11 Common Yoga Questions (and Their Answers)

{"slug":"frequently-asked-yoga-questions","recentPosts":[{"id":"clfi5maddjflg0bkbot5q89bb","slug":"yoga-for-women's-health-event-march-23","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":"will-1","pictureUrl":"will.jpeg"},"title":"Celebrating Women: Yoga for Women’s Health","subTitle":null,"seoTitle":null,"seoDescription":null,"readTime":null,"excerpt":null,"tags":[],"createdAt":"2023-03-21T11:10:10.172786+00:00","coverUrl":"vlezqpj75vmjs0jt9j5o.png","content":{"text":"Don’t miss our free Yoga for Women’s Health Event March 28-30!\\n\\nThis month is all about celebrating women and promoting women’s health! The Yoga for Women’s Health Event is designed for women of all ages to be able to participate. Discover all the ways you can use yoga to enhance and protect your physical, mental and emotional health!\\nDid you know that 8 out of 10 women feel like their doctors, at some point, have ignored them or been dismissive of their health concerns? And over 50% of women in America struggle with some form of mental health issue. Yoga, meditation, and a yogic lifestyle are all ways to significantly improve your health as a woman. \\nAt MyYogaTeacher, expert instructors with higher education in many different fields are available to walk with you on your health journey and help you advocate for your health in ways you may not have otherwise!\\nThis special event\\n focuses on…you guessed it, women!\\nWalk away from these amazing classes feeling energized and empowered and more prepared to take control of your mental, emotional, and physical health!\\n\n\\nHow to join the International Women’s Day Event:\\n\\nMembers\\nJust click the links below to one or all of the classes you’d like to attend and register as you would any other group class! Simple as that.\\n\\nNon-Members\\n\\nClick this link to sign up for your free two week trial\\n to get access to this incredible event! No credit card required.\\n\\nAre you a nonmember who signed up for a trial in the past but it’s lapsed?\\nIf you’re not a member but signed up for a free-trial in the past, and it has expired, just reach out to \\ncare@myyogateacher.com\\n to let us know!  We'll reset your trial and give you full access to the event.\\n\n\\nCheck out the educational, inspiring, and beautiful event classes and expert yoga instructors making this event happen!\\n(Click the class links to register for any or all of these amazing sessions!)\\n\\n\\n\\n\\nMantra Chanting with Niyata \\n\\nTuesday, March 28 at 6:30 am PST/ 9:30 am EST\\n\nReady to feel calmer, more focused, and more relaxed? Enter a meditative state where you will connect with yourself and nature in this class focused on mantra chanting! This singing form of meditation will have you feeling more alive, present, and less stressed. \\n\\n\\nYoga for Menopausal Women with Gomati\\n\\nWednesday, March 29 at 6:30 pm PST/ 9:30 pm EST\\n\nAre you struggling with perimenopause or menopause symptoms? Hot flashes, hormone imbalances, mood swings, loss of strength and flexibility, and more? Join us in a yoga class designed just for you and walk away feeling better about your mental, physical, and emotional health during this stage of life!\\n\n\\nNritya and Yoga with Umesh\\n\\nThursday, March 30 at 5:00 pm PST/ 8:00 pm EST\\n\\nNritya means “pure dance” and is graceful movement of the body to express emotion! This class combines yoga and Nritya to help you balance your physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing. You’ll walk away feeling refreshed and energized!\\nCMaking your health and wellness a priority is something you’ll never regret! Yoga is such an easy and convenient way to honor your physical, mental, and emotional needs and live in alignment with your values and purpose! Which brings harmony to your inner and outer world.\\nAnd don’t forget to check out other yoga classes MyYogaTeacher offers as a part of your membership or free trial! Or reach out to the yoga instructors below offering 1-on-1 sessions to address specific issues!\\n\\n\\n\\nAnnelise Piers\\n\\n\\nShika Sood \\n\\n\\nSwati Dalvi\\n\\n\\nAbhishek Bodhi\\n\\n\\nPreeti Goswami\\n\\n\\nRohan Shroff\\n\\n\n\\nAnd remember: If you’re a nonmember who’s two-week free trial has ended, reach out to \\ncare@myyogateacher.com\\n to have your trial reset so you can easily sign up for these awesome classes!\\n\n\\nWelcome to MyYogaTeacher’s International Women’s Day Event!\\nSee you soon!\\n"},"category":["myYogaTeacher"]},{"id":"clfcfc8ew0zqr0bk4rrjqnxeq","slug":"8-easy-yoga-poses-for-improved-blood-circulation","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":"will-1","pictureUrl":"will.jpeg"},"title":"8 Easy Yoga Poses for Improved Blood Circulation","subTitle":null,"seoTitle":null,"seoDescription":"Yoga improves blood circulation by stimulating blood flow, increasing oxygen, regulating your digestive system, and reducing inflammation in your body.","readTime":null,"excerpt":"Learn the best poses to improve poor blood circulation.\n","tags":[],"createdAt":"2023-03-17T10:55:40.177521+00:00","coverUrl":"pco80fu8hfoyq5rkppxw.jpg","content":{"text":"Do you often feel cold or numb fingers and toes, swelling, weakness, or a tingling sensation in your extremities? You might have poor blood circulation, which can be caused by a number of factors, including various heart conditions, diabetes, obesity, blood clots, or diseases like Reynard’s.\\nThe effects of poor blood circulation can impact your entire body, and while it’s most important to address the cause of low blood circulation, yoga can help keep it from getting worse. And by improving blood flow, you can increase the flow of oxygen, regulate your digestive system, and reduce inflammation in your body.\\n\\nHow Yoga Increases Blood Flow?\\nYoga has been used for centuries for better health, and one of the ways it improves physical wellness is by increasing blood flow. Through various postures (asanas), yoga works to stretch, strengthen, twist, and compress your body to stimulate better circulation. Combined with breathing techniques (pranayama), yoga can also reduce high blood pressure and increase blood flow within your body’s tissue.\\nAll yoga helps improve your body’s ability to circulate blood, regardless of the style or method of movement. And you don’t need to be an advanced yogi or incredibly fit to take advantage of yoga’s benefits for your circulatory system. Through a regular weekly practice of yoga, you can improve blood circulation and your overall health at the same time.\\n\n\\n8 Easy Yoga Poses for Improved Blood Circulation\\n\nAre you ready to get started? Try the poses below to get your body moving and your blood circulating properly. You can also join an online class at \\nMyYogaTeacher\\n, or schedule a private session with a certified instructor who can tailor a yoga routine to your specific needs.\\n\\n1. Downward Facing Dog Pose\\n\\nThis pose encourages blood flow to the brain and upper body. It requires the body to be inverted, which helps to increase circulation to the head and neck.\\nWith your hands and knees on the floor, push your hips upward until you are balancing on your hands and feet, and your body resembles an inverted “v” shape. Reach your heels toward the floor, stretching your hamstrings and activating your thighs. Keep your head between your arms, lengthening your side-body as you stretch. Stay here for several breaths.\\n\\n2. Plow Pose\\n\\nPlow pose regulates your digestive system, strengthens the spine, and increases blood flow to your thyroid gland.\\nLie on your back on a yoga mat with your arms by your side and your legs extended. Lift your legs up toward the ceiling, keeping them straight as you slowly lower them over your head. Use your hands underneath your lower back for support as you touch your feet to the floor behind your head. Once your toes are touching the ground, bring your hands out from under your lower back and place them at your sides. Hold this pose for 20-30 seconds while maintaining an easy breath.\\n\\n3. Shoulder Stand Pose\\n\\nThis pose helps to reverse blood flow to the heart and increases circulation to the brain. It also helps to relieve fatigue and calm the mind.\\nLie down on 1-2 blankets folded underneath your shoulder blades, with the back of your head on the floor. As you inhale, lift your legs and hips, so that your body is balanced vertically from your upper arms and shoulders. Bending your arms, support your body with your hands on your lower back. Stay here for 5-10 breaths.\\n\\n4. Standing Forward Fold Pose\\n\\nStanding Forward Fold improves blood flow to your legs and feet and helps to relieve tension in your back and neck muscles.\\nStand at the front of your mat, feet hip distance apart. Exhale and bend forward from the waist, with your knees slightly bent and touching your hands to the floor in front of your feet. Inhale and exhale, allowing your torso to extend without rounding your back. Lengthen and soften your neck, and let the muscles of your thighs and lower back open and release any built-up tension. Hold the pose for 1-2 minutes.\\n\n5. Cobra Pose\\n\\nThis pose encourages blood flow to your digestive organs, which helps relieve gas and bloating. It also stretches your back muscles and helps reduce stress and anxiety.\\nLie on your stomach with your legs extended, arms folded under your head and your chin resting on your forearms. Place your hands at the level of your chest and press down with your hands. Slightly lift your head off the mat, keeping your head and back aligned, and press your thighs together. Now, steadily pull your elbows towards your ribs and align your hands and shoulders. On a deep inhale, press your hands into the mat, curl your shoulders backward, and lift your upper body off the mat. Hold this position for a few breaths and then rest.\\n\\n6. Warrior II Pose\\n\\nYour legs are an important part of your body’s overall circulation. Warrior II strengthens and compresses the muscle tissue and veins in your legs for better blood flow.\\nMove to the back portion of your mat and step your right foot forward. Your right toes should be pointed forward and your left (back) foot should be kept parallel with your mat. Bend your right knee at 90 degrees, taking care not to overextend. Your right knee should not move forward past your toes. With your hips evenly squared, stretch your arms out to both sides, so that your right arm extends out in front of you and your left arm behind you. Open your chest and focus on activating your legs so that you are grounded into your mat. Hold this pose for 5-6 breaths and repeat on the other side.\\n\\n7. Legs-Up-The-Wall Pose\\n\\nThis half-inverted posture helps drain any excess blood from your lower extremities and relieves stress and high blood pressure.\\nPlace a folded blanket parallel against a wall. Sit sideways in the middle of the blanket, and turn yourself toward the wall, lifting your legs up and propping them against the wall. Lay back comfortably, rest your head and neck on the floor, and fully straighten your legs. Spread your arms out to your sides with your palms facing up. Allow your chest, abdomen, and pelvis to completely relax. Breathe evenly and mindfully while holding this pose for 5-8 minutes.\\n\\n8. Seated Twist Pose\\n\\nSitting with your knees bent and your feet tucked in next to your left butt cheek, inhale with your spine straight, lifting your chest. As you exhale, rotate your torso to your right. Position your right hand on the floor just slightly behind you, and rest your left hand on your right knee. On your next breath, rotate a little more as you exhale, turning your head to look over your right shoulder. Hold this pose for 20 to 30 seconds, then repeat on the other side."},"category":["fitness"]},{"id":"clfce8q050idr0aiombuq99xa","slug":"yoga-for-dancers","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":"will-1","pictureUrl":"will.jpeg"},"title":"10 Yoga Poses Every Dancer Should Know","subTitle":null,"seoTitle":null,"seoDescription":"If you’re looking to become a better dancer, or improve your existing skill set, yoga can help you gain more flexibility, strength, balance, and master your breathing.","readTime":null,"excerpt":"Learn the best yoga poses for dancers to improve strength, balance, and flexibility.\n","tags":[],"createdAt":"2023-03-17T10:24:56.736557+00:00","coverUrl":"rg8yvhhzuzvbnjnqb6qj.jpg","content":{"text":"If you’re a dancer then you already know — dancing requires the kind of full-body muscular control that’s much more involved than just being graceful on your feet. To be a good dancer, you need a high level of body awareness, muscle tone and flexibility. But that’s not all — dancing also requires control over your breathing to execute those delicate moves with ease.\\nIf you’re looking to become a better dancer, or improve your existing skill set, yoga can help you gain more flexibility, strength, balance, and master your breathing. Yoga can also help improve your posture and alignment, and boost your concentration, awareness, and your well-being.\\n\\nThe Best Kind of Yoga for Dancers\\nMost dancers come to yoga with a preset level of flexibility most students don’t have. That’s why it’s important to take it slow if you’re just starting to practice yoga. It may be tempting to push too hard and overdo it. Like dancing, yoga poses require specific alignment — performing poses incorrectly can lead to injury.\\nDepending on your goals, there are multiple styles of yoga that may be right for you. For a flowing practice of yoga that often mimics dancing, Vinyasa yoga can help you gain more flexibility and movement that compliments your dance performance. Like Vinyasa, Power yoga can sometimes involve flowing movement, but it's a style more focused on building strength and balance.\\nHatha, Iyengar, and Ashtanga yoga can also help improve your balance and posture, and these types of yoga typically involve some kind of breath work (or pranayama). If you need to unwind and destress while stretching sore and overworked muscles, Yin yoga or Restorative yoga can help you relax with gentle poses that are held for longer periods of time.\\n\\n10 Effective Yoga Poses for Dancers\\nOf course, you can get started with some basic poses to help improve your dancing skills in the comfort of your own home. Try the poses below for a basic primer on dance-friendly yoga poses, or schedule an at-home session at \\nMyYogaTeacher online\\n.\\n\\n1. Tree Pose\\n\\nTree pose is an excellent pose for improving your balance and posture.\\nStand in Mountain pose with your feet hip distance apart. Keep your arms relaxed at your sides while you focus on an easy, steady breath. Transfer your body weight to your left foot, while softly bending your right knee, pulling it into your chest. Place the sole of your right foot on the inside of your left thigh. Keep your spine and head straight, with your gaze forward. Once you’ve steadied your balance, bring your hands together in Namaste formation. Hold for 5-6 deep breaths.\\n\\n2. Warrior I Pose\\n\\nWarrior I is both lengthening and strengthening, giving your legs a workout while stretching your upper body.