11 Common Yoga Questions (and Their Answers)

{"slug":"frequently-asked-yoga-questions","recentPosts":[{"id":"cl6eo45ac0km10bjx9w1bqkh6","slug":"welcome-dr-savitha-kootil","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":"will-1","pictureUrl":"will.jpeg"},"title":"Dr Savitha Kootil - advisory board member of MyYogaTeacher","subTitle":null,"seoTitle":null,"seoDescription":null,"readTime":null,"excerpt":null,"tags":[],"createdAt":"2022-08-04T06:39:30.753885+00:00","coverUrl":"omiasndmkn41wbtvzoij.png","content":{"text":"Dr. Savitha Elam-Kootil is an advisory board member at MyYogaTeacher, and she practices internal medicine at Kaiser Permanente where she specializes in primary care, chronic disease management, and elder care. She is also a lead physician for depression care management – a primary care initiative to improve patient health. \\nRaised in Southern India, Dr. Elam-Kootil developed an awareness of yoga early on in her life. After moving to the United States, she began to see a need for the transformative effects of yoga to improve her patients’ mental and physical health. \\nHaving witnessed the benefits of yoga, Dr. Elam-Kootil regularly recommends it to her patients to help with a wide range of issues, including hypertension, diabetes, obesity, sleep apnea, insomnia, depression, anxiety, chronic low back pain, and chronic addictions.\\n“I tell patients that yoga is not just a physical practice with difficult poses, but also a mental practice that can help with breathing, posture, and feeling better emotionally,” says Dr. Elam-Kootil, who takes a holistic approach towards health.\\nEducation\\n- J.L.N. Medical College\\n- Belgaum, Karnataka, India\\n- Internship at the University of South Carolina Richland Memorial Hospital\\n- Residency at the Atlanta Medical Center\\nProfessional Accomplishments\\n- Board certified in internal medicine by the American Board of Internal Medicine\\n- Recipient of Kaiser Permanente’s Golden Stethoscope award\\n- Board certified in sleep medicine by the American Society of Sleep Medicine\\n- Clinical hypertension specialist certified by by the American Society of Hypertension.\\nCurrent Practice\\n- Internist at Kaiser Permanente Georgia\\n"},"category":[]},{"id":"cl60y1ikp2srx0ak63fnq2txk","slug":"7-days-of-relaxation","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":null,"pictureUrl":null},"title":"Celebrating National Relaxation Day With MyYogaTeacher: Free 7 Days of Relaxation Event","subTitle":null,"seoTitle":null,"seoDescription":"Join the free Seven Day Relaxation event hosted by MyYogaTeacher! You'll find 7 days of free yoga and meditation sessions that help you relax!","readTime":null,"excerpt":"Join the free Seven Days of Relaxation event hosted by MyYogaTeacher! You'll find 7 days of free yoga and meditation sessions that help you relax!","tags":[],"createdAt":"2022-07-25T16:08:37.667528+00:00","coverUrl":"i9lswae7b72hwhv8bjas.png","content":{"text":"August 12-18\\nKeep reading to learn more and sign up for some very special sessions!\\nThe pandemic, politics, climate change, a recession and inflation…these things do not have to define your mental and emotional status! You \\ncan\\n experience deep relaxation in the midst of stress and chaos.\\nWe've put together an entire schedule of classes dedicated to helping you relax deeply, no matter what's going on at home, at work, or in the world.\\nIf you were more relaxed, more calm, more present – what would your home life look like? What would your work life look like? Now do you think it's worth carving out a few hours for yourself, to relax, to connect with WHY you do what you do? (ie. the love you feel for these people in your life)\\n[CTA-DEFAULT]\\nThis event is completely free. It starts on August 12 and goes through to August 18th.\\nNote\\n: If you signed up for a free trial more than two weeks ago, your free access is probably gone. No worries, if you want to attend any of the sessions - send an email to care@myyogateacher.com and say “Please restart my trial so I can join the Relaxation Day event!” And, as always with MyYogaTeacher, these sessions are all live, interactive, and online. So you can learn from master yogis, in India, from the comfort of your home!\\n\\nAnd yes, we are going to keep many of these relaxation sessions going even after the free event ends. So if you're a member and you're reading this, you get to continue to soak up the mellow vibes.\\nBring your friends and family!\\nYou're welcome to invite your family members, friends, or anyone you think could benefit from a little stress relief. In fact, we encourage you to do this with your entire family! Imagine what your household would look like if everyone was a little more at ease, peaceful, and patient.\\nThere are 23 classes being offered for this event (a lot, right?!). Including our very special featured class with the amazing Dr. Savitha Kootil!\\nBreathing Life Back Into Your Mental and Emotional Wellbeing with Dr. Savitha Kootil\\nDr. Kootil takes a holistic approach to health. She offers patients, and those feeling anxiety and stress, various breathing, meditation, and mindfulness tips that are grounded in yoga philosophy. “I tell patients that yoga is not just a physical practice with difficult poses, but also a mental practice that can help with breathing, posture, and feeling better emotionally,” says Dr. Kootil. Her webinar “Breathing Life Back Into Your Mental & Emotional Wellbeing” will address how people can take control of their emotions and thoughts which are making them feel angry, depressed, helpless, inert, sad, or scared. \\nClick here to find out more or book this session\\n\\n\\n\\n                                      \\nClick here to see a zoomed in version of the schedule\\n\\n\\nPartner Tantra Yoga (Building Your Relationship in New Light) with Niyata and Bodhi\\nPeople practice couple/partner tantra to feel connected to their partner on a higher level. Strengthens relations. Tantric techniques involve the five senses and their intimate understanding, which leads to new discoveries about yourself and the person you are practicing with.Tantric yoga demands your full focus, which will allow you to connect and reflect. \\nClick here to find out more or book this session\\n\\nBhakti Yoga (Bhajan,Kirtan and Mantra Chanting) with Niyata\\nThis practice has been found to provide a number of physical and mental health benefits, such as increased energy and stamina, reduced anxiety, stress, and depression, as well as improved sleep quality, enhanced self-esteem and self worth.  It improves overall psychological well being. \\nClick here to find out more or book this session\\n\\nLove and Kindness Meditation (Metta Meditation) with Preeti\\nLoving-kindness meditation or ‘Metta’ meditation is an ultimate form of generous and selfless love towards ourselves and others.It is the simplest meditation. You will become more self-accepting than ever andl feel a deep sense of emotional strength that balances your thoughts and actions. \\nClick here to find out more or book this session\\n\\nMeditation For Sleep - Golden Light Meditation with Preeti\\nThis is a simple method of transforming your energy and leading to a deep state of rest. If you are seeking restful sleep and refreshed mornings, this is the perfect class for you. \\nClick here to find out more or book this session\\n\\nLaughter Yoga (Hasyayoga) with Sujit\\nLaughter yoga helps to ease anxiety and helps with depression ... simply by allowing you to stay in the present moment. These exercises are value based, playful and Yogic but they are all ultimately about letting go and are very diaphragmatic. It helps to bring oxygen to the brain and all the cells in our body and helps to release all the feel good chemicals and endorphins. \\nClick here to find out more or book this session\\n\\nMantra,Mudra and Meditation with Bodhi\\n Chanting mantras has the power to transform our mind, body, and spirit. When we recite any mantras mantra, it creates vibrations in our whole body. The movement of energy regulates the chemicals in our brain. So mantras can make a profound impact onour mind. \\nClick here to find out