Frequently Asked Questions About Yoga
What is yoga?
To answer that fully would take a book! The word 'yoga' means 'union'. What is united by the practice of stretches and postures (known as 'asanas' in Sanskrit) is the fragmentary and alienated experience of being human. By integrating body, breath and mind in a practice of mindfulness you can find peace, relaxation and alertness amidst the frequently conflicting demands of everyday life.
Will it conflict with my religion?
No, the notion of uniting is common to all religions (whilst the word yoga relates to the word 'yoke', the word religion comes from the Latin 'religare', literally to 're-join'. The stem 'liga' is common to such words as 'ligament' - which are part of the body's connective and joining tissue. It's no coincidence that yoga works principally on the body's connective tissue as conduits for the endocrine and hormonal system. That's how it 'unites' body, mind and emotion.
But to get back to the question (!). Yoga can be practiced by people of any faith or none. It does not require belief in anything at all. Bring an open mind and be prepared to observe your bodily sensations, your breath, your feelings and your thoughts (or lack of them when you are entirely present and in 'flow') without judgement. Notice what effect various postures have - if something makes you feel great, practice it, if not explore it and, if necessary avoid it.
I've heard yoga can help me lose weight but how can it do that when it doesn't make me hot and sweaty?
There have been recent studies in New Zealand which showed that people who followed a programme of yoga, relaxation and meditation lost weight and kept it off where people following a diet didn't. I suspect yoga works in this respect in a couple of ways. Firstly, by becoming mindful of what you're really experiencing it enables you to ask yourself whether you are really hungry for food or whether something else is going on. You might find that you are, in fact, angry and swallowing your feelings rather than expressing them constructively. You then have a choice of eating anyway or doing something about the real issue instead. As you start to eat purely for bodily needs rather than repressed emotional needs you eat less and so lose weight.
Secondly, there is such a thing as stress related weight gain. The body reacts to stress by releasing the hormone cortisol. This in turn increases the production of insulin. Too much insulin can cause the body to store fat, especially around the middle. It may be that yoga helps weight loss by reversing this stress response and normalizing the production of cortisol and insulin. A study at Harvard showed that yoga caused the body to produce its own tranquilliser, a neurotransmitter and amino acid known as GABA.
A third option is to do hot and sweaty yoga! If you choose to work with Julie on a one to one basis or commission your own class we can do SunPowerYoga, a synthesis of Sivananda and Ashtanga yogas.
Does it hurt?
Erm, yes, sometimes. I must stress that we don't 'go for the burn' in yoga and we don't bounce into postures as this can damage ligaments. However, in order to feel the benefits we do 'find our edge' - gently and with the breath. With every outbreath we look to allow the body to relax a little further, a little deeper - and yes, that can be a challenge. The real challenge is to hone your perception and your mindfulness so that you can tell the difference between pain that is damaging and the resistance of tissue that needs to let go. Your health and safety is always paramount so listen to your inner voice - as a teacher I will never take you to task for sitting something out that's just not right for you. I may encourage you to explore the nature of the blockage.
Ooh, that chanting at the end of the class, that's a bit weird, isn't it?
Julie chants 'OM' three times at the end of every class. OM is just a sound, as opposed to a word with a meaning or translation. If you sit and listen you may experience the effect of the vibration in your own body. When you chant you are simply sending the same sensation through your own body. It makes some people giggle but others absolutely adore it. There's a whole science of 'nada yoga' which explores the healing power of different sounds. Give it go, hum along or just listen - it's your choice.
Can yoga help me with mild anxiety and depression?
Yes, as mentioned above (under weight loss) yoga seems to help the body produce calming neurotransmitters. It appears that forward bending postures, in all their variety, are particularly good at this. Back bends help to balance this system as they stimulate the lower back and adrenal area (which the Chinese refer to as 'the gate of life').