\\nStand in the center of your mat with your weight evenly balanced on both your feet. Step your right foot forward with your toes pointed toward the front of the mat. Angle your left (back) foot slightly. Bend your right knee at 90 degrees while keeping your left leg flexed and engaged. Inhale and lift your arms up toward the ceiling. Gently arch your back and lift your chest. You can keep your gaze facing forward, or look up toward your hands to further open your chest. Hold for 30-60 seconds and then repeat on the other side.\\n\\n3. Half-Moon Pose\\n\\nThis pose also improves your balance while strengthening your legs.\\nFrom the center of your mat, step your right foot forward. Drop your left hand to your side while reaching your right hand forward. Touch the tip of the mat with your right hand as you inhale and lift your left leg off the floor. Ground your right foot into the mat, and gently straighten your right leg. Lift and extend your left arm so that it is stretching up toward the ceiling, and lengthen your left leg as it extends toward the back of the room. Keep your head in a neutral position and your gaze facing forward. Hold for 3-4 breaths.\\n\\n4. Dancer’s Pose\\n\\nThe perfect pose for dancers, this posture works on your balance, focus, and alignment.\\nStand in the middle of your mat with your weight evenly balanced on both feet. Shift your weight onto your left foot, while bending your right knee and grabbing your right foot with your right hand. Lift your left arm up toward the ceiling. Bend at your waist and slowly lean forward, lifting your right leg and engaging your core. For better balance, focus your gaze on a fixed point in front of you. Hold for 3-5 breaths, then repeat on the other side.\\n\\n5. Downward Facing Dog Pose\\n\\nOne of the basic primary poses, Downward Facing Dog stretches your calves, hamstrings, and lower back.\\nWith your hands and knees on the floor, push your hips upward until you are balancing on your hands and feet, and your body resembles an inverted “v” shape. Reach your heels toward the floor, stretching your hamstrings and activating your thighs. Keep your head between your arms, lengthening your side-body as you stretch. Stay here for several breaths.\\n\\n6. Plank Pose\\n\\nFor incredible balance and core strength, try practicing Plank pose at least once every day.\\nStart with your hands and knees on the floor in tabletop position, with your hands placed shoulder-width apart. Engage your core and lift the backs of your thighs toward the ceiling until your body is positioned in a straight line from your heels through your crown. Tuck your tailbone and press down with your heels as you hold this pose for 30-60 seconds.\\n\\n7. Locust Pose\\n\\nLocust builds strength in your lower back and spine while stretching your core.\\nLie face down on your mat, resting your forehead on your forearms and your legs stretched straight out behind you. With an inhale, extend your arms to your sides and lift your lower legs off the mat, keeping your upper legs (thighs and core) flat on the mat. Engage your glutes and press both of your legs together while holding them up. Hold this pose for 5-6 breaths.\\n\\n8. Fixed Angle Pose\\n\\nRange of motion in your hips is important for dancing, and Fixed Angle pose stretches your hip muscles while relieving tension in your lower back.\\nSit on your yoga mat with your knees bent and the soles of your feet pressed against each other. With your spine straight, press your hands behind you and gently open up your chest and tuck in your abdomen. Hold the pose for 1-2 minutes.\\n\\n9. Boat Pose\\n\\nAnother great posture for core strength, Boat pose works your abdominal muscles and improves your balance.\\nSit on your mat with your knees bent and your hands at your sides. Engage your core, and gently lift and straighten your legs and your arms together, forming your body into a “v” shape. Keep your gaze focused on a fixed point in front of you, your chest open and your spine straight. Hold for a few breaths.\\n\\n10. Corpse Pose\\n\\nWhile this pose may seem deceptively simple, it’s one of the most important yoga postures you can practice. Corpse pose will help you de-stress, relax, and fully integrate your yoga practice.\\nSit on your yoga mat and lower your body to the floor, relaxing your legs and letting your arms rest on the floor at your sides, palms up. Keep your eyes closed and focus on your breathing. Relax the muscles in your face and neck, and visualize every part of your body letting go of all tension. Hold this pose for 5-7 minutes.\\n\\nFrequently Asked Questions about Yoga for Dancers\\n\\nHow is yoga good for dancers?\\nYoga is an excellent practice for dancers because it helps to improve flexibility, balance, and strength, which are all essential components of dance. Yoga postures are designed to work the entire body, and as a result, they can help dancers to develop the strength and stamina necessary to perform at their best. In addition to the physical benefits, yoga can also help dancers to reduce stress and anxiety, allowing them to focus more deeply on their performance.\\n\\nWhy is yoga good for dancers?\\nYoga is beneficial for dancers in many ways. One of the most significant advantages of practicing yoga is its ability to improve flexibility. Dancers need to be flexible to perform at their best, and yoga can help them achieve a greater range of motion in their movements. Additionally, yoga can improve balance, which is essential for dancers who must maintain precise alignment during their performances. Yoga can also help to prevent injuries and promote overall wellness, making it an excellent complement to any dancer's training regimen.\\n\\nHow to get started in yoga for dancers?\\nIf you're a dancer looking to incorporate yoga into your practice, there are several things you can do to get started. One of the best ways is to find a yoga teacher who has experience working with dancers. They will be able to tailor their instruction to your specific needs and goals. Additionally, you can look for yoga classes that focus on flexibility and balance, as these are areas that are particularly important for dancers. Finally, consider incorporating yoga into your warm-up or cool-down routine. This can be an excellent way to begin incorporating yoga into your dance practice and help you see the benefits of yoga firsthand."},"category":["yoga_poses"]},{"id":"clf85l4cl78em0bkbhopd810t","slug":"yoga-to-overcome-addiction-and-bad-habits","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":"will-1","pictureUrl":"will.jpeg"},"title":"How Yoga Can Help Overcoming Addiction and Bad Habits","subTitle":null,"seoTitle":null,"seoDescription":"Discover how practicing yoga can aid in breaking free from addiction and negative habits. Learn how to cultivate a healthier mindset and lifestyle.","readTime":null,"excerpt":null,"tags":[],"createdAt":"2023-03-14T11:11:33.953263+00:00","coverUrl":"nzclqzjeil5ts2kgfknk.jpg","content":{"text":"Are you struggling with addiction or bad habits that are holding you back from living your best life? You're not alone. Many people find themselves trapped in a cycle of self-destructive behavior that can be difficult to break free from. However, there is a powerful tool that can help you overcome these challenges and reclaim control of your life: Yoga.\\nYoga is more than just a physical exercise. It's a holistic practice that integrates body, mind, and spirit. Through the practice of yoga, you can develop greater self-awareness, cultivate mindfulness, and build resilience to overcome addiction and bad habits.\\nIn this article, we'll explore the ways in which yoga can help you overcome addiction and bad habits. We'll discuss the science behind how yoga affects the brain and body, as well as practical tips for incorporating yoga into your daily routine. Whether you're new to yoga or have been practicing for years, you'll discover how this ancient practice can help you heal and transform your life. So let's dive in and explore the transformative power of yoga for overcoming addiction and bad habits.\\n\\nYoga as a mind-body practice:\\nYoga is a holistic practice that brings together the body, mind, and spirit. When it comes to addiction and bad habits, yoga can be especially helpful because it addresses both the physical and emotional aspects of the issue. By practicing yoga regularly, individuals can develop a greater awareness of their thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations. This increased awareness can help them identify the root causes of their addiction or bad habit and develop new coping strategies.\\n\\nMindfulness and self-awareness in yoga:\\nOne of the key benefits of yoga for addiction and bad habits is that it promotes mindfulness and self-awareness. By practicing yoga, individuals can learn to observe their thoughts and emotions without judgment. This can be incredibly helpful for those struggling with addiction or bad habits, as it can help them become more aware of their triggers and make more conscious decisions. Through yoga, individuals can cultivate a greater sense of self-awareness and learn to respond to their emotions in a healthy way.\\n\\nYoga as a coping mechanism:\\nAnother benefit of yoga for addiction and bad habits is that it can be a healthy and productive way to cope with stress, anxiety, and other difficult emotions. By practicing yoga, individuals can learn to manage their emotions in a positive way. This can be especially helpful for those who have relied on addictive behaviors as a way to cope with stress or negative emotions in the past.\\n\\nHow yoga can reduce stress and anxiety:\\nStress and anxiety are common triggers for addictive behaviors. Yoga has been shown to be an effective way to reduce stress and anxiety, which can make individuals more resilient and less likely to turn to addictive behaviors as a way to cope. By practicing yoga regularly, individuals can cultivate a sense of inner calm and develop healthier coping mechanisms.\\n\n\\nYoga as a way to improve physical health:\\nFinally, it's important to remember that addiction and bad habits can take a toll on physical health as well as mental health. Yoga is a great way to improve physical health, which can in turn support addiction and bad habit recovery. By practicing yoga, individuals can improve their flexibility, strength, and overall physical well-being.\\n\\nYoga Practices to Help Overcome Addiction and Bad Habits:\\nNow that we've explored the ways in which yoga can help with addiction and bad habits, let's dive into specific yoga practices that can be particularly beneficial.\\n\n\\n10 Yoga Asanas to Overcome Addiction and Bad Habits:\\nYoga asanas, or postures, can help individuals develop greater physical awareness and flexibility. This can be especially helpful for those who may have neglected their physical health due to addiction or bad habits. Certain asanas can also help individuals release tension and promote relaxation. Some asanas that can be particularly beneficial for addiction and bad habits include:\\n1.Tadasana (Mountain Pose)\\n\\nTadasana is a simple yet powerful yoga asana that can help you develop a sense of grounding and stability. This pose can help you overcome addictive tendencies by strengthening your willpower and focus.\\nTo practice Tadasana, stand with your feet hip-width apart and your arms by your sides. Press your feet into the ground and lift your spine towards the ceiling. Hold the pose for a few breaths and then release.\\n\\n2.Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward-Facing Dog Pose)\\n\\nAdho Mukha Svanasana is a popular yoga asana that can help you release tension and stress. This pose can help you overcome addictive tendencies by calming your mind and reducing anxiety.\\nTo practice Adho Mukha Svanasana, come onto your hands and knees, with your hands shoulder-width apart and your knees hip-width apart. Press your hands into the ground and lift your hips towards the ceiling. Hold the pose for a few breaths and then release.\\n\\n3.Vrikshasana (Tree Pose)\\n\\nVrikshasana is a balancing yoga asana that can help you develop focus and concentration. This pose can help you overcome addictive tendencies by strengthening your willpower and self-discipline.\\nTo practice Vrikshasana, stand with your feet hip-width apart and your arms by your sides. Lift your right foot and place it on your left thigh. Press your hands into your heart and hold the pose for a few breaths. Repeat on the other side.\\n\\n4.Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose)\\n\\nBhujangasana is a gentle backbend that can help you release tension and stress. This pose can help you overcome addictive tendencies by reducing anxiety and promoting relaxation.\\nTo practice Bhujangasana, lie on your stomach with your hands under your shoulders. Press your hands into the ground and lift your chest towards the ceiling. Hold the pose for a few breaths and then release.\\n\\n5.Ustrasana (Camel Pose)\\n\\nUstrasana is a deep backbend that can help you release tension and stress. This pose can help you overcome addictive tendencies by promoting self-acceptance and inner peace.\\nTo practice Ustrasana, kneel on the ground with your knees hip-width apart. Place your hands on your lower back and lift your chest towards the ceiling. Hold the pose for a few breaths and then release.\\n\\n6.Virabhadrasana II (Warrior II Pose)\\n\\nVirabhadrasana II is a powerful standing pose that can help you develop strength and stamina. This pose can help you overcome addictive tendencies by boosting your confidence and self-esteem.\\nTo practice Virabhadrasana II, stand with your feet wide apart and your arms by your sides. Turn your right foot out to the side and bend your right knee. Extend your arms out to the sides and hold the pose for a few breaths. Repeat on the other side.\\n\\n7.Setu Bandhasana (Bridge Pose)\\n\\nSetu Bandhasana is a gentle backbend that can help you release tension and stress. This pose can help you overcome addictive tendencies by promoting relaxation and inner peace.\\nTo practice Setu Bandhasana, lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet hip-width apart. Lift your hips towards the ceiling and hold the pose for a few breaths.\\n\\n8.Dhanurasana (Bow Pose)\\n\\nDhanurasana is a backbend that can help you release tension and increase your energy levels. This pose can help you overcome addictive tendencies by promoting self-awareness and mindfulness.\\nTo practice Dhanurasana, lie on your stomach with your arms by your sides. Bend your knees and reach back to grab your ankles. Lift your chest and thighs off the ground and hold the pose for a few breaths.\\n\\n9.Paschimottanasana (Seated Forward Bend)\\n\\nPaschimottanasana is a forward bend that can help you release tension and calm your mind. This pose can help you overcome addictive tendencies by reducing stress and anxiety.\\nTo practice Paschimottanasana, sit on the ground with your legs extended in front of you. Reach forward and grab your feet or ankles. Fold forward and hold the pose for a few breaths.\\n\\n10.Savasana (Corpse Pose)\\n\\nSavasana is a relaxing pose that can help you release tension and promote deep relaxation. This pose can help you overcome addictive tendencies by promoting self-awareness and inner peace.