more or book this session\\n\\nTheta Meditation: Accessing the brain power with Bodhi\\nCreated for deep relaxation, this class uses theta waves. Theta activity has a frequency of 3.5 to 7.5 Hz and is classed as a “slow” activity. It is seen in connection with creativity, intuition, daydreaming, and fantasizing and is a repository for memories, emotions, and sensations. \\nClick here to find out more or book this session\\n\\nPranic Energization Technique (PET) with Bodhi\\nWhat is PET? An advanced Yogic meditation technique where we use our Prana Shakti to energize the whole body. It can strengthen the immune defense system of the body. \\nClick here to find out more or book this session\\n\\nTrataka - Candlelight Meditation with Akshay\\n Using the candlelight we gaze at the flame learning to train the eyes not to blink. It gives great relaxation to the eyes and nervous system. The benefits of Trataka candlelight meditation: increased cognitive performance and focus. improved sleep quality. improved eye health. \\nClick here to find out more or book this session\\n\\nVipaasana Meditation with Akshay\\nVipassana is a way of self-transformation through self-observation. It involves observing your thoughts and emotions as they are, without judging or dwelling on them. Vipassana can reduce stress and anxiety, which may have benefits for substance use. \\nClick here to find out more or book this session\\n\\nYoga Nidra with Shivayogi\\nSome relaxation breathing techniques. Holding longer restorative poses before bed helps your body find restful sleep that leaves you waking up refreshed and ready for the day. \\nClick here to find out more or book this session\\n\\nStretch and Breath with Shrutika\\nA simple practice of stretching, connected with your breath, to improve elasticity and muscle tone. The result is a feeling of increased range of motion, muscle control, and flexibility. \\nClick here to find out more or book this session\\n\\nRestorative yoga for deep relaxation with Swathi\\nRestorative yoga allows the body to slow down & relax with 4-6 poses/asanas per session, each pose is held for longer duration. This Practice will help to relieve chronic stress, improve sleep, improve digestion, balance your Blood Pressure, reduce muscle tension & general fatigue. \\nClick here to find out more or book this session\\n\\nKriya, Pranayama and Meditation with Rohan\\nThis practice focuses on breathwork and using breath and meditation to relax, rejuvenate, and heal the mind, body, and spirit. \\nClick here to find out more or book this session\\n\\nKundalini Yoga-Breathing,Movement and Meditation with Bodhi\\nKriyas are a set of purifying practices intended to help the body to clear energy pathways and strengthen the immune system. Simple kriyas can be included in a daily practice to boost self-confidence and promote vibrant health. \\nClick here to find out more or book this session\\n\\nBreathing & Meditation with Trupti\\nMeditation stills and calms the mind. Your teacher will guide you to focus on your own breath and then clear your mind from excessive thoughts and distractions. \\nClick here to find out more or book this session\\n\\nBreathing & Meditation with Archana\\nMeditation stills and calms the mind. Your teacher will guide you to focus on your own breath and then clear your mind from excessive thoughts and distractions. Meditation is a great way to restore energy to a tired mind and help you gain mental focus and clarity. \\nClick here to find out more or book this session\\n\\nBreath & Flow with Bharath\\nA Yoga class for all! This class introduces foundational yoga asanas combined with a full-body flow which will help to stretch, strengthen and rejuvenate. In addition to asana, the class includes opportunities for pranayama (breathing techniques) and meditation. \\nClick here to find out more or book this session\\n\\nChakras & Sound Healing with Abhishek\\nChakra meditation followed by bamboo flute and jaw harp. Greater and faster ability to heal your mental, physical, spiritual and emotional self. \\nClick here to find out more or book this session\\n\\nKundalini with Sujit\\nA Kundalini practice is enlivening and even beginners will feel a sense of awakening. The breathing techniques are used to stimulate the nervous system, leaving the mind feeling sharp and alive. Kundalini yoga uses the breath, postures, and meditation. \\nClick here to find out more or book this session\\n\\nLaughter Yoga with Kanika\\nThis modern exercise involves prolonged voluntary laughter. This type of yoga is based on the belief that voluntary laughter provides similar physiological and psychological benefits as spontaneous laughter.  much playfulness between participants. Intentional laughter often turns into real and contagious laughter. \\nClick here to find out more or book this session\\n\\nYoga for Stress & Anxiety with Nandeep\\nThis is a mind-body practice that combines physical postures, breathing exercises, kriyas, pranayama, deep relaxation & meditation. With a regular yoga practice, your stress hormone levels drop & your body functioning improves thus creating an environment for your mind to effectively manage stress. \\nClick here to find out more or book this session\\n\\n\\nJoin the MyYogaTeacher team and community for this rejuvenating 7 day event from August 12-18!\\n"},"category":["myYogaTeacher","yoga"]},{"id":"cl5wwa1a0gnol0dhdo5ntl12t","slug":"frequently-asked-yoga-questions","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":null,"pictureUrl":null},"title":"11 Common Yoga Questions (and Their Answers)","subTitle":null,"seoTitle":null,"seoDescription":"Do you have yoga questions that you're to shy to ask? Get answers to the 11 most common yoga questions here!","readTime":null,"excerpt":"Do you have yoga questions that you're to shy to ask? Get answers to the 11 most common yoga questions here!","tags":[],"createdAt":"2022-07-22T20:08:11.250342+00:00","coverUrl":"wjnf6gca2leiwcxskli4.jpg","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"},"category":["yoga"]},{"id":"cl5vfsl7v3uzd0biu1vu080tn","slug":"benefits-of-sound-healing","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":null,"pictureUrl":null},"title":"The Not-So-Secret Benefits of Sound Healing: When Music is Medicine","subTitle":null,"seoTitle":null,"seoDescription":"Ever wondered what all the hype is about sound healing meditation? Bowls and chanting and music without words? Check it out here!","readTime":null,"excerpt":"Ever wondered what all the hype is about sound healing meditation? Bowls and chanting and music without words? Check it out here!","tags":[],"createdAt":"2022-07-21T19:38:57.229678+00:00","coverUrl":"yceufd0mdixpbsqnowqt.jpg","content":{"text":"It’s no secret that music is old, ancient in fact. Humans have been making and listening to music for millenia…\\nthousands\\n of years. While the origins of music may be a bit of a mystery, it is obvious that humans respond to it mentally, emotionally, and physically.\\nMusic is medicine with absolutely no negative physiological side effects.\\nOur bodies emit energy, just like every other thing (living or not) on this planet. And when we are exposed to certain frequencies of music, which is also energy, our bodies respond to it. Sometimes, the vibration from music alone can positively impact our body. \\nScience has proven that sound healing is an effective tool to treat physical pain as well as emotional and mental distress. However, anecdotally, music has shown to be a powerful source of healing for many people in many ways.\\nHere at MyYogaTeacher, we believe wholeheartedly in the power of sound healing. We don’t teach it just because it’s an ancient, traditional practice. It truly benefits our students’ mental, physical, and emotional health!\\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!\\nLet’s discuss the benefits of sound healing!\\n\\n\n\\nSound healing meditation helps with pain management\\nThe most common form of pain management, particularly in America, is over-the-counter and prescription medications. Increasingly more people are seeking alternative pain management techniques due to the negative side effects of these medications.