Get answers to frequently asked questions.
What is Yoga?
What is Vinyasa Flow?
What does Namaste mean?
What is Ujjayi Breathing?
Is yoga spiritual or religious?
How often should I practice yoga and can I practice everday?
What is Yoga? Yoga is a psycho-physical discipline developed in India with roots going back about 5,000 years. The direct translation of the Sanskrit word “yoga” is “to yoke”-or create union. Traditionally the goal of yoga is to create union with the true self, though many schools in the U.S. tend to focus on the physical union between breath, body, and movement. These days, and most especially in the U.S., the focus is often on improved physical fitness, mental clarity, greater self-understanding, stress control and general well-being. Spirituality, however, is a strong underlying theme to most practices. The beauty of Yoga is in its versatility. Practitioners may chose to focus only on the physical, the psychological, the spiritual, or all of the above. ^top
What is Vinyasa Flow? Hatha yoga is a general term for the physical side of yoga, i.e.: doing postures. Vinyasa is a style of hatha yoga, and is literally translated as “to place in a special way”. In the Vinyasa flow style of yoga the movement between postures is deliberate, and flowing from one posture to the next. There is a balanced focus on building strength and flexibility, so classes can often be quite challenging and/or vigorous- though can always be modified for a variety of practitioners. ^top
What does Namaste Mean? The word Namaste is Litterally translated as “I bow to you”. More generally, it is an ancient sankrit understanding if interconnectedness. ^top
What is Ujjayi Breathing?
Ujjayi is a breathing technique that makes a continuous whispering
sound in the throat. The throat is slightly constricted, which slows
the inhale and exhale and allows more time for the oxygen and carbon
dioxide exchange process- cleansing the body more thoroughly. Increased
oxygen and exchange flush es out environmental toxins and debris from
prior injuries, such as scar tissue, and carries nutrients in.
Oxygen-rich blood also creates healthy blood cells and cellular
regeneration, nourishing the vital organs. Practicing this technique
also generates internal heat while the audible breath gives the mind
and the ears something to focus on. It is our constant reminder to
breathe, energize and cleanse the body in every moment and be present.
It is essential that you learn and practice this breathing technique.
If you are unclear in how to practice Ujjayi breathing- please request
more details from any Yoga Centered instructor. ^top
How often should I practice yoga and should I practice everyday? Any yoga is better than no yoga and a little bit everyday is better than a lot every once in a while. To see and /or feel significant physical and mental changes, however you should practice for 1-1.5 hours AT LEAST three times/week. Because yoga does not break down the muscle tissue as happens in other fitness activities such as weight-lifting or running, it is not necessary to take a day off from practice. You can practice everyday as long as you feel healthy. You should be conscious of modifying your practice when needed due to energy level and/or physical fatigue. ^top
Is Yoga Spiritual or Religious? At Yoga Centered students are given the space to make that choice for themselves. Most of our classes focus on the physical aspects of breathing and moving through yoga postures. However, we hope to provide the freedom and the space for the more personal or spiritual aspects of yoga to unfold naturally on an individual level. Our bodies can hold on to every physical and emotional experience we’ve had throughout our lives, which physically creates blocks and barriers even on a nonphysical level. As we work through these barriers physically, using heat, movement and breath to internally open, reshape and cleanse the body, it makes sense that we are doing the same on many levels- emotionally, spiritually, etc. We encourage you to recognize your yoga practice as a way of life. As you practice patience, acceptance, awareness, as your mind and body open and release physical and emotional tensions, as you become more in-tune and aware of your physical and emotional reactions in challenging postures, allow what you learn, these effects /elements and practices to be a part of your entire life- with strangers, friends, family, partners and yourself. ^top