\\nTo practice Savasana, lie on your back with your arms by your sides. Close your eyes and focus on your breath. Allow your body to completely relax and hold the pose for several minutes.\\n\\n\n\n\\nPranayama (breathing exercises) for addiction and bad habits:\\nPranayama, or breathing exercises, can be incredibly helpful for managing stress and anxiety, which are common triggers for addictive behaviors. By practicing pranayama, individuals can learn to regulate their breath and promote a sense of calm. Some pranayama techniques that can be particularly beneficial for addiction and bad habits include:\n\\n1. Alternate Nostril Breathing (Nadi Shodhana):\\n This technique involves breathing through alternate nostrils, which can help balance the nervous system and promote relaxation.\\n\n\\n2. Bhramari (Bee Breath):\\n This technique involves making a humming sound while exhaling, which can be incredibly calming and soothing.\\n\\nMeditation for addiction and bad habits:\\nMeditation is a powerful tool for cultivating mindfulness and self-awareness. By practicing meditation, individuals can learn to observe their thoughts and emotions without judgment, which can help them make more conscious decisions and develop healthier habits. Some meditation techniques that can be particularly beneficial for addiction and bad habits include:\\n\n\\n1.Body Scan Meditation:\\n This technique involves scanning the body from head to toe and noticing any sensations without judgment.\\n\n\\n2.Loving-Kindness Meditation: \\nThis technique involves directing loving-kindness and compassion towards oneself and others, which can be particularly helpful for those who struggle with self-criticism or negative self-talk.\\n\\nYoga Nidra for addiction and bad habits:\\nYoga Nidra, or yogic sleep, is a guided meditation technique that can be incredibly helpful for promoting relaxation and reducing stress. This technique involves lying down in a comfortable position and listening to a guided meditation. Yoga Nidra can be particularly beneficial for those who struggle with insomnia or difficulty sleeping due to addiction or bad habits.\\nBy incorporating these specific yoga practices into a regular yoga practice, individuals can develop greater self-awareness, manage stress and anxiety, and promote relaxation. Yoga for addiction and bad habits is a holistic approach to healing that can be incredibly powerful and transformative.\\n\n"},"category":["mental_health"]},{"id":"clf6jkhsmy3bl0ak7nevjedbo","slug":"yoga-for-cyclists","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":"will-1","pictureUrl":"will.jpeg"},"title":"Strengthen Your Cycling Practice with These 10 Essential Yoga Poses","subTitle":null,"seoTitle":null,"seoDescription":"Yoga for cycling can help you recover from long hours on the bike and strengthen your body for better strength, endurance, and overall performance.","readTime":null,"excerpt":"Learn which yoga poses for cycling help boost performance.\n","tags":[],"createdAt":"2023-03-13T08:07:26.994932+00:00","coverUrl":"r6u5ncsafm93cnw8uyya.jpg","content":{"text":"Cycling is a sport that can give you a full body workout, and whether you’re recovering from a long ride or looking to elevate your ability to a new level, yoga can help compliment your days on the bike.\\nBoth indoor and outdoor cycling works your glutes, hamstrings, quads, calves and core muscles. Yoga for cycling focuses on stretching and strengthening those muscles for better performance and faster recovery. \\nKeep in mind, alignment is the most important part of each pose. It’s more beneficial to hold each pose correctly than for a lengthy period of time. So, if you’re just starting out with yoga, take it easy on yourself, pay attention to how your body feels, and work on achieving the right alignment for each posture before you progress to longer holds.\\nThe following are poses you can practice at home in the comfort of your own living room. For extra guidance and support, you can also try working with one of our online instructors at \\nMyYogaTeacher.\\n\\nReady to get started?\\n\\n10 Yoga Poses for Cycling\\n1.Cat-Cow Pose\\n\\nThis simple exercise increases mobility in your spine and torso, and gives your core and lower back muscles a stretch — after miles on the bike it’s a welcome cool down.\\nStart with your hands and knees on the floor. Inhale and look up, lifting your chin and gently arching your back. As you exhale, drop your chin and look down toward your naval as you curl your spine forward. Continue this movement 5-10 times.\\n\n\\n2. Downward Facing Dog Pose\\n\\nDownward Facing Dog efficiently stretches your calves and hamstrings, lengthening the muscles after long periods of contraction on the bike. It’s also a great position for stretching your lower back.\\nWith your hands and knees on the floor, push your hips upward until you are balancing on your hands and feet, and your body resembles an inverted “v” shape. Reach your heels toward the floor, stretching your hamstrings and activating your thighs. Keep your head between your arms, lengthening your side-body as you stretch. Stay here for several breaths.\\n\n\\n3. Bridge Pose\\n\\nThis is a pose that stretches and strengthens your muscles at the same time. While stretching your hips and core, Bridge pose strengthens your knees and quads.\\nStart by lying on your back with your knees bent. On your next exhale, tuck your chin and lift your hips, being careful not to allow your knees to splay outward. Interlace your fingers on the floor underneath you and lift your hips higher, while staying in the pose for 5-10 breaths.\\n\n\\n4. Plank Pose\\n\\nCycling requires a strong and healthy core. With regular practice of Plank pose, you’ll help your body endure long hours on the bike with decreased soreness.\\nLie face down on your mat, and using your palms to push up from the floor, lift your body until you are balanced on your palms and the toes of your feet. In this pose, your body should be positioned in a straight line, with your gaze directed at the floor in front of you. Hold for a few breaths, or for 30-60 seconds if you are feeling strong in this pose.\\n\n\\n5. Triangle Pose\\n\\nBecause cycling is so taxing for your legs, there is no such thing as too many leg stretching poses. Triangle stretches your hamstrings, glutes, hips and calves, as well as the sides of your torso.\\nFrom a standing position at the top of your mat, slowly move one foot back and position it parallel with the edge of your mat, and your other foot pointing forward in a wide-leg stance. Inhale and stretch out both your arms parallel to the ground. As you exhale, bend at your hip and place the fingertips of your forward-pointing arm at the outside of your forward-pointing foot. Rotate your torso and extend your back arm so that it is pointing straight up. Hold for 3-5 breaths and repeat on the other side.\\n\n\\n6. Seated Forward Fold Pose\\n\\nAnother great pose for deeply stretching your lower back, hamstrings and calves, Seated Forward Fold can also be adjusted if you have particularly tight hamstrings. If it feels too intense, try bending your knees and only lowering your torso halfway down.\\nSit on your mat with your legs extended in front of you and your hands resting on your thighs. As you inhale, open your chest and straighten your spine. On your next exhale, bend at the waist, bringing your chest toward your thighs while maintaining a straight spine. Once you’ve lowered about halfway down, allow your spine to round and continue until your forehead touches your knees. Grasp your feet with your hands or you can hook your index and ring fingers around your big toes. Hold this pose for 1-2 minutes.\\n\n\\n6. Locust Pose\\n\\nThis is another pose that performs double-duty. It stretches your abdominal muscles while strengthening your back and shoulders for better endurance on the bike.\\nLie face down on your mat, resting your forehead on your forearms and your legs stretched straight out behind you. With an inhale, extend your arms to your sides and lift your lower legs off the mat, keeping your upper legs (thighs and core) flat on the mat. Engage your glutes and press both of your legs together while holding them up. Hold this pose for 5-6 breaths.\\n\n\\n7. Sphinx Pose\\n\\nAfter so many hours hunched over the bike, it’s important to practice a few stretches that bend your spine and torso in the opposite direction. Sphinx pose increases your spinal mobility and stretches your abdominal muscles.\\nStart by laying on your mat with your belly facing down. Place your palms on the floor next to you, with your elbows under your shoulders, gently lift your upper body. Your legs should be extended straight back behind you as you hold this pose that resembles the Egyptian Sphinx statue. Open your chest and keep your chin level with the floor, with your gaze facing forward. Hold the pose for 1-2 minutes, or longer if you feel comfortable.\\n\n\\n8. Fixed Angle Pose\\n\\nIf you spend a lot of time on the bike, you might have tight hip abductor muscles. Fixed Angle pose, or commonly known as “Cobbler’s pose” stretches your hips and lower back muscles to relieve sore muscles after long rides.\\nSit on your yoga mat with your knees bent and the soles of your feet pressed against each other. With your spine straight, press your hands behind you and gently open up your chest and tuck in your abdomen. Hold the pose for 1-2 minutes.\\n\n\\n9. Supine Figure Four Pose\\n\\nDo you have sore glutes and hips after your rides? This simple stretch can relieve tight glutes and hip abductors.\\nStart by laying down with your back on the floor with both knees bent. Cross your right ankle over your left knee, resembling the shape of a figure four. Place your left hand around your left knee, and thread your right hand through the opening to clasp your hands together around your knee. Inhale, and as you exhale, pull your left knee toward your chest as far as you feel comfortable, and hold for 30-60 seconds. Repeat on the other side.\\n\n\\n10. Pigeon Pose\\n\\n\nThis pose also deeply stretches your quads and hip abductors. It’s also a great pose to release tension and de-stress.\\nStart in Downward Facing Dog. Lift your left leg up behind you, and swing it forward while lowering yourself to the mat. Your left leg should sit bent in front of you with your shin resting on the mat and your right leg extended behind you. With your palms on the floor at your sides for support, inhale and lift your chest. As you exhale, begin to bend forward, rounding your spine as your lower your torso over your left quad. Lower yourself as far as you feel capable, while keeping your hips squared toward the front of your mat. Once your forehead reaches the mat or an otherwise comfortable location, hold this pose for 2-3 minutes. Repeat on the other side."},"category":[]}],"randomPosts":[{"id":"clfi5maddjflg0bkbot5q89bb","slug":"yoga-for-women's-health-event-march-23","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":"will-1","pictureUrl":"will.jpeg"},"title":"Celebrating Women: Yoga for Women’s Health","createdAt":"2023-03-21T11:10:10.172786+00:00","coverUrl":"vlezqpj75vmjs0jt9j5o.png","content":{"text":"Don’t miss our free Yoga for Women’s Health Event March 28-30!\\n\\nThis month is all about celebrating women and promoting women’s health! The Yoga for Women’s Health Event is designed for women of all ages to be able to participate. Discover all the ways you can use yoga to enhance and protect your physical, mental and emotional health!\\nDid you know that 8 out of 10 women feel like their doctors, at some point, have ignored them or been dismissive of their health concerns? And over 50% of women in America struggle with some form of mental health issue. Yoga, meditation, and a yogic lifestyle are all ways to significantly improve your health as a woman. \\nAt MyYogaTeacher, expert instructors with higher education in many different fields are available to walk with you on your health journey and help you advocate for your health in ways you may not have otherwise!\\nThis special event\\n focuses on…you guessed it, women!\\nWalk away from these amazing classes feeling energized and empowered and more prepared to take control of your mental, emotional, and physical health!\\n\n\\nHow to join the International Women’s Day Event:\\n\\nMembers\\nJust click the links below to one or all of the classes you’d like to attend and register as you would any other group class! Simple as that.\\n\\nNon-Members\\n\\nClick this link to sign up for your free two week trial\\n to get access to this incredible event! No credit card required.\\n\\nAre you a nonmember who signed up for a trial in the past but it’s lapsed?\\nIf you’re not a member but signed up for a free-trial in the past, and it has expired, just reach out to \\ncare@myyogateacher.com\\n to let us know!  We'll reset your trial and give you full access to the event.\\n\n\\nCheck out the educational, inspiring, and beautiful event classes and expert yoga instructors making this event happen!\\n(Click the class links to register for any or all of these amazing sessions!)\\n\\n\\n\\n\\nMantra Chanting with Niyata \\n\\nTuesday, March 28 at 6:30 am PST/ 9:30 am EST\\n\nReady to feel calmer, more focused, and more relaxed? Enter a meditative state where you will connect with yourself and nature in this class focused on mantra chanting! This singing form of meditation will have you feeling more alive, present, and less stressed. \\n\\n\\nYoga for Menopausal Women with Gomati\\n\\nWednesday, March 29 at 6:30 pm PST/ 9:30 pm EST\\n\nAre you struggling with perimenopause or menopause symptoms? Hot flashes, hormone imbalances, mood swings, loss of strength and flexibility, and more? Join us in a yoga class designed just for you and walk away feeling better about your mental, physical, and emotional health during this stage of life!\\n\n\\nNritya and Yoga with Umesh\\n\\nThursday, March 30 at 5:00 pm PST/ 8:00 pm EST\\n\\nNritya means “pure dance” and is graceful movement of the body to express emotion! This class combines yoga and Nritya to help you balance your physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing. You’ll walk away feeling refreshed and energized!\\nCMaking your health and wellness a priority is something you’ll never regret! Yoga is such an easy and convenient way to honor your physical, mental, and emotional needs and live in alignment with your values and purpose! Which brings harmony to your inner and outer world.\\nAnd don’t forget to check out other yoga classes MyYogaTeacher offers as a part of your membership or free trial! Or reach out to the yoga instructors below offering 1-on-1 sessions to address specific issues!\\n\\n\\n\\nAnnelise Piers\\n\\n\\nShika Sood \\n\\n\\nSwati Dalvi\\n\\n\\nAbhishek Bodhi\\n\\n\\nPreeti Goswami\\n\\n\\nRohan Shroff\\n\\n\n\\nAnd remember: If you’re a nonmember who’s two-week free trial has ended, reach out to \\ncare@myyogateacher.com\\n to have your trial reset so you can easily sign up for these awesome classes!\\n\n\\nWelcome to MyYogaTeacher’s International Women’s Day Event!\\nSee you soon!