\\nAlso known in the scientific world as \\nvibroacoustic therapy\\n, sound healing has been proven to improve physical pain from illnesses and diseases such as:\\nFibromyalgia\\nArthritis\\nCOVID-19\\nBone issues (such as heal spurs)\\nCerebral palsy\\nScience of how sound therapy improves pain\\nSound therapy and sound meditation has also been shown to alleviate menstrual symptoms, postoperative pain, and reduces muscle pain and stiffness. \\nHow? Sound therapy lowers your blood pressure and improves circulation, both of which affect pain intensity. Additionally, sound works through the vibrational tactile sensors in the body, stimulating the touch fibers that affect pain perception.\\nSound vibrations that match the vibration of the energy of healthy cells in the body have also been shown to heal the body and bring it back to a harmonious energy state. Scientists all over the world have created devices of all sorts that emulate the vibrational waves of different parts of the body in order to provide healing.\\nAt MyYogaTeacher, you don’t need any devices to participate in sound healing! Many of our instructors are highly experienced experts in the world of sound healing meditation and provide various types of classes focused on the topic.\\nBesides healing the body and helping with pain management, sound meditations are beneficial in other ways as well.\\n\\n\\nSound meditation improves mental and emotional health\\nRemember how I mentioned that sound therapy reduces blood pressure and increases blood flow? Lower blood pressure means the body is calming down and not releasing as much cortisol, a stress hormone that is bad for you in high or consistent doses. Improved circulation means your body and mind are receiving more oxygen and nutrient-rich blood, which fuels us and makes us feel more relaxed and invigorated.\\nSound  is a powerful and effective tool for changing one’s brain state, improving mood, reducing anxiety and depression, and calming down the central nervous system.\\nScience behind how sound meditation improves mental health\\nOur brains emit four different types of \\nbrain waves\\n at various times of day:\\nBeta waves\\n are emitted when our brains are the most active, usually during the day or during activity\\nAlpha waves \\noccur when the brain is finished with a task or activity or when one meditates\\nTheta waves \\nare associated with REM sleep, daydreaming, or have highway hypnosis when you’re driving for a long time\\nDelta waves \\noccur when you’re having a dreamless sleep and are the slowest of the four types of waves\\nSound waves occur at all different frequencies. But sound meditation and sound therapy involves music made with an instrument or through chanting at a frequency that matches alpha, theta, or delta waves, depending on the goal of the meditation.\\nThis allows your mind and body to relax deeply while still being conscious. When our brains are conscious but in a meditative trance-like state, we are easily able to release negative thoughts, energy, stress, worries. Our minds are suggestable, malleable to change in thought patterns and behaviors.\\nSound therapy also provides such a deep relaxation that you are refreshed and calm, free from many or all of the anxiety and depressive symptoms you suffered from before the session.\\nRegular sound healing meditations are extremely beneficial for mental health and emotional regulation.\\nAre you interested in learning more about the benefits of sound meditation? Maybe you’re ready to try one of the many sound therapy classes we offer at MyYogaTeacher! All are welcome. There is never any judgment if you don’t know or understand something in our classes. MyYogaTeacher classes are safe places to explore, learn, and grow as a human and a yogi!\\nWe offer 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"},"category":["therapy","emotional_health","anxiety","mental_health"]},{"id":"cl5bqymb5y04c0dk45gnohoyf","slug":"pranayama-and-meditation","author":{"name":"Bodhi","teacherMytSlug":null,"pictureUrl":null},"title":"The Power of Ancient Pranayama and Meditation Therapy","subTitle":null,"seoTitle":null,"seoDescription":"Yoga isn't just a physical practice. Explore how the ancient art of pranayama and meditation improves your health and life! ","readTime":null,"excerpt":"Yoga isn't just a physical practice. Explore how the ancient art of pranayama and meditation improves your health and life! ","tags":[],"createdAt":"2022-07-08T00:56:10.86197+00:00","coverUrl":"khqj05yqx4ahb88hp6pf.jpg","content":{"text":"Are you familiar with the term pranayama? If you practice yoga in a western yoga studio or only use yoga as a physical practice to strengthen, tone, and become more flexible, then the word “pranayama” might not be a word you resonate with.\\nAnd that’s ok! That’s why I’m here!\\nIn Sanskrit, the word “pranayama” means “to have control of your vital life force.” Generally, this refers to yogic breathing and/or breath work. It is the practice of regulating breath.\\nPranayama is a main component of yoga, often practiced in conjunction with traditional meditation sessions but also used in the physical practice of yoga as well.\\nThere are so many benefits to pranayama and yogic breathing that I can’t even get to them all here. But for those of you who are familiar with pranayama and have experience with various forms of yogic breathing techniques, I teach several intermediate and advanced level pranayama and meditation sessions at MyYogaTeacher!\\nIf you’re not a MyYogaTeacher member, I encourage you to grab your 2-week free trial by clicking the link below! No credit card required.\\nWe offer 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\\nFor those of you who haven’t yet been exposed to the power of ancient pranayama and meditation therapy, let me explain…\\n\\n\nDifferent types of pranayama\\nThere are many different ways to practice yogic breathing. All of them are beneficial in different ways. For beginners, it’s important to learn about the ancient pranayama techniques from a yoga instructor who is experienced in the practices and qualified to teach them!\\nSome of the different types of pranayama include:\\nHumming bee breath\\nVictorious breath\\nAlternate nostril breathing\\nBellows breath\\nHissing breath\\nPranayama is a form of meditation. Meditation is a form of therapy. An ancient form of physical, mental and emotional healing that I’ll discuss here!\\n\\n\\nPranayama and the central nervous system\\nBecause breathing is a natural, unconscious process, we tend to not think about it unless there’s something wrong with our respiratory system. We undervalue the ability of breath to enhance our health and life.\\nHowever, breathing exercises have therapeutic effects on our central nervous system. If anecdotal evidence from ancient times to present wasn’t enough, researchers have now proven in multitudes of studies that purposeful yogic breathwork:\\nIncreases oxygen to your brain and vital organs\\nDecreases cortisol levels that can cause inflammation and compromised immunity\\nImproves sleep quality and quantity while also reducing snoring and sleep apnea\\nReduces high blood pressure\\nImproves lung function\\nEnhances cognitive performance\\nAnd so much more!\\nTraditional meditation and breathing sessions, when practiced regularly, can literally transform your life. Which makes sense since breath is, quite literally, your \\nlife force\\n.\\n\\n\\nThe mental and emotional power of pranayama\\nMany times, our mental and emotional state is a reflection of our physiololgical one. When we’re in chronic pain, struggling with illness or disease, or our bodies are trying to heal from an injury, we may struggle with depression, anxiety, anger. We may not think as clearly or make the best decisions.\\nHowever, mental and emotional struggle can come from other things too. Trauma, abuse, neglect, loss of a loved one, chemical imbalances, life stressors, and not living in the present moment.\\nYogic breathing techniques and meditation practices benefit our mental and emotional wellbeing, whether it’s from physiological problems or not.