Do I have to be flexible?
This is the most common question we receive! Absolutely not. Yoga
is about developing flexibility. And most people find that they are more
flexible than they thought...even if they can't touch their toes!
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Other Thoughts
Practice going inside yourself during the class. Use rest poses anytime you feel like it and know you are
still doing something good for yourself. Open your mind to new teachers
and classes and discover the new experiences that come with it.
Let go and open to the possibilities.... |
Yoga increases flexibility, circulation, strength and
muscle tone while reducing the signs of aging. Yoga can also calm the central
nervous system and provide tool for you to recognize and decrease the effects of
anxiety and stressors on the body. The emotional impacts demonstrated by a
regular yoga practice include but are not limited to: sense of calm, improved
memory, better sleeping habits, increased energy, clearer thoughts and enhanced
creativity.
Yes, yoga can boost metabolism, sculpt muscles and improve
your eating habits as many people begin to crave a healthier lifestyle.
“Researchers at University of California at Davis have found that taking two
yoga classes a week for eight weeks can increase strength, endurance, and
respiratory efficiency.” (Nicole Dorsey, Lose Weight with Yoga, Fitness Magazine
July 2002). Ask our students. We have many success stories.
As some people may experience nausea, it is recommended
that you should not eat for approximately 1-2 hours before practicing yoga.
We suggest bringing your own mat; however we do have
communal sticky mats for your use, no charge. Mats may be purchased at the
studio.
We do not have babysitting services and children cannot be
left unattended so please make arrangements for your children. Teens are
welcomed to join any of the classes. We do offer kid’s programs or private
classes on a pre-registration basis for those interested. Contact office at
(973) 535-yoga.
Our first day of classes as Livingston Yoga was December 12, 2001. We
changed our name when we expanded the studio in December 2003. Why change
the name? We began to see that the yoga studio was becoming more of an
"experience center," however the old name did not reflect this.
No, you do not need to let us know. Our classes are ‘drop-in’ (except
child/parent) meaning you can simply come as often as you like and just pay as
you go
Simply wear anything that makes you comfortable and that
you can move about freely in. No shoes in the studio. It is best to practice
in bare feet as they provide better traction and this also stimulates
acupressure points in the feet. Please do not wear perfumes or fragrances.
No, you should feel the stretch but not pain. During your
yoga practices it is healthy to recognize your body’s limits and not commit
violence against yourself by pushing too far, too fast. Added flexibility comes
with time and your body will tell you when it’s ready.
We schedule classes with different intensity levels and
advanced students still appreciate gains from gentle (yet powerful), more
relaxing classes. It refreshes the body and there is always something new to
learn. Each posture (asana) can be adapted for varying student levels. Yoga
philosophy suggests letting go of the ego and never working above your level.
Also, busy schedules may not permit students to attend their preferred class;
therefore, students end up in an easier or more difficult class. This is ok!
Simply do what you can and follow the teacher within you. We provide the guide.
Yes! This is very normal and is part of the practice of
yoga. As we practice control of the breath, control of the mind will follow.
This is a 'baby steps' process. As your mind wanders, it is important not to be
critical of your progress. With yoga or meditation ‘practice’, you will become
more in tune with your thoughts and better able to stimulate the relaxation
response in a conscious way. Soon the spaces between the thoughts will become
longer and longer. A focused, disciplined yoga practice can change your life.
Nonsense! However we do hear this all of the time. Keep in mind that
the effects of meditating are cumulative. As one of my teachers would say:
"The only bad meditation is no meditation!". -Ravi M. , Chopra Institute
Any amount of yoga can benefit the mind and body but of
course the more you practice the better you will feel. Daily practice, even a
stretch or 2 in the morning and at night at home is recommended. Ideally you
will want to practice 2-3 times a week depending on your lifestyle and goals.
NO. Yoga is not a religion. There is a spiritual aspect
to the practice that allows one to go beyond the body and mind and experience
harmony in a profound way. Many people around the world practice some form of
yoga to connect with a higher level of consciousness and gain a greater sense of
peace. Others practice simply for their own physical health. The beauty of the
practice is that it is YOURS--whatever that means to YOU.
So what! As we move in and out of yoga postures, the body may adjust itself
causing any number of sounds. This is a completely normal and natural part of
life... and yoga.
No game is more wrought with mental hazards then golf. The sport introduces a
constant struggle between the conscious mind -analyzing, alert, logical and the
subconscious mind-the well of intuition and long term memory. Golfers who don't
learn the nuances of the mental game remain frustrated or give up before
achieving the proficiency at the sport. Yet by incorporating elements of yoga,
you can develop then mental discipline that golf demands.
Hot Yoga of the 'Bikram' variety (named after the founder) is a standard set
of postures and instruction done in 110+ degree heated room. LivYoga does not
offer Bikram however we have our own variety of 'Hot yoga' offered in classes
that flow through a series a poses or sun salutations that warm the room and the
body. If you're not interested in the Bikram sauna style and your interested in
sweating we have several styles right up your alley! Check out Flow, Power and
Power Express classes...they really heat it up!
From NEWSWEEK's article
on Jan 7, 2007: Anne Underwood spoke with Dr.
Johnny Benjamin, chief of orthopedic surgery at
Indian River Medical Center in Vero Beach, Fla.,
and a fellow of the American Academy of
Orthopaedic Surgeons. Excerpts:
"... people buy home
instructional tapes and DVDs. If you've already
been to yoga classes and understand the basics,
that might be a great way to exercise. But it's
not a great way to learn yoga in the first
place, because you get no feedback. There's no
one telling you how to do it correctly. People
think yoga is not vigorous exercise, just
stretching. But these are real injuries."
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