\\n"}},{"id":"ckvtloolko7bw0f85fqw3s4zv","slug":"yoga-for-your-skin","author":{"name":"Kanika","teacherMytSlug":null,"pictureUrl":null},"title":"Yoga For Your Complexion: Reduce Acne, Pigmentation, and Dull Skin With These Moves","createdAt":"2021-11-10T14:11:17.594796+00:00","coverUrl":"cynqi55mnqwrnemn7n2a.jpg","content":{"text":"Let’s be clear. \\nSome\\n forms of skin pigmentation are due to genetics and hereditary factors. And wrinkles are a natural sign of aging. There is absolutely nothing wrong (and everything beautiful) with characteristics of your skin that come with time or are a part of you from birth!\\nThat’s not what we’ll be talking about here.\\nWhat about acne? What about changes in complexion and skin pigmentation that don’t come from those things mentioned above?\\nThe causes of dull skin tone, acne, and other complexion issues may vary. They’ll be discussed below, but you also want solutions, help for skin issues.\\nYoga is an amazing source of renewal and health for your complexion! \\nFace yoga\\n is also a thing. Let’s talk about how yoga helps your complexion and produces glowing, healthy skin.\\nNot familiar with face yoga? Check out my \\nFace Yoga class\\n on MyYogaTeacher! We welcome any and all who are looking to tighten, tone, and improve their complexion. And if you’re not familiar with MyYogaTeacher yet, \\nget your 2-week free trial here\\n and join in on any of the 35+ group classes offered. There is literally something for everyone and so many amazing yoga teachers!\\nReasons for dull skin, acne, and pigmentation\\nWhile yoga improves your complexion, it doesn’t cure all the things you feel are wrong with your skin. Does yoga reduce fine lines and wrinkles? Absolutely! Does it help even out skin tone and improve acne issues? Of course.\\nBut addressing the root cause of your skin issues is an important step to improving your skin. Take a look as some of the causes of dull skin, acne, and pigmentation below:\\n\\n>> Dehydration\\n - Not drinking enough water affects your skin in more ways than one!\\n>> Sun damage\\n - Wearing a daily sunscreen helps prevent this and protect your delicate face skin.\\n>> Hormone changes\\n - Pregnancy, contraceptives, processed foods, and natural aging are all causes of hormone changes that can affect your skin.\\n>> Inflammation\\n - Harsh chemicals, acne, psoriasis, and exposure to toxins in the air can all contribute to skin pigmentation and other skin issues.\\n>> Pollution\\n - Free radicals in the environment damages collagen and stimulate pigment production over time.\\n>> Diet\\n - Lack of nutrients (vitamins and minerals) contributes to unhealthy skin.\\n>> Smoking\\n - The nicotine from smoking constricts blood vessels, reducing the amount of oxygen to the skin, causing fine lines and wrinkles.\\nWe could go on, but these are the most common reasons for skin problems. Yoga for skin and face will help your body release toxins and bring vital nutrients to the surface of your skin, but it certainly helps to also drink plenty of water, wear sunscreen and moisturizer, and eat a healthy diet with lots of fruits and vegetables.\\nHow yoga benefits your skin\\nIt has been said that what’s going on inside your body shows up on your face – literally. Stress, tension, bad eating habits, dehydration, trauma, mental health issues, not enough sleep. All of those things are reflected through the delicate skin tissues.\\nWhen your overall health is good, your face tends to show it!\\nA regular yoga practice (whether it’s face yoga or not) is a great way to consistently improve and maintain a healthy, glowing complexion.\\nYoga removes skin impurities\\nThe buildup of heat in the body from many forms of yoga causes the body to sweat, which removes impurities from the body and skin.\\nSweat releases a natural antibody called dermcidin that fights bacteria. \\nBecause impurities are a primary source of acne, yoga reduces acne via sweat and internal toxin release\\nYoga heals damaged skin\\nYogic breathing increases the amount of oxygen received by the body and is essential in skin cell regeneration.\\nWhen the blood contains high oxygen levels, it provides vital nutrients to the surface of the skin, preventing and even reversing the damaging effects of free radicals and sun exposure.\\nYoga increases skin elasticity\\nFace yoga, in particular, firms and tones the muscles under the skin, which reduces fine lines and wrinkles\\nYoga also helps reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, all of which can cause us to frown, scowl, or have many other facial expressions that contribute to fine lines and wrinkles. A regular yoga practice can prevent us from making facial expressions that decrease the skin’s elasticity.\\nYoga regulates hormone production\\nAn over or underproduction of various hormones is a common cause of pigmentation, dull skin, and acne. Causes are often due to stress, anxiety, pregnancy, natural changes in the body, and processed foods.\\nA regular yoga and meditation practice has been scientifically proven to regulate hormone levels over time, thereby improving or even eliminating some of the causes of skin issues.\\nYoga is historically an avenue to holistic health. If you’re tired of trying all the latest and greatest products (natural or not) for your skin, yoga may just be the thing you’re missing! Be patient, though. Nothing gets better overnight. Give your practice some time.\\nYoga poses for glowing skin\\nTry these yoga moves for your skin below to get started on improving your complexion. Warm up your body first by doing a few sun salutation sequences. If you’re not familiar with those, \\nhere’s an article on what they are and how to do them\\n!\\n1. Yoga Mudrasana (Yogic Seal)\\nStay for a minute or two in this pose, breathing normally, and you’ll feel your face become flush with fresh oxygen!\\n\\n\\n\\n2. Vakrasana (Half Seated Spinal Twist)\\nTwisting poses are a great way to help your internal organs release toxins, increase blood flow, and reduce stress, which stabilizes your hormones. Do this pose on each side and hold for 10 deep breaths.\\n\\n\\n\\n3. Matsyasana (Fish Pose)\\nThis pose stimulates your thyroid gland, which regulates hormones. Imbalance hormones can cause acne and dull skin. Fish pose also encourages deep breaths, which brings more oxygen and nutrient-rich blood to the surface of the skin. Hold for 10 breaths.\\n\\n\\n\\n4. Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose)\\nSimilar to upward facing dog pose, cobra pose opens up the chest, allowing more air to enter the lungs with each breath. It also stimulates the thyroid gland and strengthen and tones the neck and face muscles.\\n\\n\\n\\n5. Uttanasana (Standing Forward Bend)\\nYou may already be familiar with this pose, especially if you did a sun salutation sequence before trying these! Inversion poses like this one are anti-gravity and anti-aging poses that also bring oxygen and nutrients specifically to your face and scalp. Stay here for at least 5 breaths and let your head dangle gently, or even sway side to side.\\n\\n\\n\n\nI hope you’ve found this article helpful! Whether you need more guidance on how to use \\nyoga \\nto improve your complexion or you’re an experienced yogi looking to transform your complexion, I’d love to have you try my\\n Face Yoga class\\n on MyYogaTeacher! All are welcome there!\\n\\nAnd if you haven’t yet checked out the MyYogaTeacher platform, \\nI invite you to grab your 2-week free trial here.\\n No credit card required! You can take a few or as many yoga classes as you’d like for free during your trial period. Take advantage of the many different types of yoga classes taught by highly experienced yoga instructors from the birthplace of yoga, India!\\nHope to see you there!"}},{"id":"cl8cuq5nnh5860biyek2vhu2w","slug":"reproductive-rights-for-women-yoga-workshop","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":"will-1","pictureUrl":"will.jpeg"},"title":"Reproductive Rights for Women Yoga Workshop - Supporting Women Through Yoga","createdAt":"2022-09-22T09:28:27.679552+00:00","coverUrl":"dkjwcigamkavxe0yziwq.jpg","content":{"text":"Announcing MyYogaTeacher’s first ever Reproductive Rights for Women Yoga Workshop!\\nHere at MyYogaTeacher, we believe in the wisdom of women to make their own choices about their health. \\n\\nThat’s why we’re excited to offer the\\n Reproductive Rights for Women Yoga Workshop on October 2 from 9 AM - 11 AM PST (12 PM - 2 PM EST) for only $10!\\nIn the past, our community events have been free. So why are we charging a nominal fee for this one?\\nBecause ALL proceeds from the Reproductive Rights for Women Yoga Workshop go to support the \\nCenter for Reproductive Rights\\n charity, a nonprofit organization, the \\nonly\\n global legal advocacy organization dedicated to advancing reproductive rights.\\nIn the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe vs Wade and on the day before the new term of the Supreme Court begins, we think this workshop is a perfect way to silently protest this new ruling through self-care and donations to an organization like the Center for Reproductive Rights.\\nThis will also be a time of healing and processing with a couple of awesome expert yoga instructors!\\nHow to join the Reproductive Rights for Women Yoga Workshop\\nWhether you’re a member or not, \\nJust click this link and register \\nas you would any other group class! Simple as that.\\nIntroducing a very special guest yoga instructor coming just for this event!\n\\nMeet Harpinder Mann, RYT-500!\\n\\n\n\\nHarpinder is a yoga, meditation, mindfulness teacher, and decolonizing activist based in Los Angeles. She works with women of color who want to reclaim their power and intuition through the lens of a spiritual, joyful, and sustainable path. Her studies have spanned from reading the Japji Sahib since she was 3, to over 700 hours of yogic training within the traditions of Raja, Vinyasa, Kundalini, and Prenatal Yoga. \\nWe’re super excited to have her lead the beginning of the workshop. Afterwards, MyYogaTeacher yoga instructor, \\nTrupti Parikh\\n, will lead us in asanas, and a discussion session will follow.\\nAre you ready to experience a workshop where we solely focus on supporting and advocating for women’s health \\nwhile\\n improving our mental, emotional, and physical health?\\n\\nJoin us for the Reproductive Rights for Women Yoga Workshop!\\n\\nTogether, we make a difference."}}],"relatedPosts":[{"id":"ckfqz2rgo02090136wdoy1f70","slug":"a-review-from-a-real-student","author":{"name":"Nikki Miller","teacherMytSlug":null,"pictureUrl":"nikki-miller.jpg"},"title":"A Review from a MyYogaTeacher Member","createdAt":"2020-01-10T00:00:00+00:00","coverUrl":"1-First-we-check-in.jpg","content":{"text":"We were just so excited to see Nikki's review of myYogaTeacher that we asked if we could also share it here. We are LOVING her excitement and enthusiasm for finding HER TEACHER!\n⁠\\n[CTA-REVIEWS]\\nGuest post by Nikki Miller\\nWhen the student is ready, the teacher will appear attributed to Buddha Siddhartha Guatama Shakyamuni\\n\\nMaybe you've heard that one? You’re ready to up your yoga game, but where is your teacher? \\n\\nThey’re in your living room.  \\n\\n\\nI mean, not right now (don’t freak out). But they can be in your living room, if you’re ready for one-on-one online yoga instruction, in private, in your home - with a real \\nlive\\n yoga teacher trained in India. \\n\\nConfession: I wasn’t ready. How would that even work? #skeptical\\n\\nI only tried myYogaTeacher because of three words: \\nFree Trial Period\\n. At least it would motivate me to get on my yoga mat and skip that last hour of Netflix binging. \\n\\nFully ready to bail the moment the app got confusing or annoying (nobody has time for a half-baked app), I signed up and the app proved seamless. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves—we haven’t even gotten to the yoga yet!\\n\\n\\n\\nMe and Pranjal!\\n\\nI set up my yoga mat in living room and a real, live yoga teacher met me online through the two-way camera on my laptop. Pretty cool… but how could she instruct me through a camera? Still skeptical. Still ready to bail.  \\n\\nShe asked about my goals and how my body was feeling (I happened to be recovering from a shoulder injury) and then she tailored the practice to my specific needs that day. \\n\\n\\nWhen we got to my Nemesis Pose (the one I always struggle with) she proactively offered \\nmodifications\\n — and I actually felt at ease in the pose. Yoga. Epiphany.  \\n\\nAlong the way I asked ALL the questions: Can we go back to the last pose? Can we slow down (or speed up) a bit? Can you tell me more about [insert every question I’ve ever had about \\nyoga poses\\n]?\\n[CTA-GC]\\nAfterwards they sent me a recording of the session. (Confession: I had absolutely no intention of watching it! I’ve seen myself in the mirror at the studio. Hard pass). But I caved, and the replay revealed how my body came in and out of poses and where I was misaligned until performing the modifications. \\n\\n\\nMy understanding advanced more than it had in months. \\n\\n\\nI had found my \\nyoga teacher\\n.  \\n\\nNot everything was smooth sailing, though:   \\n\\n1)    Setting up the audio harshed my zen. In order to get your entire yoga mat on the screen, you have to place your laptop/device pretty far away, but then it can be difficult to hear through the speakers. In the end, I opted to use my mobile phone for the audio—which worked fine but became distracting while navigating around the mat.\\n\\nOne teacher spoke with a pronounced accent that I struggled to understand. I’d rather say more “OM” and less “Can you repeat that please?”\\n\\nI tried other teachers over time, and while you learn something from every teacher, not all were the right fit for me. It’s similar to finding your yoga studio home: you’ll know it when you find it.\\n\\n\\nSharing physical space and community with other yogis at the studio will always be an important part of my yoga experience. And if I’m desperate I might mimic a pre-recorded \\nyoga class\\n again. But myYogaTeacher is now a critical arm of my yoga practice. \\n\\n\\nIt’s where my experience is expertly tailored to my unique needs. It’s where I can ask questions and receive immediate feedback. It’s where my practice truly advances. \\n\\nIt’s where I found my teacher. \\n\\nAnd all from my living room. (Confession: Sometimes still in my pajamas.)\\n"}},{"id":"cl31z7b95pf2h0ck3sna7w2xg","slug":"yoga-for-women-over-50","author":{"name":"Vineeta","teacherMytSlug":null,"pictureUrl":null},"title":"5 Yoga Poses for Older Women: Yoga for Women Over 50","createdAt":"2022-05-11T19:29:46.900088+00:00","coverUrl":"shfqitaozmzufddc6ift.jpg","content":{"text":"Yoga is for every body. And that’s just one of the wonderful things about it! Another wonderful thing is there are\\n specific\\n yoga poses for women, men, children, disabled people, seniors. \\nA yoga practice can be tailored to meet the varying and specific individual needs of a person or of a collective group of people. Here, I’ll be addressing the physical, mental, and emotional needs of women over the age of 50 with yoga poses that are particularly beneficial to them.