\\nAncient pranayama sessions (such as the ones I focus on in some of my sessions and workshops) address the five primary currents of breath, or vital force, and these currents are specific to certain regions of the body. They’re called the five prana vayus.\\nPracticing breathing exercises that correspond to these prana vayus is a powerful tool to improve our mental and emotional health. Studies show that yogic breathing:\\nIncreases mindfulness, helping us to stay present and not worry about future or past\\nActivates our parasympathetic nervous system (aka the rest and digest system)\\nHelps our body release feel good chemicals like serotonin and endorphins\\nIncreases self-awareness, which helps us address our emotional health in a positive way\\nDecreases pain and tension, which often contributes to negative mental and emotional states\\nThere is so much that ancient pranayama and meditation does to improve your life! \\nTherapeutic meditation and yogic breathwork isn’t to be taken lightly. If you are just beginning your yoga journey and are interested in how other aspects of your yoga practice, such as breathwork and meditation, will bring healing and harmony to your world, I do recommend seeking out a highly qualified yoga instructor to guide you.\\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!\\n\nIf you haven’t checked us out already, \\ngrab two free 1:1 sessions with your 2-week free trial here\\n\\n"},"category":["emotional_health","meditation","mental_health","therapy"]}],"randomPosts":[{"id":"ckpjwhxjk4kvm0c34qj2mmr2f","slug":"yoga-for-back-pain","author":{"name":"Neha","teacherMytSlug":null,"pictureUrl":null},"title":"Do This, Not That: 10 Yoga Poses to Avoid if You Have Back Pain","createdAt":"2021-06-05T15:18:02.896501+00:00","coverUrl":"qmm5qvng3vjs5rggukli.jpg","content":{"text":"A regular yoga routine helps prevent, and even cure, back pain. But only if the routine is full of all the right poses.\\n\\nIf you have a back injury or have had one in the past, some yoga poses cause stress and irritation to the discs and muscles in your back. And yoga is supposed to help, not hurt your body!\\n\\nThis is why, here at myYogaTeacher, we encourage you to do your research before investing in a group yoga class or a private yoga instructor.\\n\\nAn inexperienced yoga instructor may give you the wrong advice or take you through a flow that makes back pain worse.\\n\\nIf you haven’t checked out myYogaTeacher yet, you should! \\nGrab your 2-week free trial here.\\n You’ll have access to tons of online yoga classes, including mine, \\nYoga for Back Pain. \\nI wanted to make sure you have access to high quality yoga instruction for back pain and back issues.\\n\\nJust in case you wonder which asanas are prohibited for back pain patients, though, here are 10 poses you should avoid if you have back pain.\\n\\n1. Bow Pose (Floor)\\n\\nWhen done right, bow pose is an excellent way to work your glutes, stretch your shoulders, chest, and thighs and open your heart. But this pose is too intense for people with sensitive backs or back issues.\\n\\nPlus, it’s too easy to overstretch your back to deepen the pose instead of using your glutes and thighs.\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n2. Camel Pose\\n\\nHonestly, any variation of camel pose can be hard on your neck, shoulders, and sacrum. I encourage you to avoid even the easiest variations of this pose if you have any back or neck issues.\\n\\nIf you choose to do any of the modifications for this pose, though, be sure to squeeze your glutes and thighs to help support your lower back and spine.\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n3. Upward Facing Dog\\n\\nThis is such a beautiful and beneficial pose, that I hate to tell you not to do it. \\n\\nWith the appropriate guidance and instruction, upward facing dog strengthens your glutes and thighs, stretches and lengthens your core, and tones your upper back.\\n\\nHowever, it’s easy to do this pose wrong, particularly when it’s part of a vinyasa flow so it’s best to avoid it if you’re having any back pain or have known back issues.\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n4. Crescent Lunge Twist\\n\\nI usually encourage spinal twists to ease lower back pain due to menstrual cramps, sore muscles, or to safely increase one’s range of motion. However, if you have bulging or herniated discs, this – and almost any other twisting pose – is dangerous.\\n\\nYogis tend to muscle their way into balancing poses such as this one instead of allowing their body to naturally move and stretch to its furthest extent. Muscling your way into any pose is bad and can create even more problems, which is what practicing yoga is supposed to prevent!\\n\\n\\n5. Boat Pose\\n\\nAny pose where you’re balancing on your glutes will put at least some pressure on your sacrum and lower spine. Boat pose is no different.\\n\\nAlso, if you don’t have a strong core, you’ll have a tendency to slouch instead of maintaining good posture. This puts even more strain on your lower back region. This pose can be modified by putting your toes or even both your feet flat on the ground.\\nOr just skip it all together if you’re having back problems.\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n6. Bridge and Full Wheel\\n\\nBridge is often a precursor to doing Full Wheel. Either way, both poses put pressure on the spine and neck. Full Wheel is an advanced pose and requires more extension of the back and more strength in the legs, glutes, and arms.\\nBridge can be done safely with back issues, but it doesn’t alleviate back pain. So it’s best to avoid this one as well if you have back pain of any kind.\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n7. Fish Pose\\n\\nAhhhh. The beloved Fish pose! \\n\\nThis pose is awesome if you have mild back pain due to menstrual cramps or overworked muscles. It’s a really nice\\n restorative\\n pose and provides a good upper back stretch.\\n\\nHowever, for more serious back issues, you may want to stick to savasana. Fish pose is still a backbend and provides very little support for your hips and sacrum.\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n8. Shoulder Stand\\n\\nIt may be obvious to you that shoulder stand is a no when you have back issues, but it’s actually a counter pose to many of the poses I’ve listed here.\\n\\nShoulder stand can put a lot of undue stress on the cervical spine, which affects the lower spine. This is not the pose for yogis with back issues, weak core muscles, or tight shoulders.\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n9. Dancer’s Pose\\n\\nAny version of \\ndancer’s pose\\n is an intense back stretch. It is basically a standing backbend. It’s not entirely off limits if you have mild back pain, but if you feel any pinching at all, stop immediately.\\n\\nIf you do choose to proceed with this pose, be sure to lift from your thighs and glutes, not by pulling more on your foot. You can also use a strap to ease the tension of this pose.\\n\\nOr skip it all together if you have any sort of back injury.\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n10. Big Toe Pose\\n\\nIf you’ve performed big toe pose before, you’ll understand why I say this is not the pose to do if you have any kind of back problem or pain.\\n\\nThis pose compresses your side body and can cause your pelvis to tilt backwards, both of which puts a lot of strain and pressure on your lumbar spine. Even doing a modified version of this pose isn’t good for lower back issues.\\n\\n\\n\\n\\nIf you suffer with a back injury or other back issue that continues to cause pain and discomfort, I encourage you to seek out a professional yoga instructor who can help you address those issues in a way that is helpful, not harmful.\\n\\nNot sure where to start? Please, \\ncome see me in my Yoga for Back Pain class!\\n We have students in there who are all ages, from all walks of life, who have had back issues that are now a distant memory! \\nIf you’re not a member of myYogaTeacher yet, go ahead and grab your free 2-week trial here!\\n You’ll not only get access to my class but 35+ other group classes every day!