Cardiovascular Conditioning ~ Even
gentle yoga practice can provide cardio-
vascular benefits by lowering the resting YOGA CHOICES
heart rate, increasing endurance and im-
proving oxygen uptake during exercise.
Y
oga offers tremendous variety, and
• iWth whom did they train and for how
students at any level may find that they
long? •Is the teacher still studying yoga?
Sharper Mind ~ Like meditation, yoga enjoy more than one style and teacher.
•Professional associations like the Yoga
keeps practitioners focused on the pres-
Alliance require teachers to participate in
Attending workshops and seminars allows
continuing education in order to remain
ent moment, which opens the way to individuals to sample what’s available and
registered. •Is the instructor registered
improved concentration, coordination, expand their practice.
with a professional yoga teachers’
reaction time and memory. Research
organization? •These associations often
shows that such mindfulness practices Options include: keep teachers abreast of new research
can actually create new neural path- • Vigorous practice that builds strength and developments in the field. •Does the
ways in the brain. and stamina teacher have specialized skills suited to
• Gentle, restorative, relaxing practice
special needs or health conditions? This
Inner Peace ~ Yoga’s meditative aspects
• Meditative styles
may include prenatal, senior or kids’ yoga.
often help practitioners feel more calm
• Yoga with a spiritual focus that may
Teachers who focus on therapeutic yoga
and centered within themselves. Many
include chanting
practice may belong to the International
• Practicing in a heated room, or not
who begin the practice for other reasons
Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT.org)
• Yoga as part of a cross-training regimen
say that this sense of peace is what
•Could the teacher serve as a personal
• Therapeutic yoga for injuries, joint prob-
brings them back to the mat time and
mentor or regularly be available to ad-
lems and other health conditions
again.
dress questions during and after practice?
•Can prospective students observe a class
Feel free to ask teachers the following
Sources: YogaAlliance.org; Medical- questions:
before participating or enrolling? Many
•How often do they personally practice
teachers and studios offer drop-in classes
NewsToday.com; National Center for
yoga; is it at least four times a week?
or even a trial class, perhaps at a reduced
Complementary and Alternative Medi-
•How long have they been practicing
rate. Health clubs also may include yoga
cine at http://nccam.nih.gov; and U.S.
yoga? (A minimum of 3 years of regular
classes in their membership fees.
National Library of Medicine at ncbi.nlm.
practice prior to teaching is reasonable)
nih.gov/pubmed/.
Source: Adapted from Yoga Alliance
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