\\nHi! My name is Vaneeta! I teach a\\n Yoga for Women\\n group class at MyYogaTeacher. Women are the source of life and energy on the planet. And a woman advances through many phases of life from motherhood to \\nmenopause\\n. Women who are entering the stage of life that is after menopause have specific needs that can be addressed with yoga!\\nNot a MyYogaTeacher member? Whether you’re interested in teaching yoga, starting yoga, or growing in your yoga journey, MyYogaTeacher is a great place to do it!\\nWhen you sign up for a 1:1 membership with us you get:\n\\n102 expert\\n, highly qualified yoga instructors to choose from\\nThe ability to switch instructors\\n or take classes with only your faves\\nAccess to unlimited group classes\\n, taught \\nlive\\nPersonalized instruction\\n and work out, diet, and lifestyle plans\\nTo be a member of a HUGE community\\n of happy yogis from around the world\\nYoga teachers who become friends\\n, who truly care about you!\\nIf you haven’t checked us out already, \\ngrab two free 1:1 sessions with your 2-week free trial here\\n!\\nI hope you’ll try some of these yoga poses for women over 50 and then join my class on MyYogaTeacher for more!\\nOne key to doing yoga at an older age is using props that help you remain stable, safe, and aligned. I recommend using blocks and/or a chair along with your mat.\\n\\n\\n\\n1. Cat and Cow Pose\\nCat and Cow pose is great for anyone at any age, but it’s a great way for women to begin warming up their back and abdominal muscles in a way that is gradual and stable. Supporting your weight on all fours is also a great way to keep arm and chest muscles (that maybe don’t get used as much as we age) strong and conditioned. Women over 50 tend to start experiencing stiffness and reduced mobility in their backs, so cat and cow pose is perfect for helping with those issues as well!\\nAdditionally, because cat and cow pose is designed to sync with  your breath, it is a great way to cleanse emotionally. Since changes in your body can cause emotional distress, particularly in older women, this yoga pose helps women release those emotions before moving forward with more challenging poses.\\n\\n\\n\\n2. Downward Facing Dog\\nOtherwise known as “Down Dog,” this yoga pose is great for older women because it:\\nStretches out the calves, hamstrings, and back \\nBuilds strength in the arms and chest \\nIncreases flexibility in the shoulders\\nBoosts circulation of oxygen and nutrients to otherwise contracting muscles\\nShoulder joints tend to wear out as women age, which makes them susceptible to injuring their shoulders. Building strength in the arms and chest helps protect those increasingly fragile shoulder joints. \\nEmotionally, down dog instills a sense of empowerment and increases feelings of confidence and accomplishment, two things women over 50 tend to struggle with when they notice the changes in their bodies.\\nAdditionally, once a women passes through menopause, muscles tend to tighten and contract due to reduction in hormones and hormone production. Downward facing dog is a perfect yoga pose for women over 50 because it keeps their leg and back muscles lengthened and promotes good circulation!\\n\\n\n3. Modified Cobbler’s Pose\\nAs women age, it is common for them to encounter knee problems and knee pain, making some yoga poses difficult. However, many yoga poses that increase flexibility and circulation to the hip flexors and hip joints require bent knees. \\nPerforming cobbler’s pose on a block or bolster where your hips are higher than your knees helps decrease the pressure on your knees while still reaping the gentle benefits of hip stretching. You may also choose to put blocks underneath your knees or move your feet further away from your body so that the angle of bend in your knees isn’t as sharp.\\nEither way, this pose is proof that yoga for women over 50 is doable, even if you’re experiencing physical challenges and physiological changes.\\n\\n\n4. Modified Tree Pose\\nBalancing postures are a common theme in many forms of yoga. They help yogis learn how to focus better, increase concentration, and (importantly for older women) strengthen the tiny muscles in our feet and ankles.\\nOlder women may begin to experience balance issues as they age. This is common and normal!\\nThe more you work to strengthen the muscles in your feet and ankles, the less likely you will be to lose your balance! Additionally, yoga for women helps you navigate the mental changes you may experience by helping with memory, focus, and concentration.\\nUse a chair, wall, or other stable object if needed. You may also place your non-standing foot on your calf or even at your ankle until you are comfortable moving it further up.\\n\\n\\n5. Child’s Pose\\nEveryone loves child’s pose! It’s a great stretch for your back, arms, neck, and even hips and glutes. Older women may want to rest their forehead on a block and/or place a blanket underneath their hips to alleviate any discomfort.\\nTaking some much needed time in child’s pose allows women to reflect on how their body feels and release any negative thoughts about the changes that may be occurring in their body as they age.\\nI would love to have you join us in the Yoga for \\nSenior\\n class, where I not only teach a yoga class specifically catered to women’s needs but talk about common issues women face as they transition into and out of different phases of life! also Check out our latest \\nWellness\\n class for seniors!\\nMyYogaTeacher offers 1:1 classes with authentic yoga instructors from the birthplace of yoga, India! And if you haven’t experienced virtual private yoga classes yet, MyYogaTeacher makes 1:1 classes affordable and accessible! PLUS, with your membership, you get:\\nRadiance! More energy, peace of mind, and better health & fitness\\n42+ daily group yoga classes, 100% live!\\nDiscounted yoga workshops, all live and interactive!\\nMaking new like-minded friends from around the world\\n\\nGrab your 2-week free trial and check out your membership options here!\\n\\nNamaste!"}},{"id":"cklkxgum87xl509314u5faawv","slug":"yoga-for-kids","author":{"name":"Sujit Tiwari","teacherMytSlug":null,"pictureUrl":null},"title":"5 Reasons Why Kids May Need Yoga More Than Adults","createdAt":"2021-02-25T13:54:08.269963+00:00","coverUrl":"pexels-gabby-12-small.jpg","content":{"text":"In a world where parents are all hustle and bustle and go, go, go, it’s no wonder our children are stressed out, anxious, and have zero self awareness.\\n\\nThey don’t have time to be self aware!\\n\\nAnxiety and stress in little kids all the way to older teenagers can look like sleeping a lot, temper tantrums, crying over “nothing,” not eating, or eating too much. It can show up as hyperactivity, bad attitudes, poor mental focus, bad grades.\\n\\nOr it can show up as many more terrible things that no parent wants to think about.\\n\\nWe stress how important it is for adults to take part in selfcare, to stretch and move our bodies. Surely, at this point in history, every adult knows that selfcare is a thing we should all be doing. But what are we telling our children to do for selfcare? \\n\\nSports? After school activities? Clubs? More doing. Less being. More rushing around. Less stillness. Less quiet time to process their days, their emotions. And your days, your emotions. Because kids are subject to those too.\\n\\nDo we ever teach them how to just be? \\n\\nThis is why I offer a \\nKids Yoga class at myYogaTeacher\\n! Because kids with healthy bodies, minds, and spirits make for adults with healthy minds, bodies, and spirits!\\n\\nHere are some reasons I’m passionate about teaching kids the importance of yoga.\\n\\n1. Yoga improves a child’s mood.\\n\\nWe all know that happier \\nkids\\n make their parents, teachers, coaches, etc. happier. But the focus really needs to be more on the children and less on the adults!\\n\\nKids have fewer tools than adults to help them regulate their mood. \\n\\nJust like any other physical activity, yoga releases endorphins, those feel good feelings, which, in turn, reduces stress and anxiety. When children experience less stress and anxiety, they eat better, sleep better, act better, perform better. \\n\\nThey do everything better. Just like adults do.\\n\\nThey’re calmer. And all the built up negativity is released. Plus, yoga is fun! It’s not competitive, and kids are free to be themselves.\\n\\nSpeaking of being themselves...\\n\\n2. Yoga helps children self regulate\\n\\nHow can we expect kids to self soothe, regulate their behaviors and emotions, and regain focus if we don’t give them the tools they need for self awareness? Unlike adults, kids often have very little control over their lives. \\n\\nThey’re told what to do and when and how. \\n\\nA regular kids’ yoga practice will help children of all ages look inward and take time to examine why they feel or behave in certain ways and process that. With that information, they can discover how to change bad habits or behaviors, work through negative emotions in appropriate ways, and have a clear mind to make better choices in the face of challenging situations.\\n\\nKids yoga isn’t just about strength, flexibility, or getting the sillies out. It’s a portal for them to just be who they are designed to be! Let your kids check it out with a \\ntwo week free trial at myYogaTeacher.\\n\\n\\n3. Yoga improves sleep for kids.\\n\\nDid you know that school age children need anywhere from 9-12 hours of sleep every night? \\n\\nWith parents hurrying their children from one activity to another, the long hours of homework, or just being allowed to stay up too late, it’s no wonder kids are exhausted, moody and irritable. Not to mention late night screen time impacts their rest tremendously.\\n\\nThey’re simply not getting enough sleep! Not only that, but the quality of their sleep may not be all that great.\\n\\nPracticing kids yoga right before bed is an excellent way to help them have a really restful, restorative sleep.\\n\\nThe breathwork involved in yoga helps calm their minds and nervous system. The release of tension from their muscles helps them relax and ditch the overwhelm or negative thoughts. Yoga will help them fall asleep faster and sleep better.\\n\\n4. Yoga helps their brains work better.\\n\\nYep. It’s true. Yoga literally helps kids have better memory and cognitive function.\\n\\nKids who do yoga will learn how to focus on their bodies more and better and apply that mental clarity to other areas of their life. They’ll remember more of what they learn and have more self awareness.\\n\\nYoga actually requires you to use the same neural pathways in your brain that are responsible for memory. The practice itself is sort of conditioning your brain to work better, faster, and more efficiently.\\n\\nThe meditation aspect of yoga enables kids to focus on their breath and clear out all the mind junk that may be interfering with their memory.\\n\\n\\n5. Kids don’t have it easy, but yoga helps.\\n\\nAdults who say “kids these days have it easy” need to switch places with a 12-year-old in 2021. \\n\\nLong gone are the days of riding bikes safely (and even alone) along the streets of your home town. The days of simplicity and easy afternoons fishing by the local pond.\\n\\nCompetition is more fierce in almost every aspect of kids’ lives. There is more stress to have a career that makes well above minimum wage because cost of living is atrocious.\\n\\nParents are on the go or absent, and visibly stressed out when they’re not. There’s cyber bullying, drug trafficking, human trafficking. Terrorism. Political unrest. Social unrest. Children today are forced to overcome obstacles that older generations never thought of not even once when they were growing up.\\n\\nYoga for \\nkids\\n gives children a chance to unwind, detach from the world, and create their own safe space of peace. It’s a tool they can use almost any time, anywhere, and for any circumstance to improve their physical, mental, and emotional well being.\\n\\nSo why in the world wouldn’t we encourage them to use it?\\n\\n\\nDo you have a son or daughter in need of some time on the mat? \\nCheck out my Kids Yoga (10-12 years) class\\n when you sign up for your \\nfree two-week trial at myYogaTeacher! \\n\\n\\n"}}],"blogContent":{"id":"cl5wwa1a0gnol0dhdo5ntl12t","slug":"frequently-asked-yoga-questions","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":null,"pictureUrl":null},"title":"11 Common Yoga Questions (and Their Answers)","createdAt":"2022-07-22T20:08:11.250342+00:00","updatedAt":"2022-08-02T11:11:56.422423+00:00","coverUrl":"wjnf6gca2leiwcxskli4.jpg","seoDescription":"Do you have yoga questions that you're to shy to ask? Get answers to the 11 most common yoga questions here!","content":{"text":"Most of us have questions before or when we start practicing yoga! That’s normal. As a matter of fact, as you grow in your practice, the amount of questions doesn’t really get smaller. They just get different!\\nYoga teachers get asked tons of questions, and, generally, they love answering them! But sometimes, a new yoga student or someone who’s considering starting yoga may feel too shy or embarrassed to ask. Then they go to Google, get lots of conflicting answers, and may give up on yoga before they ever start.\\nWe definitely don’t want that!\\nSo here are the 11 most common yoga questions we get asked and their \\nreal\\n answers!\n\\n\\n1. How long do I wait after eating before I can do yoga?\\nIf you can practice in the morning, before you eat, that is ideal, or later in the evening. However, other than those times, we recommend waiting at least 2 hours after you eat before you start your yoga practice. Doing yoga on a full stomach can cause discomfort and even nausea. It also means you’ll have less energy since your body is busy digesting food!\\n\\n\\n\\n2. Do I have to be flexible to practice yoga?\\nAbsolutely not! As a matter of fact, lack of flexibility is a good reason to \\nstart\\n a regular yoga practice! Besides that, yoga is much more than just stretching. It’s a physical activity that tones, strengthens, calms, and heals the body, mind, and spirit.\\n\\n3. I’m pregnant. Can I still do yoga?\\nYes you can! It’s important when you’re pregnant to do yoga under the guidance of a prenatal yoga instructor or other expert yoga instructor though. There are yoga poses that pregnant women should avoid, such as inversions and poses where you lie flat on your back. \\n\\n4. How often should I practice yoga for best results?\\nIf you’re a beginner, we recommend starting with only 2-3 classes that require more exertion a week (such as Ashtanga, Power, or Vinyasa yoga). However, there are many other types of yoga to try in between, such as restorative yoga, yin yoga, or any of MyYogaTeacher’s meditative yoga classes! As you advance in your practice, you may feel strong enough to try more difficult yoga classes more times per week. Either way, you’ll experience the benefits of yoga whether you do it once a week or 7 days a week!\\n\\n5. Do I need any special equipment to practice yoga?\\nWhile we do recommend the use of a yoga mat, technically, you don’t \\nhave\\n to have one. You can practice yoga on any surface you feel is safe and comfortable. Many yogis also have blocks, bolsters, and straps to help them modify poses or go deeper into poses. But those certainly aren’t necessary to reap the benefits of doing yoga.