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The word ‘yoga’ is taken from the Sanskrit word ‘Yuga’, which means ‘to join.’ Yoga aims for the perfect union of the body, mind and spirit by a system of posture, breath control, meditation, sounds and many more practices.

Yoga classes are generally longer than other exercise classes as they typically last around two to three hours. During a yoga session, your teacher will guide you through a series of moves and you will find many of the yoga positions have simple names such as ‘the plank,’ ‘the cat,’ or ‘the warrior.’

Yoga, in comparison to other classes you may have tried, is based on precision and many people spend large amounts of their time getting the positions perfect.

Many yoga teachers use specific terminology during their sessions. You may feel overwhelmed at first with terms such as asana, pratyahara or pranayama. Don't let this put you off because it is not vital to learn and master all yoga terminology.

Yoga has many benefits, the main one being an increase in suppleness. It aims to increase the muscle and tendon flexibility, thus decreasing your risk of injury. Yoga does not increase your aerobic fitness, apart from ‘astanga yoga’, so it is recommended you combine yoga sessions with aerobic type exercises. Brisk walking or jogging are good examples. Yoga’s prime aim is to control breathing and meditation for stress reduction.

There are many types of yoga available and, although no type of yoga is particularly harder, it is advisable to check how experienced your class is before you join. There are usually beginner's classes available.

Here are some examples of the types of yoga available:

Hatha Yoga

‘Hatha’ is an overall term for the physical part of yoga. Hatha covers most types of yoga and a class known as Hatha Yooga is generally balanced and moderately intense. Posture and breathing exercises will be practised.

Iyengar Yoga

This is also a Hatha Yoga style, focusing on how to understand the body and how the body works. Those practising this type of yoga focus on symmetry and alignment, sometimes using props, such as wooden blocks and straps to achieve their postures. Students hold each position for a longer amount of time than with other types of yoga.

Astanga Yoga

Astanga Yoga is a physically demanding workout. It involves a fast-paced series of poses that is sequential, beginning with sun salutations. Astanga Yoga students use postures in a continual flow, linking their movements from breath to breath. This type of yoga is physically demanding and was developed to build their strength, stamina and flexibility. Those who wish to embark on this type of yoga would fit it easier if they are physically fit.

There are many people who get really excited about yoga as it is supposed to make all those who take it up feel much better about themselves generally. This is because yoga does not just act on the body (helping to keep it in shape), but also on the mind of the person.

It is thought the different poses and postures in yoga makes the body become healthier, but it is also good for the mind, as Yoga is one of the best ways to help us relax and unwind.

Yoga has a lot of advantages and benefits. It is said to reduce tension and stress. After a busy day, we often feel our muscles are tense and we feel burnt out. Self esteem is increased through yoga. Confidence boosting is important as it means you can associate with people with less worry.


Please click on List of Yoga Details to read about many different aspects of Yoga.