Yoga Joy Studio

Frequently Asked Questions (thanks to Iyengar Yoga for most of this information)

1. What is yoga?
Visit our special page What is Yoga? for more details.

2. What are the benefits of yoga practice?
Everyone can benefit from practicing yoga. It can be used to manage stress, prepare for childbirth, recover from injuries, or improve health and fitness. It can give one a philosophical perspective of life and encourage tranquility, and increase mental strength. Everyone can benefit from its practice.
Many influential Yoga teachers have observed that modern western life has brought tremendous benefits but also its own perils. The elimination of the drudgery in our lives has left us with an immobile, sedentary lifestyle, where the intellect holds sway over the body in the pursuit of happiness. However, the lack of natural exercise in our lives has left many people with chronic health and stress problems, especially as they get older. Yoga can help the student to find relief from these physical ailments and to strengthen the body and make it more supple.
When you practice yoga, you will find that it works on all levels of the body, mind, and spirit.
Physically as a beginner, you will experience the practice of yoga as a form of physical exercise that enables you to improve your strength, flexibility, stamina, and balance. However, more than other forms of exercise you will also feel an increased sense of well-being and vitality as the body is exercised organically- the inner organs, circulation, joint action, etc. are all worked so as to improve their function and efficiency. One thus overcomes many symptoms of an imbalanced modern life, such as headaches, stiff necks, lower backache, insomnia, and digestive disorders, and to harness one's energy bringing vitality to everyday activities. Thus, health - as opposed to merely fitness - can improve also.
As one progresses with yoga one becomes aware of this occurring within one's self also. Iyengar Yoga teachers Silva, Mira, and Shyam Mehta stated, "From the psychological viewpoint, yoga sharpens the intellect and aids concentration. It steadies the emotions and encourages a caring concern for others. Above all, it gives hope. The practice of breathing techniques calms the mind. Its philosophy sets life in perspective. In the realm of the spiritual, yoga brings awareness and the ability to be still. Through meditation, inner peace is experienced. Thus, yoga is a practical philosophy involving every aspect of a person's being. It teaches the evolution of the individual by the development of self-discipline and self-awareness."
So, by the practice of yoga, an athlete can become a better athlete, a teacher a better teacher, an accountant a better accountant. One of B K S Iyengar's students, the violinist Yehudi Menuhin acknowledged his Guru not as his best yoga teacher but also his best violin teacher. "Yoga is like music. The rhythm of the body, the melody of the mind, and the harmony of the soul, create the symphony of life."

3. Who can practice yoga?
Anyone regardless of age, sex, nationality, religion, or social status can practice Yoga. Yoga is not a religion, although it may be a key to finding spiritual peace for many people.

4. Are there age limits to yoga?
It is not recommended that Children younger than 7-8 years practice yoga. Although younger children can playfully be introduced to yoga, they should never be forced as this can damage their spine and other joints because their bodies are still developing.
There is no upper age limit and it is never too old to learn yoga. As Sri T. Krishnamacharya once stated, "as long as there is breath, there is hope."

5. Will my health improve when I practice yoga?
Yoga can help in dealing with health problems. One needs to note that health is not just a disease-free state but a state of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being. Diseases may be dormant, interrupted, or in a fully active stage and an individual is able to detect the disease depending upon his/her sensitivity. Most individuals realize that they have a problem only when the symptoms start showing. In such cases, yoga asanas are taught in such a manner that the patient gets symptomatic relief. Later, the patient has to continue with their practice so as to get at the root of the disease. The practice of yoga also builds the character of tolerance in the practitioner, strengthens the nervous system, and quiets the mind. Thus, as Prashant Iyengar stated, "Yoga helps cure what need not be endured and endure what cannot be cured."

6. I have a stiff body. Can I practice yoga?
Although it might at first sight appear that someone who is very flexible can perform yoga asanas (postures) better than a stiff person, this is a misconception. Yoga should not be confused with gymnastics. Yoga aims to develop one's understanding, alignment, and awareness through subtle adjustments made to the body - the skin, muscles, tendons, joints, etc. - while in a yoga posture. The aim is to attain firmness, stability, and a feeling of exhilaration in an asana - to make "the effortful effort becomes an effortless effort."
It is therefore not important whether you can touch your head to the knees when bending forward or whether you can sit in full lotus but how well one attempts to do so. Quality not quantity matters. That is not to say that flexibility does not make achieving postures easier, but it is only one element of many necessary for a good asana. Fortunately, flexibility may be developed with dedicated practice.

7. Which diseases can be treated with yoga
(according to traditional Yoga teachers)?
Yoga can provide relief from chronic health problems. Some of the chronic ailments for which people have benefited from Yoga practice include (these are experiential observations and not meant to diagnose or prescribe) :

  • Skeleton-muscular disorders; arthritis and pains in the knees, shoulders and other joints, curvatures of the back and back pain, slipped discs and sciatic pain.
  • Circulatory disorders; heart problems, hypotension, hypertension, circulatory problems in the legs.
  • Digestive disorders; constipation, acidity, and diabetes.
  • Respiratory disorders; asthma, coughs, colds, and bronchitis.
  • Nervous disorders; headaches, migraines, sinusitis, and stress.
  • Reproductive disorders; menstrual problems, and menopausal problems.

If suffering from any medical condition, it is essential to inform your teacher. Serious medical conditions require the attention of your physician.

8. Can children do yoga?
Yoga can be safely introduced to children at around seven years.
When young they need to be taught in a playful manner such that they can enjoy what they are doing and are so motivated to continue with it. The basic nature of children is dynamic and they love things, which are fast and quick; their minds are very alert but never very steady and therefore they constantly need variety. Also children learn faster by observing than by words so a teacher needs to perform along with the children and at the same pace; as Mr Iyengar says "Children are controlled by their eyes not by words." All these aspects must be taken into consideration in teaching Yoga successfully.
In practice, this means postures may be taught in quick succession with plenty of variety and continuous challenges such that their latent energy is used positively. Gradually precision and perfection can be introduced as they grow. Introducing yoga to children develops in them the attributes of courage, concentration, and determination.

9. What about yoga for women?
Yoga can be practiced by women of all ages and at all stages of life. Practice is beneficial, even during menstruation and pregnancy although the practice needs to be adjusted depending on one's circumstances. Certain postures can be extremely helpful for a women's physiology, especially to overcome menstrual disorders and to withstand the physiological and emotional changes accompanying menopause.

10. What about yoga during pregnancy
Yoga practice during pregnancy is beneficial to the mother as well as the unborn child. However, one must be careful if unsure.
In pregnancy, one cannot practice as usual and the guidance of a suitably qualified teacher should be sought. Special pregnancy classes are recommended as certain postures must not be practiced and others must be adjusted to take into account the condition of the baby and the mother. Above all one should feel no strain or tiredness during or after yoga. In addition, how one practices Yoga should change as the pregnancy progresses. If in doubt, it is best to leave the practice of yoga until the baby has been born so there is no risk.

In practice the postures help relieve tiredness and tension. The spine is also well-exercised easing back pain and the pelvic floor strengthened. The pelvic area is also expanded encouraging circulation around the uterus and ensuring there is space for the baby to move. After pregnancy, yoga practice will help the mother’s body return to normal shape and strength more quickly.