About Yoga

The word Yoga basically means to unite. This includes the union of your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of self through physical asanas (or poses), breath control and breathing techniques, meditation practice, self exploration and positive thinking and chanting.

It is also even more than these things. It is a template for living, which includes moral standards called the Yamas and Niyamas.

• The yogi needs to extend their effort during each yoga session as far as is appropriate on that day – to find the edge of each posture – this may be different for each side of the body, different on any given day or time of day.
• It is important to incorporate the breath to allow fullness in the postures and allow the flow of energy (known as Prana).
• We need to listen to our body and respond by either pushing a little further, or by backing off if experiencing pain.
• Please let the Yoga instructor know of any restrictions you may have through ill health or injury so you can be guided to practice yoga safely.
• It is important not to compare your postures to anyone else’s as each person will experience a pose differently.
• Yoga is certainly not a competition.
• Respect your own body, love the beauty of who and where you are. Enjoy your own personal journey of increasing your strength, balance, confidence and personal and spiritual growth.
• OM is a sound we make at the beginning and/or end of class. OM is a vibration sound and is said to resonate with the sound of the universe. By chanting OM we are connecting with the movement and vibration of the universe.

(This means "the good in me greets the good in you" and is said at the end of class as a salutation.)