Is Yoga for me?
Ask yourself the following questions:
- Do I need to lose weight?
- Am I stressed out?
- Do I get tension headaches?
- Is my cholesterol level too high?
- Do I have an injury that just doesn't seem to heal?
- When I play weekend sports, am I in pain at the end of the day?
- Do I have trouble sleeping?
- Has my Doctor told me I need to get some form of exercise?
- Do I have back pain?
- Would I like to improve my surfing? Golf game?
- Do I lack energy?
- Do I tire easily?
- Would I like to be able to play with my kids/grandkids more?
- Do I travel frequently?
- Do I sit at a computer for long periods of time?
- Do I have carpal tunnel syndrome?
- Do I feel tension and stress in my back, shoulders or neck?
If you answered "YES” to any of the above, then Bikram or Power Vinyasa Yoga could be the answer. Best way to find out is by coming along to a few classes and letting the results speak for themselves.
Which type of yoga should I practice first
Both Power Vinyasa and Bikram yoga are suitable for the beginner through to the advanced practitioner so feel free to come along to either style for your first class. Whichever one you try first, be aware that it often takes a few classes before you really get the hang of it but you should be feeling the great effects after your very first class.
Is yoga a cardiovascular workout and can I lose weight?
Yes, yes and more yes! No matter what your fitness level, you will find classes challenging. Each posture combines flexibility, strength and balance to work your whole body from your bones to your skin. With persistence, patience, and dedication, you can lose inches, and develop muscle tone and strength that might never come from other forms of exercise.
What you will experience is that your body will feel better, your mind will be clearer and the knock on effect this will have in the rest of your life will be up to you and what kind of deal you make with the universe!
How often should I attend?
For good results, we encourage a regular practice of 3 times per week minimum. For life-changing results, 4 or more times per week. Most importantly, it's about doing what works for you and maintaining your practice over the long term. If that means starting our with one class a week then that's definitely a great start!
Why the heated room?
The room is heated to 38° for Bikram Yoga and 30° for Power Vinyasa.
- Muscles and connective tissues become more elastic with the heat allowing for greater flexibility with less chance of injury
- It promotes sweating which assists detoxification process using the body’s largest elimination organ, the skin
- Your blood becomes thinner which clears the circulatory system
- When the body is between three and five degrees above normal body tempurature, T cell output from the thymus gland in multiplied 20-fold. T cells fight infection which in turn helps to keep the immune system functioning properly
- Warmer tempuratures produce a fluid stretch that allows for greater range of motion in the joints
- Heart rate becomes elevated improving the cardiovascular system and fitness
- Warm muscles burn fat more effectively. When we stretch, the fat has no room to sit so it redistributes to the blood stream which we will then use as energy
- Capilliaries respond to the heat by dilating. This allows more oxygen to muscles, tissues, organs and glands helping to remove waste products from the body
- Higher temperatures improve the function of the nervous system, meaning that messages are carried more rapidly to and from the brain or spinal cord.
- The heat improves strength because proteins can be utilised more effectively
- It speeds the breakdown of glucose and fatty acids
- Heat provides strengthening of willpower, self control and determination through the challenging environment
What to do after class?
Many people use a few minutes after class to completely relax and allow the body to recover from its intense workout. This is called savasana or dead body pose. The idea is to allow the body's nervous system a chance to take stock of what has happened during the class. Having workd hard it is good to give both body and mind a few minutes respite before rejoining the stream of daily life.
Leave the yoga room as quietly as possible and close the door.
What if I feel sore after class?
Didn't know you had a muscle there? Congratulations, you have utilised 100% of your body. You are on the way to regaining your birthright: using your body in the full range of motion that it was designed for. Muscle soreness is a build-up of lactic acid. What's the best way to get rid of the lactic acid? Stretching. It may seem impossible to imagine that coming back for more will help, but it is THE BEST way to relieve the soreness. If you wait too long to come back, then you will be starting all over again.
Why do I need to drink water after class?
Drink plenty of water. You can lose up to 1 - 1.5 litres of water weight during a class. This is NOT good weight to lose. It is easy to get dehydrated, so make sure you are drinking plenty of water after class and the entire day before you come to class. You are less likely to feel light headed or dizzy during class if you've had enough to drink in the hours preceding class.
How much is enough? This is going to vary on a person-by-person basis. Typically a good formula is to drink 3% of your body weight in water. If you weigh 50kg you would need to be drinking 1.5L of water per day minimum, 75Kg you would need 2.7L per day. Seem like a lot? Remember our bodies are 70% water. Being fully hydrated helps take pressure off organs to do their jobs and helps flush the body and keep it running smoothly.
The most typical excuse for not drinking water is the increased visits to the restroom. Your body will adjust to the increased water intake. You may also find benefits of decreased body odour, smoother skin, and shinier hair.