\\n\\nWe’re here to help you live your best, fullest, most harmonious life!\\n\\nNamaste!\\n\\n"}},{"id":"ckuztbzb43q970d77q02nbk98","slug":"cat-yoga-benefits","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":null,"pictureUrl":null},"title":"Cat Yoga: 5 Ways Including A Cat in Your Yoga Practice Benefits Your Mental Health","createdAt":"2021-10-20T17:52:16.501962+00:00","coverUrl":"jrbariwsee7h8jjwqv1m.jpg","content":{"text":"Don’t laugh! We’re for real.\\nIf you’re not a cat person, are allergic to cats, or have a traumatic experience with felines, you can skip this article altogether. We totally understand!\\nHowever, whether you love cats or not, we’ve discovered some really interesting stuff about how including cats in your yoga practice benefits your mental and emotional health. Plus, cats themselves are way more therapeutic than people give them credit for!\\nWhile animal yoga – like goat yoga and horse yoga – seems to be a hot trend, we’re wary of buying into novelties where the actual practice of yoga is overshadowed by animals that may or may not cause injury.\\nAs a matter of fact, cat yoga isn’t just good for you. It’s good for your cat too!\\nHere’s what we’ve discovered about this up and coming trend and how cat yoga is beneficial for you both.\\n\\n\\n1. Cats positively affect your psychological health\\nAccording to \\nHealthline\\n, cat owners already tend to have lower stress levels, lower resting heart rates, and are happier. Cats are also naturally calming, which carries over to their human counterparts.\\nThat being said, cats also enjoy bonding with their owners just as much as the owners do with them. And bonding with animals is notoriously good for mental health.\\nWhy?\\nSeveral reasons. Animals don’t judge us, talk down to us or talk negatively about us. They generally only require basic needs. And obviously, physical touching, petting, and snuggling releases feel good chemicals in both cat and human.  Also, cats tend to be very independent creatures, which makes them low maintenance.\\nCats, in particular, also offer a natural source of healing in their purr. Purring releases endorphins in the cat, and studies have shown that the frequency of a cat’s purr actually contributes to physical healing in humans.\\nNow, combine the benefits of owning a cat with an activity like yoga (which also improves psychological health), and you get a double dose of endorphins! Plus, you and your cat get the benefits that come from physical activity.\\n2. Cats prioritize self-care.\\nWhile many animals are very efficient at self-care, cats are especially in tune with their basic needs. They can also be a good reminder for us to prioritize our self-care.\\nWe’ve discussed a cat’s purr, but did you know that the frequency of their purr contributes to the growth and repair of their bones and muscles? Super cool! They also lick their fur not just to clean themselves, but to regulate body temperature and distribute the oils in their skin.\\nWe’re not saying you should start purring or stop showering, but the way cats move and stretch is also a part of their selfcare. \\nAnd that’s something they can remind us to do that we’re capable of! Plus, if you hadn’t noticed, there are at least several yoga poses who’s name is derived from cats.\\nYoga is definitely a form of self care and, as it turns out, is even more beneficial to your physical, mental, and emotional health when you incorporate your furbaby friends!\\n3. Cat yoga gets you out of your comfort zone.\\nSometimes, what affects our mental health the most isn’t the stressful situations (or days), the anxiety-ridden moments, or the emotional rollercoaster of life.\\nIt’s the mundane.\\nExcessive boredom or repeated, boring tasks negatively affect the brain. \\nStudies show\\n that people who have high levels of boredom or don’t step out of their comfort zone and change up their daily routine suffer from higher levels of depression and anxiety.\\nAs a matter of fact, boredom is actually detectable in brain activity on an EEG.\\nHere at MyYogaTeacher, we have a hard time ever getting bored with our yoga routine because there is such a huge variety of classes offered by so many different, amazing instructors. But we also don’t mind saying that cat yoga would definitely be outside of our comfort zone...in a good way!\\nUnlike other forms of animal yoga, cat yoga is still very safe, joyful, and fun!\\n\\n\\n4. Cats naturally fit into a yoga practice.\\nCats are constantly practicing yoga! \\nThey are not only intuitive comforters, cats are top-notch yogis. And they love stretching and moving in ways that we mere humans (for the most part) can’t.\\nBecause yoga is an exercise that focuses on self awareness and bringing harmony to your inner and outer self, it makes sense that incorporating your already extremely self aware and flexible furry friends into your yoga practice will come naturally. \\nIf you’ve already practiced yoga around your cat, you may have noticed that he or she sticks around during your practice...maybe in ways that you don’t want, but still. Your furry friend is there.\\nThat’s because cats intuitively recognize the calming effects yoga has on humans. They also recognize the movements. \\nCats are very intelligent animals. You may think involving your feline friend in your yoga practice will be stressful, but the truth is, the exact opposite is true!\\n5. Cats and yoga encourage us to slow down.\\nCats are experts at meditation. It’s true!\\nThey are very good at being mindful, and they tend to really enjoy life. Domestic cats can usually be found sitting or lying around watching the world go by, taking in all the sights, sounds, and smells \\nor\\n they’re playing, stretching, or running around.\\nTry meditating with your cat. You’ll probably find that your feline friend sits or lays right next to you as you spend time taming your thoughts.\\nCats are also great at regulating their breath!\\nIf you haven’t heard it from us already, breath is life. And yogic breathing is excellent for physical, mental, and emotional wellness. It reduces anxiety and depression, invigorates the mind and spirit, and literally brings life back to your body and soul.\\nCats are very adept at breathing deeply and smoothly. And you’ll find that if you gently lay your hand on your kitty while you’re meditating, you’ll breathe right along with them. \\nSlowing down is an important part of mental wellness. Incorporating cat yoga into your routine will bring awareness to the very important practice of slowing down.\\n\\n\\nWhile we don’t offer cat yoga at MyYogaTeacher, we do offer over 35+ different types of yoga classes that are not only challenging, but fun! \\nGet your 2-week free trial here\\n if you haven’t already tried us out and discover the benefits of yoga!\\nSee you there!\\n\n\n"}},{"id":"cl469gwqveebx0bk2bobg395k","slug":"common-sanskrit-yoga-words","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":null,"pictureUrl":null},"title":"18 Common Sanskrit Words to Know Before Your First Yoga Class","createdAt":"2022-06-09T00:07:57.890522+00:00","coverUrl":"so7zp7thknpvd3b7mtd1.jpg","content":{"text":"Whether you’re a new yogi or you’ve been practicing for a while, there’s bound to be words you’ve heard in a yoga class that you didn’t know or understand.\\nThat’s normal! And you’re certainly not the only one.\\nIf you don’t know already, Sanskrit is the ancient language of India. Many Hindu scriptures and epic poems were written in this beautiful language, but so were all the original Yoga Sutras! Sanskrit has a sort of harmonious fluidity to it, almost spiritual sounding, which makes it an effective tool for practicing yoga.\\nWe don’t want anyone to feel lost or confused in our yoga classes, and we certainly don’t want anyone to be embarrassed to ask questions about any particular words that are used.\\nMyYogaTeacher instructors teach and believe wholeheartedly in the benefits of traditional yoga, and most of them are from the birthplace of yoga, India! \\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!\\nAnd after this article, I hope you’ll feel comfortable joining one of our classes, knowing much of the vocabulary that your yoga instructor might use!