\\n\\n\\n\\n6. Why do I need a yoga class? Can’t I just do it by myself with a book or video?\\nYou certainly can do yoga by yourself with the use of a book or video but most yogis (especially inexperienced ones) will agree that this isn’t as safe as practicing yoga with a live teacher. Yoga classes allow your yoga teacher to see how you perform the poses and can make corrections to your alignment or help you make appropriate modifications and adjustments as needed. At MyYogaTeacher, ALL of our classes are taught live, and you get personalized attention from your yoga instructor, even in group sessions!\\nDoing yoga poses incorrectly may cause injuries! MyYogaTeacher offers a Yoga Basics and a Yoga 201 class to help beginners create a strong yoga foundation for regular practice. \\n\\n\\nGrab your free 2-week trial of unlimited group classes here and check them out! No credit card required\\n.\\n\\n7. What kind of clothes do I need to practice yoga?\\nDespite what you may see on social media, you do not \\nneed\\n a certain kind of clothing, including the ever popular yoga pants or yoga leggings. If you’d like to wear those, however, by all means! The best clothes for yoga are comfortable ones that you can move freely in. You’ll practice barefoot or, if you’d prefer, in yoga socks.\\n\\n8. What are all the strange terms I hear my yoga teacher saying?\\nMany yoga instructors commonly use the Sanskrit words for yoga poses instead of the English translation. This is a good thing! Yoga is ancient and rooted in tradition, and continuing to use and pass on the language is an important part of maintaining the culture of yoga. If you don’t understand something your instructor is saying, please ask! However, we’ve compiled a list of common yoga \\nSanskrit words you may hear in class and what they mean in this blog post\\n.\\n\\n\\n\n9. Will yoga get or keep me in shape?\\nIf you practice regularly and eat healthfully, yes! Absolutely! Just like with any physical activity, you won’t see continued results unless you practice regularly. How you fuel body is also a large part of getting physically and mentally healthy. Yoga can be as strenuous as cardio or as easy as your regular post workout stretch and everything in between. It is definitely possible for yoga to help you lose weight and/or get the body you want.\\n\\n10. Can I do yoga if I’m injured or have a physical disability?\\nYes, you can! Here at MyYogaTeacher, we feel strongly that yoga is for every body. Meaning any body type, shape, size, and all ability levels. Our highly trained and experienced expert yoga teachers from India come packing credentials and tools to help you practice yoga in a way that is safe and works for you!\\n\\n11. Why should I start practicing yoga anyway? \\nA regular yoga practice provides benefits far beyond what any other type of exercise will do! Why? Because yoga is a whole health form of practice. Everything you do in yoga positively affects your physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing, and the benefits carry over to your life from day to day. Yoga cures things like back pain, joint pain, lowers blood pressure, provides mental clarity and focus, reduces blood sugar, promotes healing, and so much more.\\nWe guess the question is, why \\nwouldn’t\\n you want to start practicing yoga?!\\nMost, if not all, of MyYogaTeacher’s expert yoga instructors are \\nmore\\n than qualified to help you! We value authentic, traditional yoga and truly care about the health and wellbeing of our students. For us, yoga isn’t just a class. It’s the way we live our life.\\nNot a MyYogaTeacher member? Whether you’re interested in teaching yoga, starting yoga, or growing in your yoga journey, MyYogaTeacher is a great place to do it!\\nWhen you sign up for a 1:1 membership with us you get:\\n102 expert\\n, highly qualified yoga instructors to choose from\\nThe ability to switch instructors\\n or take classes with only your faves\\nAccess to unlimited group classes\\n, taught \\nlive\\nPersonalized instruction\\n and work out, diet, and lifestyle plans\\nTo be a member of a HUGE community\\n of happy yogis from around the world\\nYoga teachers who become friends\\n, who truly care about you!\\nIf you haven’t checked us out already, \\ngrab two free 1:1 sessions with your 2-week free trial here\\n","html":"<p>Most of us have questions before or when we start practicing yoga! That’s normal. As a matter of fact, as you grow in your practice, the amount of questions doesn’t really get smaller. They just get different!</p><p>Yoga teachers get asked tons of questions, and, generally, they love answering them! But sometimes, a new yoga student or someone who’s considering starting yoga may feel too shy or embarrassed to ask. Then they go to Google, get lots of conflicting answers, and may give up on yoga before they ever start.</p><p>We definitely don’t want that!</p><p>So here are the 11 most common yoga questions we get asked and their <em>real</em> answers!<br></p><p></p><h2>1. How long do I wait after eating before I can do yoga?</h2><p>If you can practice in the morning, before you eat, that is ideal, or later in the evening. However, other than those times, we recommend waiting at least 2 hours after you eat before you start your yoga practice. Doing yoga on a full stomach can cause discomfort and even nausea. It also means you’ll have less energy since your body is busy digesting food!</p><p></p><img src=\"https://media.graphassets.com/qJJnG07oQQuYIwa69XXi\" alt=\"forward-fold-yoloha.jpg\" title=\"forward-fold-yoloha.jpg\" width=\"900\" height=\"600\" /><p></p><h2>2. Do I have to be flexible to practice yoga?</h2><p>Absolutely not! As a matter of fact, lack of flexibility is a good reason to <em>start</em> a regular yoga practice! Besides that, yoga is much more than just stretching. It’s a physical activity that tones, strengthens, calms, and heals the body, mind, and spirit.</p><p></p><h2>3. I’m pregnant. Can I still do yoga?</h2><p>Yes you can! It’s important when you’re pregnant to do yoga under the guidance of a prenatal yoga instructor or other expert yoga instructor though. There are yoga poses that pregnant women should avoid, such as inversions and poses where you lie flat on your back. </p><p></p><h2>4. How often should I practice yoga for best results?</h2><p>If you’re a beginner, we recommend starting with only 2-3 classes that require more exertion a week (such as Ashtanga, Power, or Vinyasa yoga). However, there are many other types of yoga to try in between, such as restorative yoga, yin yoga, or any of MyYogaTeacher’s meditative yoga classes! As you advance in your practice, you may feel strong enough to try more difficult yoga classes more times per week. Either way, you’ll experience the benefits of yoga whether you do it once a week or 7 days a week!</p><p></p><h2>5. Do I need any special equipment to practice yoga?</h2><p>While we do recommend the use of a yoga mat, technically, you don’t <em>have</em> to have one. You can practice yoga on any surface you feel is safe and comfortable. Many yogis also have blocks, bolsters, and straps to help them modify poses or go deeper into poses. But those certainly aren’t necessary to reap the benefits of doing yoga.</p><p></p><img src=\"https://media.graphassets.com/mYsNYjApRSkdpUew47er\" alt=\"istockphoto-1295093512-640x640.jpg\" title=\"istockphoto-1295093512-640x640.jpg\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" /><p></p><h2>6. Why do I need a yoga class? Can’t I just do it by myself with a book or video?</h2><p>You certainly can do yoga by yourself with the use of a book or video but most yogis (especially inexperienced ones) will agree that this isn’t as safe as practicing yoga with a live teacher. Yoga classes allow your yoga teacher to see how you perform the poses and can make corrections to your alignment or help you make appropriate modifications and adjustments as needed. At MyYogaTeacher, ALL of our classes are taught live, and you get personalized attention from your yoga instructor, even in group sessions!</p><p>Doing yoga poses incorrectly may cause injuries! MyYogaTeacher offers a Yoga Basics and a Yoga 201 class to help beginners create a strong yoga foundation for regular practice. </p><p></p><p><a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/dashboard\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/dashboard\"><u>Grab your free 2-week trial of unlimited group classes here and check them out! No credit card required</u></a>.</p><p></p><h2>7. What kind of clothes do I need to practice yoga?</h2><p>Despite what you may see on social media, you do not <em>need</em> a certain kind of clothing, including the ever popular yoga pants or yoga leggings. If you’d like to wear those, however, by all means! The best clothes for yoga are comfortable ones that you can move freely in. You’ll practice barefoot or, if you’d prefer, in yoga socks.</p><p></p><h2>8. What are all the strange terms I hear my yoga teacher saying?</h2><p>Many yoga instructors commonly use the Sanskrit words for yoga poses instead of the English translation. This is a good thing! Yoga is ancient and rooted in tradition, and continuing to use and pass on the language is an important part of maintaining the culture of yoga. If you don’t understand something your instructor is saying, please ask! However, we’ve compiled a list of common yoga <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/articles/common-sanskrit-yoga-words\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/articles/common-sanskrit-yoga-words\"><u>Sanskrit words you may hear in class and what they mean in this blog post</u></a>.</p><p></p><img src=\"https://media.graphassets.com/vWCN8QpoTTmDYOIsQ5RU\" alt=\"_DSC7721.JPG\" title=\"_DSC7721.JPG\" width=\"6048\" height=\"4024\" /><h2><br>9. Will yoga get or keep me in shape?</h2><p>If you practice regularly and eat healthfully, yes! Absolutely! Just like with any physical activity, you won’t see continued results unless you practice regularly. How you fuel body is also a large part of getting physically and mentally healthy. Yoga can be as strenuous as cardio or as easy as your regular post workout stretch and everything in between. It is definitely possible for yoga to help you lose weight and/or get the body you want.</p><p></p><h2>10. Can I do yoga if I’m injured or have a physical disability?</h2><p>Yes, you can! Here at MyYogaTeacher, we feel strongly that yoga is for every body. Meaning any body type, shape, size, and all ability levels. Our highly trained and experienced expert yoga teachers from India come packing credentials and tools to help you practice yoga in a way that is safe and works for you!</p><p></p><h2>11. Why should I start practicing yoga anyway? </h2><p>A regular yoga practice provides benefits far beyond what any other type of exercise will do! Why? Because yoga is a whole health form of practice. Everything you do in yoga positively affects your physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing, and the benefits carry over to your life from day to day. Yoga cures things like back pain, joint pain, lowers blood pressure, provides mental clarity and focus, reduces blood sugar, promotes healing, and so much more.</p><p>We guess the question is, why <em>wouldn’t</em> you want to start practicing yoga?!</p><p>Most, if not all, of MyYogaTeacher’s expert yoga instructors are <em>more</em> than qualified to help you! We value authentic, traditional yoga and truly care about the health and wellbeing of our students. For us, yoga isn’t just a class. It’s the way we live our life.</p><p>Not a MyYogaTeacher member? Whether you’re interested in teaching yoga, starting yoga, or growing in your yoga journey, MyYogaTeacher is a great place to do it!</p><p>When you sign up for a 1:1 membership with us you get:</p><ul><li><div><p><strong>102 expert</strong>, highly qualified yoga instructors to choose from</p></div></li><li><div><p><strong>The ability to switch instructors</strong> or take classes with only your faves</p></div></li><li><div><p><strong>Access to unlimited group classes</strong>, taught <em><strong>live</strong></em></p></div></li><li><div><p><strong>Personalized instruction</strong> and work out, diet, and lifestyle plans</p></div></li><li><div><p><strong>To be a member of a HUGE community</strong> of happy yogis from around the world</p></div></li><li><div><p><strong>Yoga teachers who become friends</strong>, who truly care about you!</p></div></li></ul><p>If you haven’t checked us out already, <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/\"><u>grab two free 1:1 sessions with your 2-week free trial here</u></a></p>"},"category":["yoga"],"utmCampaign":null,"utmMedium":null,"utmContent":null,"utmSource":null,"utmTerm":null,"utmSearchString":null,"imageHyperlink":[]},"loading":false,"blog_content":[{"type":"HTML","value":"<p>Most of us have questions before or when we start practicing yoga! That’s normal. As a matter of fact, as you grow in your practice, the amount of questions doesn’t really get smaller. They just get different!</p><p>Yoga teachers get asked tons of questions, and, generally, they love answering them! But sometimes, a new yoga student or someone who’s considering starting yoga may feel too shy or embarrassed to ask. Then they go to Google, get lots of conflicting answers, and may give up on yoga before they ever start.</p><p>We definitely don’t want that!</p><p>So here are the 11 most common yoga questions we get asked and their <em>real</em> answers!<br></p><p></p><h2>1. How long do I wait after eating before I can do yoga?</h2><p>If you can practice in the morning, before you eat, that is ideal, or later in the evening. However, other than those times, we recommend waiting at least 2 hours after you eat before you start your yoga practice. Doing yoga on a full stomach can cause discomfort and even nausea. It also means you’ll have less energy since your body is busy digesting food!</p><p></p>\n            <picture>\n              <source \n                type=\"image/webp\"\n                srcset=\"https://media.graphassets.com/resize=w:930,fit:crop/quality=value:75/output=format:webp/compress/qJJnG07oQQuYIwa69XXi\" \n                alt=\"forward-fold-yoloha.jpg\"\n                title=\"forward-fold-yoloha.jpg\"\n                \n                \n                class=\"lazyLoadingImg\"\n              />\n              <source \n                type=\"image/jpg\"\n                srcset=\"https://media.graphassets.com/resize=w:930,fit:crop/quality=value:75/output=format:jpg/qJJnG07oQQuYIwa69XXi\"\n                alt=\"forward-fold-yoloha.jpg\"\n                title=\"forward-fold-yoloha.jpg\"\n                \n                \n                class=\"lazyLoadingImg\"\n              />\n              <img \n                srcset=\"https://media.graphassets.com/resize=w:930,fit:crop/quality=value:75/output=format:jpg/qJJnG07oQQuYIwa69XXi\"\n                alt=\"forward-fold-yoloha.jpg\"\n                title=\"forward-fold-yoloha.jpg\"\n                \n                \n                class=\"lazyLoadingImg\"\n              />\n          </picture>\n        <p></p><h2>2. Do I have to be flexible to practice yoga?