a flowing sequence) to connect them.
Remain open to the possibility, though, that building heat through
standing and flowing poses can have tremendously beneficial effects on
painful conditions when performed in a supervised environment. If you have limitations,
I can work with you to make sure
you practice yoga safely and effectively.
Q: I can't even touch
my toes! How could I do yoga?
A. I get that a lot. Think of it this way: if you can't touch your
toes, how can you NOT do yoga? Many people (especially in our culture of
body consciousness and unrealistic expectations) think that to do yoga
you have to be: a) a movie star, b) slim, young, and female, c) a
contortionist, or d) all of the above. Now, while it's true that yoga is
very popular among the health conscious because of its many benefits,
people with less flexibility are those who can reap the most dramatic
rewards in terms of ease of movement, lessening or eradication of
chronic pain, and improvement in overall well-being. Yoga teachers are
trained to offer modifications for almost every yoga
pose, making the practice accessible and safe for all levels. (Even you
non-toe touchers.) Keep in mind--many of the most accomplished yogis had
to start somewhere, and some of them had the same obstacles to overcome
as you.
Q. Is
yoga a religion?
A. This is a common misperception. Yoga is not a religion, but
rather a tool for coming into closer contact with one's own
spirituality, whatever form that takes. Some students discover that
their yoga practice actually enhances their experience of whatever
religion, spiritual path, or belief system they've chosen to follow. I adhere to the basic ideology of yoga as a form of "moving
meditation," and encourage students to turn inward during their practice
to find and build their stores of peace, equanimity, and happiness.
Yoga began about 5,000 years ago in the Himalaya Mountains
when people began developing techniques to try to answer their own
questions about the meaning of life. Today's yoga in the West focuses much more on hatha
yoga, the physical aspect of yoga that includes the poses people think
of when they hear "yoga." There are seven other kinds of yoga, most of
which have nothing to do with the physical body. Some teachers bring
something of a meditative, introspective quality to their classes, while
others treat the practice as merely a kind of workout. There's nothing
wrong with either viewpoint. I personally believe that yoga is much more than "a good
sweat," although if that's what you want I'll be happy to accommodate
you. :)
Q. Is it safe for me to
do yoga if I have carpal tunnel syndrome?
A. The quick answer is
that yoga can both improve and aggravate your condition, depending on
how you do it. Certified yoga instructors are trained to offer
modifications to people with CTS, among other ailments, and can help you
customize your practice so you begin to strengthen your wrists without
putting a lot of pressure on them. But some of it is up to you as
well--sometimes you might just have to sit out a pose and then rejoin
the class as we move into the next one if it doesn't feel right for you.
Otherwise, most poses have alternatives that will allow you to
accommodate your wrists. If you're already committed to practicing yoga,
you might also consider buying a set of Gripitz blocks.
Check it out!
Q. I'm really
heavy/out of
shape/sick/in pain, etc. Would I be OK in a yoga class?
A. Well, a lot of that is really up to how accepting you are of your
present limitations. If you're the type of person who absolutely has to do what
everyone else is doing, you might overchallenge and possibly hurt
yourself. You probably won't be able to do some of the more strenuous
poses, but there are many modifications you can make so that you get
benefits without danger of injury. Practicing gentle or
restorative yoga can also help you become more comfortable with your
body, which often lets people release the unhealthy patterns that have
led them to become overweight or less fit. Beginning a moderate walking
program is a good idea to build up a base level of fitness before you
try a more intermediate yoga class. If you have an acute condition such
as uncontrolled high blood pressure, severe osteoporosis, or herniated
disks, it's important to check with your doctor before beginning yoga or
any new physical activity. Always be sure to tell me what
issues you are working with so I can help you modify poses as
necessary.
Q. What should
I wear or bring to class?
A. You can wear anything in which you can move freely and comfortably,
although you don't want to wear a shirt that will come over your head if
you bend forward.
I have yoga (aka "sticky") mats to borrow as well
as bolsters, blankets, and blocks, but once you commit to practicing
regularly please buy these items for yourself. Trust me, you don't want
to borrow mats too often that others have sweated all over! Ew. If you get warm easily you might
want to bring a towel and some water.
Q. What's the
etiquette for yoga classes?
A. Please arrive at least a few minutes early so you can find a space,
set up your mat, and begin to compose yourself after rushing to class.
Let the instructor know if you have any injuries or other issues that
might affect your practice or for which you want modifications of
regular poses. Yoga is not a competition--it's up to you to monitor how
your body is feeling and to refrain from automatically doing the most
challenging version of a pose. Yoga is the opposite
of the old adage "no pain, no gain." Try not to eat a big dinner before
class. In fact, traditionally yoga is done on an empty stomach. Also,
please refrain from wearing perfume or cologne, as it can irritate your
classmates. Observe proper personal hygiene. Turn cell phones off, spit
out your gum, take shoes and socks off, and
leave socializing outside the studio so the peace of the practice
remains intact. If you arrive late to class, please check to see if
we've finished our beginning meditation before entering the studio, and
likewise, if you must leave early please do so before the final
relaxation pose.
Q. What's this
I hear about learning to breathe "correctly"?
A. As strange as it might seem, since we all obviously know how to
breathe, there's a huge and crucial difference between "chest
breathing," which is what most adults do, and "belly breathing," the
slow, deep, rejuvenating breathing babies do. Watch a sleeping baby
breathing sometime, and you'll notice that his low abdomen rises and
sinks with his breaths. Compared with that breathing, the vast majority
of Western adults use only the upper or middle portions of their lungs,
and as a result feel stressed, fatigued, and generally crummy most of
the time. In my yoga classes, we practice learning to breathe properly,
using the entire diaphragm. Want to read more about this important
topic? Click here.
Q. What
kind of yoga do you teach?
A. Many students ask if I teach
hatha yoga, believing
that this is a certain kind of yoga. In a way, they're right. In fact,
hatha
yoga is an umbrella name for all the physical forms of yoga, as opposed
to the branches of yoga that focus exclusively on meditation, service to
others, etc. Hatha,
with its poses (asanas)
and breathing exercises (pranayama),
is what most Westerners have come to recognize as yoga. There are many
forms of hatha
yoga, including (to name just a few) Ashtanga, Kundalini, Iyengar,
Power, pre- and postnatal, Soma, restorative, and vinyasa
(flow). The kind of yoga I teach is a blend of the Ashtanga and Iyengar
traditions, meaning that I like to combine the dynamism and movement of
the former with the attention to alignment and endurance of the latter.
(Read more about me and my yoga
here.) I tell
all first-time students, if you come to my class and find that it
doesn't suit you for whatever reason, please don't think that means yoga
is not for you! There are numerous options and teachers out there, and one is bound
to be what you're looking for.
Q. Is yoga good for
children?
A. Children have a great deal of stress in their lives. They need
all the benefits of yoga just as much as adults do. In fact, I sure wish
I'd started yoga when I was a kid! Please see my
Little Waves Yoga™ web site for more information about my yoga
program for children, which is already in use in several schools and businesses
in Santa Maria and Orcutt, California.
Q. Do you have a
question about yoga?
A. Let me know! With your permission,
I'll post it here.
