Wealden Times | WT183 | May 2017 | Restoration & New Build supplement inside

Health
What is yoga?
Yoga teacher Julie Simpson explains that there’s
so much more to yoga than we think…
Credit: FreeImages.com/Oshin Beveridge
T
he yoga that we practise in the
West today developed over
thousands of years from a series
of postures designed to help Indian holy
men sit for long periods in meditation.
The Indian sage Patanjali wrote the
first user manual for yogis around 2000
years ago. In it he divides yoga into
eight parts, only one of which describes
the physical postures we now think of
as yoga. The remaining seven include
ethical standards, breathing, meditation
and – the ultimate goal – the bliss of
union with something greater than
ourselves. And that is what the word
yoga really means, ‘union’, the coming
together of mind, body and spirit.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?
Yoga is well known for improving
flexibility but it also helps build strong
muscles and improve general fitness.
Twists and bends can aid digestive and
elimination systems while emphasis
on the breath improves lung capacity.
Yoga is not just for bendy beauties,
it’s good for all of us and it works for
all stages of life: pregnancy classes
provide safe and gentle exercises to
prepare for birth, while classes for older
people improve balance and provide
gentle stretches to keep mobile. Yoga
also helps the mind. The savasana
relaxation at the end of a yoga class
and the emphasis on movement and
breath working together give yoga
practice its relaxing and meditative
quality, while breathing exercises
improve concentration and help relieve
tension at the end of a working day.
TYPES OF YOGA
Yoga arrived in the West in the
1890s, and since then there’s been
a cross-fertilisation of philosophies
and ideas resulting in many different
schools. This can be confusing when
choosing a class, but on the plus
side it means that, whatever your
age, fitness or flexibility, there is a
style of yoga for you. Despite their
differences, most styles of yoga share
the emphasis on breath, the postures,
the final relaxation and core yogic
values. See the box on the right for
more detail on different styles.
HOW DO I START?
Find a style of yoga which appeals
to you and then, if you’re new to
yoga, always start with a beginners’
class. Be prepared to try a class
before signing up to a course – it’s
important that you like your teacher
but even more important that your
safety is their priority. If they don’t
ask you about any health issues
and emphasise the correct – and
safe – way of doing each posture
then move onto the next class. If
your first class doesn’t work out for
any reason, keep trying, the benefits
of yoga are well worth the effort.
Finally, one of the greatest
things about yoga is that it doesn’t
require much financial outlay, all
you’ll need is a yoga mat to stop
your feet from slipping, loose
clothing and a light blanket to
cover you during relaxation. A tiny
investment for such huge rewards.
Pick a Style
These are the most popular choices:
• Hatha is the gentle, show-paced yoga
which you’ll usually learn at any class
simply called ‘yoga’. It’s good for beginners
and a great way to learn the postures
before trying some of the other styles.
• Ashtanga, inspired by teenage
acrobats in the Maharajahs’ courts, is
a challenging, athletic style of yoga.
• Vinyasa Flow classes are quite energetic,
with postures ‘flowing’ from one to
the other in constant movement.
• Iyengar practice is all about alignment.
Expect to use lots of props and hold
poses for longer periods of time.
• Restorative yoga consists of just a few
postures held for longer periods while
supported by props. It’s a relaxing
and healing way to end the day.
Discover more about yoga at Wealden Times Midsummer Fair
Join us in the Healthy Living Theatre
at Wealden Times Midsummer Fair on
Thursday 8 June to hear yoga experts
Liz Lark and Madeleine Shaw.
Madeleine Shaw 12.00pm. 8 June
Madeleine’s recipe for a healthy lifestyle:
feed your mind, body and soul with
yummy food and yoga.
Liz Lark 10.30am. 8 June
Your life in balance: Learn how yoga
can enhance all our lives, creating
harmony for mind and body.
Visit www.wealdentimes/events for more information
147 wealdentimes.co.uk