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Frequently Asked Questions By
Newcomers to Ashtanga |
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Index: |
What to bring to my first class? ·
Wear comfortable exercise clothes.
Form fitting clothes tend to be more comfortable and less distracting
than loose clothes. Either shorts or
long pants are appropriate. Yoga is
practiced barefoot. If you have long
hair you’ll probably be more comfortable with it tied back away from the
face. Remove watches and jewelry. ·
Bring a towel. ·
Bring a yoga mat. If you don’t
have one you may be able to borrow a studio mat for the first few
sessions. Yoga mats can be purchased
in a variety of sports and department stores, and there is a wide range of
quality and price. A good starter mat
is the Ultra mat from www.barefootyoga.com. ·
Come well hydrated. You can
bring bottled water to drink before or after practice. In Ashtanga we refrain from drinking
during practice to avoid distractions and prevent the body temperature from
cooling down, thus quenching the fire (tapas) we are trying to build. Be sure to drink plenty water for several
hours after practice. ·
Yoga is best practiced on an empty stomach. Refrain from eating anything but a light snack for at least 2
hours prior to practice. Avoid coffee
for a couple hours prior to practice. ·
Please arrive at the studio 5-10 minutes prior to class start
time. This will give you time to set
up your mat, arrange your props, and relax. ·
ALWAYS TURN OFF YOUR CELLPHONE, or just leave it in the car. There is nothing more disturbing to the
class and embarrassing to hear your ring tone during Savasana. ·
During class there should be no conversation among students. This is important to maintain the
concentration of everyone in the class. What should I expect from my first class? Reactions vary widely.
Some people feel invigorated and energized after their first class,
while others feel exhausted. Some people walk out 10 minutes into their
first class never to return. Most
people, even experienced yogis and athletes, find Ashtanga practice very
strenuous at first. Most people
experience muscle soreness for 1-3 days after class. You might find that in your first few
classes the posture sequence seems to go on indefinitely. However, you will find that with regular
practice both the physical and mental difficulty diminish. With time, the practice becomes almost
effortless. Approach your first few classes with ease. Don’t try to do everything, especially if
the instructor specifically asks you to leave out a posture or to repeat the
previous posture. This is not
punishment, rather caring advice intended to minimize injury. An experienced teacher can assess your
range of motion and skill level within the first few moments of class. If you feel fatigued during class, take a
short break in Child’s pose, and resume practice when you feel ready. You may be tempted to look around you during class to
see what the other students are doing.
This is acceptable – in moderation.
In general, the teacher should be providing enough verbal queues for
you to follow. If you are struggling,
the teacher will likely come to your assistance. You will likely receive only a small number of adjustments per
class. This is not because the
teacher wishes to ignore you, but rather, because progress comes gradually,
and there is only so much new information a student can absorb in one
class. An experienced teacher will
likely provide rudimentary feedback at first. This will give you the basic outline of the posture and ensure
that you do not injure yourself. As
your experience grows and ability improves, you will receive progressively
more subtle adjustments. Trust the
teacher to give you the amount of instruction that is appropriate for you at
your level. Having said this, most
teachers appreciate your proper feedback.
If you feel any pain or discomfort during an adjustment always speak
up immediately. Other feedback or
questions are welcome after class. Does Yoga
practice conflict with my
religious beliefs? It shouldn’t. Yoga is a spiritual practice but it is not
religion specific. The main purpose
of yoga is to strengthen the body and calm the mind in preparation for a
spiritual experience – with your God and following in accordance with your
beliefs and customs. Having said
this, Yoga is an ancient Indian tradition, and consequently, it has links to other Indian traditions like
Hinduism and Buddhism. Out of respect
for yogic tradition, we maintain the Sanskrit terminology and yoga
customs. The beauty & power of
yoga is its universal appeal. Could certain
medical conditions interfere with yoga practice? Some postures or yoga practices are not appropriate for
certain medical conditions. For
example, ·
Inversions are not recommended for individuals with Glaucoma, high
blood pressure or detached retina. ·
Individuals with severe osteoporosis are cautioned to approach bending
and twisting carefully. ·
Some postures can aggravate migraines. ·
Individuals with injuries should be cautious not to aggravate such
injuries. ·
Women are advised to rest during the heavy flow days of their menstrual
period. ·
Ashtanga practice is not recommended for women in their first trimester
of pregnancy. If you have a serious condition affecting major organs
or a serious illness or injury, always consult your physician first. Remember that your yoga instructor is
probably not an MD, so heed the advice of your physician. Proper practice can be very therapeutic to
many conditions. Please discuss your
condition with your yoga teacher before class. Your information is private and confidential, and will be used
strictly to guide your practice. Why should I consider practicing Ashtanga?
Regular
Ashtanga practice will change your body, mind, and your life. Ashtanga practice develops discipline,
which carries over to other facets of life.
Patience and non-attachment are the keys to success and fulfillment.
Ashtanga
practice tones and strengthens the body, improves flexibility, balance, and
coordination. Ashtanga practice
particularly emphasizes strengthening the upper body – abdomen, shoulders,
and arms. Vinyasa practice provides excellent
aerobic exercise.
Yoga
is not a cure to serious illness. For
this, western medicine is the most appropriate course of treatment. However, Yoga combined with a healthy
lifestyle is the perfect preventative care, and is appropriate for the
treatment of many chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, high blood
pressure, anxiety & depression, addiction, and insomnia. It is a complete physical practice addressing
the skeletal, respiratory, circulatory, digestive, nervous, and endocrine
systems. It tones muscles but also
internal organs. Yoga can be a
healthier alternative to pharmaceuticals, but ALWAYS CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR before
altering your treatment regiment.
Ashtanga
helps you get rid of unwanted body fat in 4 ways. First, you are burning more calories while you practice. Second, Ashtanga practice raises your
resting metabolic rate, so you burn more calories even while you aren’t
practicing. Third, Ashtanga practice
increases your awareness of hunger and satiation levels, and why/when/what
you are eating. Fourth, Ashtanga
practice reduces stress and tension; many of us overeat as a reaction to
stress.
As
your Ashtanga practice gradually takes on a prominent role in your life, you
will develop a longing to be around people that share your passion and
interests, and are interested in exchanging ideas. While Ashtanga is
practiced worldwide, amazingly, it is still a tight-knit community.
Wouldn’t
it be nice to have an activity that you share with your spouse, mother, daughter,
or friend?
In
spite of the recent commercialization of yoga (perhaps a tribute to its
success), there is really nothing to buy, except for a rubber mat. Progress in yoga comes simply through
mindful repetition of the practice – not by spending money on gadgets. It’s a different way of thinking. You might find that it affects your
spending habits in other areas as well.
We
will teach you the asana technique, body alignment, breathing techniques,
sequences of postures – everything you need to build your own practice. While we’d love for you to keep coming to
classes, our goal is to make you independent of the school, so you can do
your practice anytime and virtually anywhere.
Share
in a tradition and way of life that is not only thousands of years old, but
also practiced throughout the world.
Take your yoga mat on your travels – you are virtually guaranteed to
find a yoga school at your destination.
Enjoy the wide range of yoga styles, the rich philosophy, and the many
wonderful people you will meet on this journey. ·
We
promise to challenge you
Whether
you are a long distance runner, professional dancer, a martial artist, long
time yoga practitioner, or a couch potato – we will complement your current
skills, and provide you will a challenging yoga program. Once you master one version of a posture,
we’ll show you a more advanced one; If you’ve mastered a series, we’ll show
you the next one; And we’ll share the insight on the more challenging and
subtle aspects of asana practice – until your practice flows like a river… |