\\n\\n\nYoga \\nYoga means to “yoke” or “bind” and is often interpreted as “union.” Union of breath, body and mind.\\n\\nAsana\\nIn these times, “asana” is interpreted as the physical yoga poses you’ll practice, but it originally means “seat.”\\n\\nChakra\\nA chakra indicates an energy center within the body between the base of the spine and the top of the head. We have seven. You can learn more about chakras in \\nthis article\\n.\\n\\nNamaste\\nTraditionally, “namaste” means “the light within me bows to the light within you,” but in this day and age it also is a common greeting for “hello.”\\n\\nPranayama\\nThe word “prana” means life energy. Pranayama is a series of yogic breathing exercises that helps your breath move freely through your body.\\n\\nMudra\\nA mudra is a hand position or gesture used to help one focus, concentrate, and develop a deeper connection to self. Prayer hands at the heart (Anjali) is an example of this.\\n\\n\\nVinyasa\\nAlso a type of yoga, a vinyasa is a series of postures connected to your breath, strung together in a longer flow.\\n\\nHatha\\nIn Sanskrit, “ha” refers to the sun and “tha” refers to the moon. Hatha yoga is a slower paced, basic style of yoga and helps form the foundation of other styles.\\nSavasana\\n\\nSavasana is corpse pose, meaning you literally lie on the floor in total relaxation, typically at the end of a yoga session.\\nChaturanga\\n\\nChaturanga is low plank pose or also known as four-limbed staff pose and is usually a transitional pose from plank position to upward facing dog.\\n\nUjjay\\nAlso known as “victorious breath,” ujjay is the common form of breath used in many types of yoga where air enters and leaves a constricted throat. It often sounds like the ocean.\\n\\nOm\\nThe universal sound of consciousness, chanting “om” causes a vibration in the back of your throat and has many benefits.\\n\\nDrishti\\nA focal point used in yoga set up by the yogi to assist with concentration, balance, and focus. This is particularly helpful for balancing postures like tree pose.\\n\\n\\nShanti\\nIn Sanskrit, shanti means “peace.” It is often chanted at the beginning or end of class.\\n\\nIyengar\\nIyengar is a type of yoga that is focused on precision and alignment while practicing yoga poses. It is a fairly popular style and often requires the use of props.\\n\\nShakti\\nShakti literally means “power” in Sanskrit and is the female principle of divine energy. Shakti is often represented by a lotus flower.\\n\\nKundalini\\nThis form of yoga is a system of chanting, meditation, breathwork, and, sometimes, singing. The word itself is a form of female energy that resides at the base of the spine.\\n\\nBhanda\\nBhanda is a lock or bind in yoga, an internal mudra. The purpose of bhanda is to lock in the body’s life energy/force.\\n\n\\nSome of these words you may understand based on the definition and some you may not. That’s ok! Yoga is an experience, which means some words you will simply have to experience to truly understand what they are and the impact they have on your mental, physical, and emotional health.\\nAnd if you still don’t know after you’ve experienced them? Ask!\\nAt MyYogaTeacher, we have members from all walks of life, religions, and all ages, shapes, sizes, and abilities! MyYogaTeacher 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\\n\\n"}}],"relatedPosts":[{"id":"ckoa1aav4qv5a0b63w9h2eb4j","slug":"yoga-101-what-is-yoga","author":{"name":"My Yoga Teacher","teacherMytSlug":null,"pictureUrl":null},"title":"Yoga 101: What Is Yoga? Everything You Need to Know Before Getting Started","createdAt":"2021-05-04T12:54:40.207865+00:00","coverUrl":"ozfwdauigdcdmkiwkeqs.png","content":{"text":"What Is Yoga?\\nYoga is an approach to physical and mental health and wellbeing that has been around for thousands of years. According to Sadhguru, the word \"yoga\" means \"that which brings you to reality.\" Taken literally, the word means \"union.\" Many take this to mean a \"union of the body and mind.\" Some might add \"spirit\" to the mix.\\n\\nThe word comes from the Sanskrit root word \"yuj,\" which means \"union,\" \"integration,\" or \"wholeness.\"\\n\\nThere are more than 300 million people in the world who practice yoga, according to the Yogi Times and the Economic Times. And roughly half of that number is yoga practitioners from India, but more and more people around the world are coming to yoga for various reasons, including 36 million people in the United States who make yoga a nearly $12 billion industry in the country (Statista). In this Yoga 101 article, you'll learn more about the practice of yoga, different yoga paths and styles, and the benefits of yoga.\\n\\nTo get the best possible understanding of yoga, we encourage you to \\nsign up for a free two-week of myYogaTeacher\\n. Once inside, you'll have two weeks to try more than 35 live online yoga classes every single day from Indian teachers who have a comprehensive understanding of the entire yoga practice. We even offer a \\nYoga 101 class\\n that you'll probably enjoy if you're here reading this article!\\n\\nPaths of Yoga\\n\\n\\nYoga philosophy\\n tells us that the cause of our suffering is a disconnection from our true self. That's why Vedanta offers four yoga paths to help us reconnect with our true selves. Let's take a look at these four paths of yoga: Bhakti, Jnana, Karma, and Raja.\\n\\nBhakti Yoga (Devotion)\\nBhakti yoga is the path of yoga built on self-realization through devotion. It's typically practiced through kirtans or bhajans (devotional chants) and helps practitioners work through intense emotions by focusing on the divine being.\\nBhakti yoga is all about prayer, worship, and ritual that gets the practitioners closer to the spirit, letting the ego and desire go.\\n\\nJnana Yoga (Knowledge and Wisdom)\\nJnana comes from the Sanskrit for \"knowledge.\" This is the path of intellect and wisdom and involves the study of sacred texts as well as contemplation and self-analysis. Those practicing Jnana are seeking to break through illusion to find the true meaning of life.\\n\\nJnana yoga is called the \"science of the self,\" by Swami Sivananda and the philosophy of Vedanta teaches self-inquiry to discover your true nature.\\n\\nKarma Yoga (Selfless Service)\\nKarma means \"action.\" Through Karma yoga, we learn to be kind and compassionate without expecting anything—even kindness and compassion—in return. Karma yoga is practiced through any acts of service when you put others’ needs before your own and feel grounded during these acts.\\n\\nThis practice is \"work as worship,\" cosmic love and tolerance when we act without expectation of personal gain. It is seen as liberating, through selfless service we free ourselves from karmic bonds and find peace.\\n\\nRaja Yoga (Meditation)\\nThe fourth path of yoga we're going to talk about is Raja yoga. Raja means \"royalty\" or \"kind\" in Sanskrit and balances the three other paths (Bhakti, Jnana, and Karma) to help you find inner peace and self-awareness. While asanas and pranayamas are integral to Raja, the main practice is silent \\nmeditation\\n.\\n\\nThis type of yoga is also known as Ashtanga because the practice can be divided into \\neight limbs\\n:\\nYamas, or ethical standards: Ahimsa (non-violence), Asteya (non-stealing), Brahmacharya (chastity), Aparigraha (non-attachment), and Satya (truthfulness)\\nNiyamas, or self-discipline: Saucha (purity), Santosha (contentment), Tapas (austerity), Svadhyaya (study), Isvara Pranidhana (surrender)\\nAsana: the postures practiced in yoga\\nPranayama: breath control\\nPratyahara: internal awareness\\nDharana: concentration\\nDhyana: meditation\\nSamadhi: fulfillment, joy, ecstasy\\nStyles of Yoga\\n\\nNow that you have a better understanding of the paths of yoga, let's turn our attention to the styles of yoga that you might find in any yoga studio. Styles of yoga range quite a bit, from power yoga and other demanding classes, to gentle yoga, and more meditative classes.\\n\\nSome of the styles of yoga have a yoga lineage (like Kriya, Hatha, Ashtanga, and others), but yoga lineage has become less important to practitioners as yoga becomes more readily available to different cultures and people around the world.