</h2><p>Absolutely not! As a matter of fact, lack of flexibility is a good reason to <em>start</em> a regular yoga practice! Besides that, yoga is much more than just stretching. It’s a physical activity that tones, strengthens, calms, and heals the body, mind, and spirit.</p><p></p><h2>3. I’m pregnant. Can I still do yoga?</h2><p>Yes you can! It’s important when you’re pregnant to do yoga under the guidance of a prenatal yoga instructor or other expert yoga instructor though. There are yoga poses that pregnant women should avoid, such as inversions and poses where you lie flat on your back. </p><p></p><h2>4. How often should I practice yoga for best results?</h2><p>If you’re a beginner, we recommend starting with only 2-3 classes that require more exertion a week (such as Ashtanga, Power, or Vinyasa yoga). However, there are many other types of yoga to try in between, such as restorative yoga, yin yoga, or any of MyYogaTeacher’s meditative yoga classes! As you advance in your practice, you may feel strong enough to try more difficult yoga classes more times per week. Either way, you’ll experience the benefits of yoga whether you do it once a week or 7 days a week!</p><p></p><h2>5. Do I need any special equipment to practice yoga?</h2><p>While we do recommend the use of a yoga mat, technically, you don’t <em>have</em> to have one. You can practice yoga on any surface you feel is safe and comfortable. Many yogis also have blocks, bolsters, and straps to help them modify poses or go deeper into poses. But those certainly aren’t necessary to reap the benefits of doing yoga.</p><p></p>\n            <picture>\n              <source \n                type=\"image/webp\"\n                srcset=\"https://media.graphassets.com/resize=w:930,fit:crop/quality=value:75/output=format:webp/compress/mYsNYjApRSkdpUew47er\" \n                alt=\"istockphoto-1295093512-640x640.jpg\"\n                title=\"istockphoto-1295093512-640x640.jpg\"\n                \n                \n                class=\"lazyLoadingImg\"\n              />\n              <source \n                type=\"image/jpg\"\n                srcset=\"https://media.graphassets.com/resize=w:930,fit:crop/quality=value:75/output=format:jpg/mYsNYjApRSkdpUew47er\"\n                alt=\"istockphoto-1295093512-640x640.jpg\"\n                title=\"istockphoto-1295093512-640x640.jpg\"\n                \n                \n                class=\"lazyLoadingImg\"\n              />\n              <img \n                srcset=\"https://media.graphassets.com/resize=w:930,fit:crop/quality=value:75/output=format:jpg/mYsNYjApRSkdpUew47er\"\n                alt=\"istockphoto-1295093512-640x640.jpg\"\n                title=\"istockphoto-1295093512-640x640.jpg\"\n                \n                \n                class=\"lazyLoadingImg\"\n              />\n          </picture>\n        <p></p><h2>6. Why do I need a yoga class? Can’t I just do it by myself with a book or video?</h2><p>You certainly can do yoga by yourself with the use of a book or video but most yogis (especially inexperienced ones) will agree that this isn’t as safe as practicing yoga with a live teacher. Yoga classes allow your yoga teacher to see how you perform the poses and can make corrections to your alignment or help you make appropriate modifications and adjustments as needed. At MyYogaTeacher, ALL of our classes are taught live, and you get personalized attention from your yoga instructor, even in group sessions!</p><p>Doing yoga poses incorrectly may cause injuries! MyYogaTeacher offers a Yoga Basics and a Yoga 201 class to help beginners create a strong yoga foundation for regular practice. </p><p></p><p><a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/dashboard\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/dashboard\"><u>Grab your free 2-week trial of unlimited group classes here and check them out! No credit card required</u></a>.</p><p></p><h2>7. What kind of clothes do I need to practice yoga?</h2><p>Despite what you may see on social media, you do not <em>need</em> a certain kind of clothing, including the ever popular yoga pants or yoga leggings. If you’d like to wear those, however, by all means! The best clothes for yoga are comfortable ones that you can move freely in. You’ll practice barefoot or, if you’d prefer, in yoga socks.</p><p></p><h2>8. What are all the strange terms I hear my yoga teacher saying?</h2><p>Many yoga instructors commonly use the Sanskrit words for yoga poses instead of the English translation. This is a good thing! Yoga is ancient and rooted in tradition, and continuing to use and pass on the language is an important part of maintaining the culture of yoga. If you don’t understand something your instructor is saying, please ask! However, we’ve compiled a list of common yoga <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/articles/common-sanskrit-yoga-words\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/articles/common-sanskrit-yoga-words\"><u>Sanskrit words you may hear in class and what they mean in this blog post</u></a>.</p><p></p>\n            <picture>\n              <source \n                type=\"image/webp\"\n                srcset=\"https://media.graphassets.com/resize=w:930,fit:crop/quality=value:75/output=format:webp/compress/vWCN8QpoTTmDYOIsQ5RU\" \n                alt=\"_DSC7721.JPG\"\n                title=\"_DSC7721.JPG\"\n                \n                \n                class=\"lazyLoadingImg\"\n              />\n              <source \n                type=\"image/jpg\"\n                srcset=\"https://media.graphassets.com/resize=w:930,fit:crop/quality=value:75/output=format:jpg/vWCN8QpoTTmDYOIsQ5RU\"\n                alt=\"_DSC7721.JPG\"\n                title=\"_DSC7721.JPG\"\n                \n                \n                class=\"lazyLoadingImg\"\n              />\n              <img \n                srcset=\"https://media.graphassets.com/resize=w:930,fit:crop/quality=value:75/output=format:jpg/vWCN8QpoTTmDYOIsQ5RU\"\n                alt=\"_DSC7721.JPG\"\n                title=\"_DSC7721.JPG\"\n                \n                \n                class=\"lazyLoadingImg\"\n              />\n          </picture>\n        <h2><br>9. Will yoga get or keep me in shape?</h2><p>If you practice regularly and eat healthfully, yes! Absolutely! Just like with any physical activity, you won’t see continued results unless you practice regularly. How you fuel body is also a large part of getting physically and mentally healthy. Yoga can be as strenuous as cardio or as easy as your regular post workout stretch and everything in between. It is definitely possible for yoga to help you lose weight and/or get the body you want.</p><p></p><h2>10. Can I do yoga if I’m injured or have a physical disability?</h2><p>Yes, you can! Here at MyYogaTeacher, we feel strongly that yoga is for every body. Meaning any body type, shape, size, and all ability levels. Our highly trained and experienced expert yoga teachers from India come packing credentials and tools to help you practice yoga in a way that is safe and works for you!</p><p></p><h2>11. Why should I start practicing yoga anyway? </h2><p>A regular yoga practice provides benefits far beyond what any other type of exercise will do! Why? Because yoga is a whole health form of practice. Everything you do in yoga positively affects your physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing, and the benefits carry over to your life from day to day. Yoga cures things like back pain, joint pain, lowers blood pressure, provides mental clarity and focus, reduces blood sugar, promotes healing, and so much more.</p><p>We guess the question is, why <em>wouldn’t</em> you want to start practicing yoga?!</p><p>Most, if not all, of MyYogaTeacher’s expert yoga instructors are <em>more</em> than qualified to help you! We value authentic, traditional yoga and truly care about the health and wellbeing of our students. For us, yoga isn’t just a class. It’s the way we live our life.</p><p>Not a MyYogaTeacher member? Whether you’re interested in teaching yoga, starting yoga, or growing in your yoga journey, MyYogaTeacher is a great place to do it!</p><p>When you sign up for a 1:1 membership with us you get:</p><ul><li><div><p><strong>102 expert</strong>, highly qualified yoga instructors to choose from</p></div></li><li><div><p><strong>The ability to switch instructors</strong> or take classes with only your faves</p></div></li><li><div><p><strong>Access to unlimited group classes</strong>, taught <em><strong>live</strong></em></p></div></li><li><div><p><strong>Personalized instruction</strong> and work out, diet, and lifestyle plans</p></div></li><li><div><p><strong>To be a member of a HUGE community</strong> of happy yogis from around the world</p></div></li><li><div><p><strong>Yoga teachers who become friends</strong>, who truly care about you!</p></div></li></ul><p>If you haven’t checked us out already, <a\n            class=\"inline-cta\"\n            id=7e49b6ca-c595-4cd0-b43b-c95812809517\n            href=\"/free-trial-o?utm_source=MYT__article&utm_medium=cl5wwa1a0gnol0dhdo5ntl12t&utm_campaign=inline_cta&utm_content=CTA-INLINE&entity_name=11 Common Yoga Questions (and Their Answers)&entity_slug=frequently-asked-yoga-questions&page_or_popup=/articles/frequently-asked-yoga-questions&entity_location=hyperlink_midst_of_article&article_cta=CTA-INLINE&from_article_page=true\"\n            onclick=trigger_mixpanel_sign_up_cta(\"7e49b6ca-c595-4cd0-b43b-c95812809517\")\n            title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/\" \n            data-title=\"11 Common Yoga Questions (and Their Answers)\"\n            data-slug=\"frequently-asked-yoga-questions\"\n            <u><u>grab two free 1:1 sessions with your 2-week free trial here</u></u>        \n            </a></p>"},{"type":"CTA","value":"[CTA-DEFAULT]"}],"isSlugACategory":false,"searchCategory":"frequently-asked-yoga-questions","showPopUp":false,"popUpType":null,"showedPopup":false,"windowWidth":null,"ctaPath":"free-trial-o","redirectURL":"#","current_url":"https://www.myyogateacher.com/articles/frequently-asked-yoga-questions","student_details":"","facebookUrl":"","twitterUrl":"","copyUrl":"","emailUrl":"","ctaContent":[{"id":"ckxrz2i14tov40c25g1dpicsg","name":"[CTA-DEFAULT]","description":{"html":"<p><strong>Get 2 free private yoga sessions and 2 weeks of unlimited group classes</strong> with authentic yoga teachers. 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No credit card required when you sign up today!</p>"},"title":{"html":"<p><strong>Online Hatha Yoga Sessions – </strong><u><strong>Live &amp; Interactive</strong></u></p><p><strong>with Authentic Indian Teachers</strong></p><p></p>"},"linkText":"Start Free Trial","linkUrl":"https://www.myyogateacher.com/signup"},{"id":"cky90p88g3zgc0d23yz6taont","name":"[CTA-NASAL]","description":{"html":"<p><strong>Get 2 free private sessions </strong>to relieve post nasal drip and clear out your sinus. </p><p><strong>PLUS, 2 weeks of unlimited group classes </strong>with authentic Indian yoga teachers. 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No credit card required when you sign up today!</p>"},"title":{"html":"<p><strong>Online Yoga Sessions – </strong><u><strong>Live &amp; Interactive</strong></u></p><p><strong>Learn Trataka (Candle Gazing) Meditation Today!</strong></p><p></p>"},"linkText":"Start Free Trial","linkUrl":"https://www.myyogateacher.com/signup"},{"id":"ckyisqh482ck60b79rp1r1jcg","name":"[CTA-YIN]","description":{"html":"<p><strong>Get 2 free private yoga sessions</strong>, work with an experienced yoga therapist to reduce (and even eliminate) your back pain. <strong>PLUS 2 weeks of unlimited group classes </strong>(like ‘Yoga for Back Pain’) with authentic yoga teachers. No credit card required when you sign up today!</p>"},"title":{"html":"<p><strong>Online Yoga Therapy – </strong><u><strong>Live &amp; Interactive</strong></u></p><p><strong>Relieve Back Pain Safely &amp; Effectively Today!</strong></p><p></p>"},"linkText":"Start Free Trial","linkUrl":"https://www.myyogateacher.com/signup"},{"id":"ckyitki4w2liz0b30tqpzhy4i","name":"[CTA-KRIYA]","description":{"html":"<p><strong>Get 2 free private yoga sessions </strong>for Kriya Yoga, Pranayama, and Meditation <strong>and 2 weeks of unlimited group classes </strong>with authentic yoga teachers. 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No credit card required when you sign up today!</p>"},"title":{"html":"<p><strong>Online Yoga Sessions – </strong><u><strong>Live &amp; Interactive</strong></u></p><p><strong> Learn Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Pranayama!</strong></p>"},"linkText":"Start Free Trial","linkUrl":"https://www.myyogateacher.com/signup"},{"id":"ckykb6i2o1o7f0b368s1m7qow","name":"[CTA-LYMPHATIC]","description":{"html":"<p><strong>Get 2 free private yoga sessions</strong> for lymphatic drainage &amp; immunity enhancement. <strong>PLUS 2 weeks of unlimited group yoga classes</strong> (including daily yin-yoga) when you sign up today! No credit card required to sign up.</p><p></p>"},"title":{"html":"<p><strong>Online Yoga Sessions –  </strong><u><strong>Live &amp; Interactive</strong></u></p><p><strong>for Lymphatic Drainage &amp; Boosting Your Immune System!</strong></p>"},"linkText":"Start Free Trial","linkUrl":"https://www.myyogateacher.com/signup"},{"id":"cl2vqlpyfe3yh0biohgxyx2hg","name":"[CTA-LEAD]","description":{"html":"<p>Lead Form</p>"},"title":{"html":"<p>Lead Form</p>"},"linkText":"Start Free Trial","linkUrl":"https://www.myyogateacher.com/signup"},{"id":"cl4gnwnrlga640ck37gutx7sn","name":"[CTA-GC]","description":{"html":"<p>CTA-GC</p>"},"title":{"html":"<p>CTA-GC</p>"},"linkText":"Start Free Trial","linkUrl":"https://www.myyogateacher.com/signup"}],"post":{"id":"cl5wwa1a0gnol0dhdo5ntl12t","slug":"frequently-asked-yoga-questions","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":null,"pictureUrl":null},"title":"11 Common Yoga Questions (and Their Answers)","createdAt":"2022-07-22T20:08:11.250342+00:00","updatedAt":"2022-08-02T11:11:56.422423+00:00","coverUrl":"wjnf6gca2leiwcxskli4.jpg","seoDescription":"Do you have yoga questions that you're to shy to ask? Get answers to the 11 most common yoga questions here!","content":{"text":"Most of us have questions before or when we start practicing yoga! That’s normal. As a matter of fact, as you grow in your practice, the amount of questions doesn’t really get smaller. They just get different!\\nYoga teachers get asked tons of questions, and, generally, they love answering them! But sometimes, a new yoga student or someone who’s considering starting yoga may feel too shy or embarrassed to ask. Then they go to Google, get lots of conflicting answers, and may give up on yoga before they ever start.\\nWe definitely don’t want that!\\nSo here are the 11 most common yoga questions we get asked and their \\nreal\\n answers!\n\\n\\n1. How long do I wait after eating before I can do yoga?