Me and My Yoga

Yoga.

I practice it daily.

And while this kind of content isn’t something I usually write about, I was compelled to share my experience with you for some reason.

What is Yoga?

While I knew what the core of what yoga was, I didn’t have a definition I could write for you, so here is one from Bing:

Yoga is a practice that involves physical postures, breathing techniques, and meditation or relaxation to promote mental and physical well-being. It also aims to create a union between body, mind, and spirit, as well as between the individual and universal consciousness.

While it originated in India, certain styles of yoga have been created by other cultures who adopted the practice throughout the centuries.

Why I Began Doing Yoga

For as long as I can remember, I’ve battled with mental stress-induced muscle tension and a general lack of flexibility. 

While dance helped immensely with that, when I aged out of my dance studio, I needed something else that provided me with the same relief.

This search led me to yoga videos on YouTube a couple of years ago, right around when the pandemic struck the world.

How It’s Helped Me

I feel more connected with various aspects of myself, and knowing what I’m doing will also help me for years to come.

Doing yoga also keeps me from becoming unnecessarily tight in my muscles, helping my body and mind release the tension.

The Types of Yoga

You’d be surprised how many yoga styles exist, especially if you know nothing about them. I didn’t know about most of the yoga types out there until I researched it.

I’m not going to list them all because there are at least fourteen types, but I’ll give you the main ones:

Hatha

One of the most common practices, hatha yoga is designed to align and calm your body, mind, and spirit. And it has no flow between poses.

This is probably the one that comes to mind when you think of yoga. And it is the best one to start with, as it will let you familiarize yourself with poses without strain or props.

Vinyasa

This one is the most transitional style of yoga, as you flow through different poses, and movement from one pose to the next is emphasized.

I wouldn’t recommend vinyasa yoga to a beginner, as balancing is a prominent detail in this style.

Yin

Yin yoga is relaxed and has you holding poses anywhere between 2–5 minutes. It is meant to promote calmness and improve flexibility.

Poses are either done seated or lying down. And many of them use props to encourage further relaxation.

It is also a style based on Chinese traditional medicine, as it follows meridians instead of chakra paths.

Restorative

Similar to yin, restorative yoga focuses on relaxation by engaging the parasympathetic nervous system. The main difference is that the stretch aspect is secondary, and poses are held longer.

Power

While I don’t know if this is an official yoga style, all the yoga teachers I’m subscribed to on YouTube do this from time to time.

Power yoga focuses on strengthening muscles and increasing stability/balance, much like Pilates, only more flowy.

How Long Are Yoga Sessions?

From my experience of doing yoga videos online, they can range anywhere from 5–90 minutes, depending on the style and time allotted by the instructor.

But I’m positive in-person yoga classes are about an hour.

Which is My Favorite?

My favorites are yin and restorative yoga. I get deeper stretches and tension relief with these styles, which is the main reason I practice yoga anyway.

But I like a good hatha yoga session.

I prefer my sessions to be between 10–30 minutes each morning, depending on my workouts or schedule.

Do You Need Any Equipment?

While you don’t need tons of equipment, or any depending on what style you’re practicing, I do recommend a few items to have on hand in case.

• Yoga blocks
• Yoga mat
• Yoga strap
• Bolster
• Knee pads

There are more accessories you can purchase that can be used for other workouts, but these are the basics. Although I don’t own a yoga mat or knee pads since my living room is carpeted.

You can use couch cushions or pillows instead of a bolster. Or a belt instead of a strap.

How Will I Improve My Practice?

I will shift some of my focus so I can improve my balance, something I’ve struggled with my whole life due to inner ear issues. That will make doing certain poses easier.

So wish me luck!

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