\\n\\nThis is by no means a complete list of the different styles of yoga. Inside \\nmyYogaTeacher\\n, you'll also find offerings like gentle yoga, chair yoga, and therapeutic yoga for things like thyroid, \\ndiabetes\\n, and more.\\n\\nKriya Yoga\\nKriya yoga is an ancient practice that includes pranayama and meditation. Swami Paramahansa Yogananda is the guru known for bringing Kriya yoga to the Western world. This style of yoga uses meditation to lead practitioners to spirituality.\\n\\nHatha Yoga\\nHatha yoga is a broad term that encompasses yoga styles using asanas (poses). \\nHatha classes\\n tend to be slower-paced and train practitioners to regulate their breath and meditate while in poses. It's truly a \"moving meditation.\"\\n\\nVinyasa Yoga\\nVinyasa yoga uses movement and breath, similar to Hatha. However, \\nVinyasa\\n tends to be a faster pace and flows through asanas rather than holding them. It's a physically demanding practice without a set structure.\\n\\nAshtanga Yoga\\nAshtanga yoga is another physically demanding style of yoga that helps increase flexibility, as well as build strength and stamina. With Ashtanga, practitioners work through the same series of poses every time.\\n\\nIyengar Yoga\\nIyengar yoga was created by B.K.S. Iyengar in the 1960s. This style of yoga focuses on precise movements and alignment. Poses are generally held for a long time and props are used to help practitioners perfect their form or get deeper into poses.\\n\\nKundalini Yoga\\n\\nKundalini yoga\\n is a spiritual and physical yoga practice designed to release the energy trapped in the lower spine. This style of yoga uses fast-paced postures and breathing, chanting, mantra, and meditation. It was introduced in the West during the 1970s by Yogi Bhajan.\\n\\nBikram Yoga\\nBikram yoga is often called \"hot yoga\" since it is practiced in a humid, heated room (105º and 40% humidity). It's named after Bikram Choudhury and includes a series of 26 postures, performed twice, in a fast flow. It's a challenging practice that improves endurance and flexibility. As more and more practitioners try to distance themselves from the style's founder, you'll find a deviation from the series of postures as well as room temperatures and humidity.\\n\\nYin Yoga\\nYin yoga focuses on seated postures held for long periods of time. It's a slower-paced style of yoga and can be quite meditative. Poses are generally held from 45 seconds to two minutes.\\n\\nPower Yoga\\nThere are several different forms of \\npower yoga\\n but it's always intense and fast-paced. It combines flexibility, strength, concentration, and breathwork into a flowing style and was originally created for athletes.\\n\\nRestorative Yoga\\nOn the opposite end of the yoga spectrum from power yoga is restorative yoga. This style of yoga focuses on body relaxation and freeing your mind. It borrows pieces from several other yoga styles. Like Iyengar, \\nrestorative yoga\\n practice encourages the use of props to encourage complete relaxation through body support. Like Yin, the poses in restorative yoga are held for a long time (though much longer than in Yin).\\n\\nBenefits of Yoga\\nSo far, we've covered the paths of yoga as well as several different styles of yoga. But you may be wondering why you'd practice yoga in the first place.\\n\\nThere have been so many scientific studies about the practice of yoga and its benefits. Those benefits range from physical to mental to emotional. Here are some of the benefits you can expect.\\nBetter posture. Yoga postures can help strengthen shoulder and back muscles. That strength then leads to better posture.\\nImproved flexibility and mobility through a combination of active movement and held stretches.\\nIncreased strength. Yoga isn't easy. Many of the poses \\nchallenge muscles\\n in the legs, shoulders, and core.\\nCardiovascular strength and endurance. Several yoga styles can improve your cardio through movement and flowing poses that increase the heart rate.\\nBetter brain function and stress management. Many styles of yoga include meditation that has been shown to calm the mind, relieve stress and tension, improve concentration, and stabilize mood. The addition of Mudras (hand positions) and Pranayama, or controlled breathing, only heightens those positive effects.\\nWrapping Up\\nBy now, you should have a much better understanding of what yoga is, the paths and styles of yoga, as well as which forms of yoga you might want to check out. To gain access to different styles of yoga, we invite you to \\nsign up for a free two-week trial of myYogaTeacher\\n where you'll find 35+ live online yoga classes of various styles every single day to choose from."}},{"id":"ckk60udlk0qj60a82zwp5zo1p","slug":"yoga-teacher-training-right-for-you","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":"will-1","pictureUrl":"will.jpeg"},"title":"Is Yoga Teacher Training Right For You?","createdAt":"2021-01-20T22:52:23.879598+00:00","coverUrl":"shutterstock_521856145.jpg","content":{"text":"A lot of people want to take a Yoga Teacher Training Course (TTC) but they're not sure if they're ready for it. The most common questions people ask are:\\n\\n\"I've only been practicing a few months, is that enough for a 200-hour yoga teacher training course?\"\\n\"I'm not that flexible or fit, will I be able to keep up with the course?\"\\n\"I just want to learn more and I don't actually want to teach yoga, is it a good idea to take a yoga TTC?\"\\n\\nIn this short article, you'll get answers to each of these questions. So that you can know if Yoga Teacher Training is right for you!\\n[CTA-DEFAULT]\\n\\nCan beginners keep up with a Yoga Teacher Training Course?\\n\\nThe biggest mistake people make, when it comes to Yoga Teacher Training, is thinking that it's just for Intermediate or Advanced yogis.\\n\\nSome Yoga TTCs are very advanced. They require extreme flexibility and fitness.\\n\\nBut many other TTCs are perfect for beginners! TTCs like this are the fastest way to take your practice from complete novice, to intermediate (maybe even advanced) practitioner.\\n\\nMost 200-hour Teacher Training Courses are perfect for beginner and intermediate yogis\\n.\\n\\nI asked Rohan, the lead teacher of MyYogaTeacher's 200-hr TTC, \"who will have a good experience in your TTC, and who should avoid it?\"\\n\\nHe told me, \\nthe only people who should not take his TTC are those with serious medical conditions\\n (like heart problems).\\n\\nSo this means, you will likely have a great experience in a 200-hr TTC even if you're not very fit or flexible yet. So if you're stiff, out of shape, or a beginner to yoga, that's perfectly OK.\\n\\nYou might be challenged for the first couple of weeks. But you'll loosen up and get in shape fast. I've seen tons of seniors, not in particularly good shape, keep up with and enjoy their TTC.\\n\\nA 200-hr TTC will take you from Beginner to Intermediate (maybe even Advanced practitioner)!\\n\\n\\nHow fit & flexible do you have to be for a Yoga Teacher Training Course?\\n\\nYou don't have to be very fit or flexible to enjoy your TTC, become a great yoga teacher, and have fun deepening your practice!\\n\\nDuring my 500-hour yoga TTC, I got way more flexible. But when it comes to forward bends, my bone structure limits me. I still can't touch my toes with straight legs...\\n\\nDoes that make me a bad yoga teacher?\\n\\nOf course not! ... and my students always love my classes. Not because I was so flexible in every \\nasana\\n, but because I made \\nlearning yoga fun and low-pressure!\\n\\nI showed them that you don't have to be pretzel-flexible to get a healthy body and find inner-peace.\\n\\nIn your TTC — you will get more flexible!\\n But even if you never bend like a contortionist; that shouldn't stop you from enjoying \\nyoga\\n, going deeper in your practice, and sharing with others.\\n\\nWhether you sign up for a TTC or not, I hope you \\nnever judge your yoga by your flexibility!\\n That's like judging a cake by the look of its frosting.\\n\\nIt's not the appearance of the cake that matters. It's the flavor that's important!