\\nIf you can practice in the morning, before you eat, that is ideal, or later in the evening. However, other than those times, we recommend waiting at least 2 hours after you eat before you start your yoga practice. Doing yoga on a full stomach can cause discomfort and even nausea. It also means you’ll have less energy since your body is busy digesting food!\\n\\n\\n\\n2. Do I have to be flexible to practice yoga?\\nAbsolutely not! As a matter of fact, lack of flexibility is a good reason to \\nstart\\n a regular yoga practice! Besides that, yoga is much more than just stretching. It’s a physical activity that tones, strengthens, calms, and heals the body, mind, and spirit.\\n\\n3. I’m pregnant. Can I still do yoga?\\nYes you can! It’s important when you’re pregnant to do yoga under the guidance of a prenatal yoga instructor or other expert yoga instructor though. There are yoga poses that pregnant women should avoid, such as inversions and poses where you lie flat on your back. \\n\\n4. How often should I practice yoga for best results?\\nIf you’re a beginner, we recommend starting with only 2-3 classes that require more exertion a week (such as Ashtanga, Power, or Vinyasa yoga). However, there are many other types of yoga to try in between, such as restorative yoga, yin yoga, or any of MyYogaTeacher’s meditative yoga classes! As you advance in your practice, you may feel strong enough to try more difficult yoga classes more times per week. Either way, you’ll experience the benefits of yoga whether you do it once a week or 7 days a week!\\n\\n5. Do I need any special equipment to practice yoga?\\nWhile we do recommend the use of a yoga mat, technically, you don’t \\nhave\\n to have one. You can practice yoga on any surface you feel is safe and comfortable. Many yogis also have blocks, bolsters, and straps to help them modify poses or go deeper into poses. But those certainly aren’t necessary to reap the benefits of doing yoga.\\n\\n\\n\\n6. Why do I need a yoga class? Can’t I just do it by myself with a book or video?\\nYou certainly can do yoga by yourself with the use of a book or video but most yogis (especially inexperienced ones) will agree that this isn’t as safe as practicing yoga with a live teacher. Yoga classes allow your yoga teacher to see how you perform the poses and can make corrections to your alignment or help you make appropriate modifications and adjustments as needed. At MyYogaTeacher, ALL of our classes are taught live, and you get personalized attention from your yoga instructor, even in group sessions!\\nDoing yoga poses incorrectly may cause injuries! MyYogaTeacher offers a Yoga Basics and a Yoga 201 class to help beginners create a strong yoga foundation for regular practice. \\n\\n\\nGrab your free 2-week trial of unlimited group classes here and check them out! No credit card required\\n.\\n\\n7. What kind of clothes do I need to practice yoga?\\nDespite what you may see on social media, you do not \\nneed\\n a certain kind of clothing, including the ever popular yoga pants or yoga leggings. If you’d like to wear those, however, by all means! The best clothes for yoga are comfortable ones that you can move freely in. You’ll practice barefoot or, if you’d prefer, in yoga socks.\\n\\n8. What are all the strange terms I hear my yoga teacher saying?\\nMany yoga instructors commonly use the Sanskrit words for yoga poses instead of the English translation. This is a good thing! Yoga is ancient and rooted in tradition, and continuing to use and pass on the language is an important part of maintaining the culture of yoga. If you don’t understand something your instructor is saying, please ask! However, we’ve compiled a list of common yoga \\nSanskrit words you may hear in class and what they mean in this blog post\\n.\\n\\n\\n\n9. Will yoga get or keep me in shape?\\nIf you practice regularly and eat healthfully, yes! Absolutely! Just like with any physical activity, you won’t see continued results unless you practice regularly. How you fuel body is also a large part of getting physically and mentally healthy. Yoga can be as strenuous as cardio or as easy as your regular post workout stretch and everything in between. It is definitely possible for yoga to help you lose weight and/or get the body you want.\\n\\n10. Can I do yoga if I’m injured or have a physical disability?\\nYes, you can! Here at MyYogaTeacher, we feel strongly that yoga is for every body. Meaning any body type, shape, size, and all ability levels. Our highly trained and experienced expert yoga teachers from India come packing credentials and tools to help you practice yoga in a way that is safe and works for you!\\n\\n11. Why should I start practicing yoga anyway? \\nA regular yoga practice provides benefits far beyond what any other type of exercise will do! Why? Because yoga is a whole health form of practice. Everything you do in yoga positively affects your physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing, and the benefits carry over to your life from day to day. Yoga cures things like back pain, joint pain, lowers blood pressure, provides mental clarity and focus, reduces blood sugar, promotes healing, and so much more.\\nWe guess the question is, why \\nwouldn’t\\n you want to start practicing yoga?!\\nMost, if not all, of MyYogaTeacher’s expert yoga instructors are \\nmore\\n than qualified to help you! We value authentic, traditional yoga and truly care about the health and wellbeing of our students. For us, yoga isn’t just a class. It’s the way we live our life.\\nNot a MyYogaTeacher member? Whether you’re interested in teaching yoga, starting yoga, or growing in your yoga journey, MyYogaTeacher is a great place to do it!\\nWhen you sign up for a 1:1 membership with us you get:\\n102 expert\\n, highly qualified yoga instructors to choose from\\nThe ability to switch instructors\\n or take classes with only your faves\\nAccess to unlimited group classes\\n, taught \\nlive\\nPersonalized instruction\\n and work out, diet, and lifestyle plans\\nTo be a member of a HUGE community\\n of happy yogis from around the world\\nYoga teachers who become friends\\n, who truly care about you!\\nIf you haven’t checked us out already, \\ngrab two free 1:1 sessions with your 2-week free trial here\\n","html":"<p>Most of us have questions before or when we start practicing yoga! That’s normal. As a matter of fact, as you grow in your practice, the amount of questions doesn’t really get smaller. They just get different!</p><p>Yoga teachers get asked tons of questions, and, generally, they love answering them! But sometimes, a new yoga student or someone who’s considering starting yoga may feel too shy or embarrassed to ask. Then they go to Google, get lots of conflicting answers, and may give up on yoga before they ever start.</p><p>We definitely don’t want that!</p><p>So here are the 11 most common yoga questions we get asked and their <em>real</em> answers!<br></p><p></p><h2>1. How long do I wait after eating before I can do yoga?</h2><p>If you can practice in the morning, before you eat, that is ideal, or later in the evening. However, other than those times, we recommend waiting at least 2 hours after you eat before you start your yoga practice. Doing yoga on a full stomach can cause discomfort and even nausea. It also means you’ll have less energy since your body is busy digesting food!</p><p></p><img src=\"https://media.graphassets.com/qJJnG07oQQuYIwa69XXi\" alt=\"forward-fold-yoloha.jpg\" title=\"forward-fold-yoloha.jpg\" width=\"900\" height=\"600\" /><p></p><h2>2. Do I have to be flexible to practice yoga?</h2><p>Absolutely not! As a matter of fact, lack of flexibility is a good reason to <em>start</em> a regular yoga practice! Besides that, yoga is much more than just stretching. It’s a physical activity that tones, strengthens, calms, and heals the body, mind, and spirit.</p><p></p><h2>3. I’m pregnant. Can I still do yoga?</h2><p>Yes you can! It’s important when you’re pregnant to do yoga under the guidance of a prenatal yoga instructor or other expert yoga instructor though. There are yoga poses that pregnant women should avoid, such as inversions and poses where you lie flat on your back. </p><p></p><h2>4. How often should I practice yoga for best results?</h2><p>If you’re a beginner, we recommend starting with only 2-3 classes that require more exertion a week (such as Ashtanga, Power, or Vinyasa yoga). However, there are many other types of yoga to try in between, such as restorative yoga, yin yoga, or any of MyYogaTeacher’s meditative yoga classes! As you advance in your practice, you may feel strong enough to try more difficult yoga classes more times per week. Either way, you’ll experience the benefits of yoga whether you do it once a week or 7 days a week!</p><p></p><h2>5. Do I need any special equipment to practice yoga?</h2><p>While we do recommend the use of a yoga mat, technically, you don’t <em>have</em> to have one. You can practice yoga on any surface you feel is safe and comfortable. Many yogis also have blocks, bolsters, and straps to help them modify poses or go deeper into poses. But those certainly aren’t necessary to reap the benefits of doing yoga.</p><p></p><img src=\"https://media.graphassets.com/mYsNYjApRSkdpUew47er\" alt=\"istockphoto-1295093512-640x640.jpg\" title=\"istockphoto-1295093512-640x640.jpg\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" /><p></p><h2>6. Why do I need a yoga class? Can’t I just do it by myself with a book or video?</h2><p>You certainly can do yoga by yourself with the use of a book or video but most yogis (especially inexperienced ones) will agree that this isn’t as safe as practicing yoga with a live teacher. Yoga classes allow your yoga teacher to see how you perform the poses and can make corrections to your alignment or help you make appropriate modifications and adjustments as needed. At MyYogaTeacher, ALL of our classes are taught live, and you get personalized attention from your yoga instructor, even in group sessions!</p><p>Doing yoga poses incorrectly may cause injuries! MyYogaTeacher offers a Yoga Basics and a Yoga 201 class to help beginners create a strong yoga foundation for regular practice. </p><p></p><p><a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/dashboard\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/dashboard\"><u>Grab your free 2-week trial of unlimited group classes here and check them out! No credit card required</u></a>.</p><p></p><h2>7. What kind of clothes do I need to practice yoga?</h2><p>Despite what you may see on social media, you do not <em>need</em> a certain kind of clothing, including the ever popular yoga pants or yoga leggings. If you’d like to wear those, however, by all means! The best clothes for yoga are comfortable ones that you can move freely in. You’ll practice barefoot or, if you’d prefer, in yoga socks.</p><p></p><h2>8. What are all the strange terms I hear my yoga teacher saying?</h2><p>Many yoga instructors commonly use the Sanskrit words for yoga poses instead of the English translation. This is a good thing! Yoga is ancient and rooted in tradition, and continuing to use and pass on the language is an important part of maintaining the culture of yoga. If you don’t understand something your instructor is saying, please ask! However, we’ve compiled a list of common yoga <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/articles/common-sanskrit-yoga-words\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/articles/common-sanskrit-yoga-words\"><u>Sanskrit words you may hear in class and what they mean in this blog post</u></a>.</p><p></p><img src=\"https://media.graphassets.com/vWCN8QpoTTmDYOIsQ5RU\" alt=\"_DSC7721.JPG\" title=\"_DSC7721.JPG\" width=\"6048\" height=\"4024\" /><h2><br>9. Will yoga get or keep me in shape?</h2><p>If you practice regularly and eat healthfully, yes! Absolutely! Just like with any physical activity, you won’t see continued results unless you practice regularly. How you fuel body is also a large part of getting physically and mentally healthy. Yoga can be as strenuous as cardio or as easy as your regular post workout stretch and everything in between. It is definitely possible for yoga to help you lose weight and/or get the body you want.</p><p></p><h2>10. Can I do yoga if I’m injured or have a physical disability?</h2><p>Yes, you can! Here at MyYogaTeacher, we feel strongly that yoga is for every body. Meaning any body type, shape, size, and all ability levels. Our highly trained and experienced expert yoga teachers from India come packing credentials and tools to help you practice yoga in a way that is safe and works for you!</p><p></p><h2>11. Why should I start practicing yoga anyway? </h2><p>A regular yoga practice provides benefits far beyond what any other type of exercise will do! Why? Because yoga is a whole health form of practice. Everything you do in yoga positively affects your physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing, and the benefits carry over to your life from day to day. Yoga cures things like back pain, joint pain, lowers blood pressure, provides mental clarity and focus, reduces blood sugar, promotes healing, and so much more.</p><p>We guess the question is, why <em>wouldn’t</em> you want to start practicing yoga?!</p><p>Most, if not all, of MyYogaTeacher’s expert yoga instructors are <em>more</em> than qualified to help you! We value authentic, traditional yoga and truly care about the health and wellbeing of our students. For us, yoga isn’t just a class. It’s the way we live our life.</p><p>Not a MyYogaTeacher member? Whether you’re interested in teaching yoga, starting yoga, or growing in your yoga journey, MyYogaTeacher is a great place to do it!</p><p>When you sign up for a 1:1 membership with us you get:</p><ul><li><div><p><strong>102 expert</strong>, highly qualified yoga instructors to choose from</p></div></li><li><div><p><strong>The ability to switch instructors</strong> or take classes with only your faves</p></div></li><li><div><p><strong>Access to unlimited group classes</strong>, taught <em><strong>live</strong></em></p></div></li><li><div><p><strong>Personalized instruction</strong> and work out, diet, and lifestyle plans</p></div></li><li><div><p><strong>To be a member of a HUGE community</strong> of happy yogis from around the world</p></div></li><li><div><p><strong>Yoga teachers who become friends</strong>, who truly care about you!</p></div></li></ul><p>If you haven’t checked us out already, <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/\"><u>grab two free 1:1 sessions with your 2-week free trial here</u></a></p>"},"category":["yoga"],"utmCampaign":null,"utmMedium":null,"utmContent":null,"utmSource":null,"utmTerm":null,"utmSearchString":null,"imageHyperlink":[]},"recommendations_group_class":[{"session_uuid":"4a0142a7-f122-4557-bfae-03ac83955fa8","student_uuid":"966c283b-9897-4a22-8d52-fc5514f37415","teacher_uuid":"5353c396-113d-44ec-b9fe-693b0c7123e7","teacher_name":"Abhishek Sharma","teacher_first_name":"Abhishek","teacher_slug":"abhishek-1","teacher_photo":"https://res.cloudinary.com/dgerdfai4/image/upload/v1663072532/teacher/photos/bvw3vqv84gtpicvym4jp.jpg","group_session_name":"Chakra Sound Healing: Awaken Your Energy","group_session_description":"Unlock the power of your chakras with the healing vibrations of sound. 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