\\n\\nAnd in yoga, the flavor is your \\ninner-joy\\n.\\n\\n\\nIs it worthwhile to join a TTC even if you don't want to teach?\\n\\nThe answer is: \\nYes\\n. Even if you don't want to teach, it's \\nan amazing experience and you'll be happy\\n you signed up!\\n\\nWhen I took my TTC in 2013, I had no interest in teaching.\\n\\nI was falling in love with yoga because I had spent my entire life feeling anxious. I was stressed in every social situation and this was wreaking havoc on my body, my mind, and my closest relationships.\\n\\nWhen I \\npracticed yoga — I felt free — happy, and at peace\\n.\\n\\nI wanted to \\nfeel that way more often\\n. So I \\nsigned up for a TTC\\n hoping I could ground myself in these positive feelings.\\n\\nAnd you know, I thought I would be the only one in my class who didn't want to teach. But one night, when me and my classmates were joking around and studying together, we started talking about why we signed up.\\n\\nOnly a few people wanted to work as yoga teachers. Pretty much everyone else \\njoined because they loved yoga and wanted to deepen their practice\\n.\\n\\nMy TTC gave me exactly what I hoped for (and things I never could have expected). So much more self-awareness, self-love, and self-compassion... And when you feel that way towards yourself, it's easy to feel that way towards others too!\\n\\nIf you're considering signing up for a Teacher Training Course — \\neven if you don't plan on teaching\\n — I know \\nyou'll love it!\\n\\nYou'll learn more about yoga, go deeper in your practice, and feel those great yoga-feelings — the healthy body, peaceful mind, and joyful attitude.\\n[CTA-GC]\\nSummary\\n\\nSo it doesn't matter if you're out of shape, stiff, a beginner to yoga, and you don't want to teach. As long as you enjoy yoga and want to go deeper in your practice a TTC can be a life enriching experience.\\n\\nYou'll make life-long friends with similar interests and values, you'll have a lot of fun, and you'll learn a lot about yoga.\\n\\nmyYogaTeacher offers regular\\n TTCs with expert Indian teachers — 100% LIVE\\n. If you're interested in checking them out, \\nyou can click here to see any upcoming TTCs now\\n."}},{"id":"ckfqz0ig001y80179mxwi01o9","slug":"5-easy-sleep-tips-for-bone-deep-sleep-tonight","author":{"name":"Amanda","teacherMytSlug":"amanda@myyogateacher.com-1","pictureUrl":"amanda-pro.jpg"},"title":"5 Easy Tips for Bone-Deep Sleep Tonight","createdAt":"2019-12-04T00:00:00+00:00","coverUrl":"5-easy-tips-4.jpg","content":{"text":"Does winter kick your butt? Shorter days hit us really hard - making us feel sleepy all the time. We can’t make the days longer, but here are some tips to get that bone-deep sleep and wake up refreshed. \\n\\nWe’ve crafted this mini-routine below to help you get started.\\n\\nHave a snack\\nKeep the snack small and not too sweet. Maybe a piece of toast or a handful of nuts. Being even a little hungry can keep you up. \\n\\nTry a mini yoga sequence before bed\\nIf you can’t schedule a night-time \\nyoga session \\nwith your teacher, this sequence will do in a pinch. \\n\\nForward Fold\\n\\n\\n\\nSide Bend\\n\\n\\n\\nSeated Twist\\n\\n\\nChild's Pose\\n\\n\\nLegs Up The Wall\\n\\n\\n\\nFind your breathFind a comfortable position in bed. Count your breaths: 1 for the inhale and 2 for the exhale. Do this for at least a minute or two, trying to keep your focus on the breath.  \\n\\n\\nYoga pose\\n in bedYou don’t need a mat for yoga! Try reclined butterfly with your hands on your belly or heart. Not into that pose? Ask your teacher for some personalized suggestions.\\n\\nBody scan \\nmeditation\\n begin at the top of your head, moving down to the toes. Name each part of your body, taking one breath. For example, you can start by thinking “Top of the head, back of the head, forehead, eyebrows, nose” and so on. \\n\\nGood luck and always feel free to drop us a line to let us know how it goes!\\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","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                data-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                data-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                data-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    \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                data-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                data-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                data-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    \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                data-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                data-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                data-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    \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=2a019a47-5808-4251-8894-d181fdfce2a8\n            href=\"/?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(\"2a019a47-5808-4251-8894-d181fdfce2a8\")\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":"signup","redirectURL":"#","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. No credit card required when you sign up today!</p>"},"title":{"html":"<p><strong>Online Yoga Classes – </strong><u><strong>Live &amp; Interactive</strong></u></p>"},"linkText":"Start Free Trial","linkUrl":"https://www.myyogateacher.com/signup"},{"id":"ckxrz37hsu0cj0a76mgb4594m","name":"[CTA-FREECLASS]","description":{"html":"<p><strong>Get 2 free private yoga sessions and 2 weeks of unlimited group classes</strong> with authentic yoga teachers. No credit card required when you sign up today!</p>"},"title":{"html":"<p><strong>Online Yoga Classes – </strong><u><strong>Live &amp; Interactive</strong></u></p>"},"linkText":"Start Free Trial","linkUrl":"https://www.myyogateacher.com/signup"},{"id":"ckxrz4d5stsye0b75dtlx1w0n","name":"[CTA-TRENDS]","description":{"html":"<p>Get ahead of the next trend and practice with authentic Indian yoga teachers! Sign up today and <strong>get 2 free private yoga sessions PLUS 2 weeks of unlimited group classes</strong>. 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>Practice with Authentic Indian Yoga Teachers</strong></p><p></p>"},"linkText":"Start Free Trial","linkUrl":"https://www.myyogateacher.com/signup"},{"id":"ckxrz6nq0tqdr0c258titvagg","name":"[CTA-REVIEWS]","description":{"html":"<p>Find out what all the hype is about! <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. 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>Relieve Post Nasal Drip &amp; Clear Your Sinus Today!</strong></p><p></p>"},"linkText":"Start Free Trial","linkUrl":"https://www.myyogateacher.com/signup"},{"id":"ckyirvl8g25ce0c70cldmca2g","name":"[CTA-TRATAKA]","description":{"html":"<p><strong>Get 2 free private sessions </strong>with experienced Trataka teachers. </p><p><strong>PLUS, 2 weeks of unlimited group classes </strong>(like ‘Candle Gazing Meditation) with authentic yoga teachers. 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. No credit card required when you sign up today!</p>"},"title":{"html":"<p><strong>Online Yoga Classes – </strong><u><strong>Live &amp; Interactive</strong></u></p><p><strong>Practice Kriya, Pranayama, and Meditation Today!</strong></p>"},"linkText":"Start Free Trial","linkUrl":"https://www.myyogateacher.com/signup"},{"id":"ckyitxgyg2pot0b79lu1fcpp1","name":"[CTA-BREATH]","description":{"html":"<p><strong>Get 2 free private yoga sessions </strong>for yogic breathing techniques (pranayama) and <strong>2 weeks of unlimited group classes</strong>, like ‘Stretch and Breathe’, ‘Kriya, Pranayama, and Meditation’, and many others. 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","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":"a82f1e57-1ec3-42b0-8c1a-d91e6535c53d","student_uuid":"5d7e7eaa-6d15-4f77-8f57-89e4f6f47a22","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/v1590071275/teacher/photos/mzxbmls6kmuk1h2gk6np.jpg","group_session_name":"Chakras and Sound Healing","group_session_description":"Chakra meditation followed by bamboo flute and jaw harp. 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