Yoga BLOG

From beginning to end: individual possibilities and limits of yoga Are you one of those people who shrug off the word yoga and say, "It's not for you?" Or are you one of those people who have a love-hate relationship with yoga—although for some people this leads to the same result: doing nothing; others practice, but they always feel like they have to push themselves to the limit, following the motto: discipline is necessary, but it costs (either time, energy, nerves, or good humor)... And then there is the group for whom yoga is like a giant obstacle, an unclimbable mountain: full of demands and difficult passages that are far too strenuous, demanding the utmost from one's efforts and are really only something for ambitious and passionate fans and connoisseurs of the subject (these terms, which are often viewed as a negative attitude, like setting the bar too high, can be multiplied at will). You give your yoga your own meaning! Then something is definitely wrong, because none of this is necessary. Of course, you can be a fan and ambitious, as well as passionate; just as naturally, you can practice hard and with effort, immersing yourself completely in this lifestyle and its sporting aspects—it's all up to you. And that's the beauty of yoga: You can start, stop, and set your own rhythms and levels. Hardly any other "sport" is so individual, and hardly any other exercise program requires so little adherence to the guidelines of others. Of course, the movement sequences should be correct; if in doubt, simply attend a beginner's class to get a feel for them. Then you can continue at home according to your own needs—or, of course, attend additional classes. And that brings us to the beginnings and the stopping, as well as the limits that yoga sets for you. No matter your physical fitness, how old or young you are, whether male or female, tall or short: you can start yoga at any time and never have to stop completely. At most, you can modify your exercise program, adapting it to, for example, osteoporosis and rheumatism, or disabilities of any kind. This is no different than adapting to the office (we just posted a separate blog post about this) or to your travel schedule (we also have a text on this). Start with enthusiasm... If you want to start by testing it out, use a soft blanket if you don't already have an exercise mat. However, it's worth buying one, as you might decide to opt for gymnastics or Pilates exercises instead of yoga. If you have small children, you'll soon discover how practical it is to do gymnastics together on a mat. A truly unique item is a mat with embroidery in your favorite color—the best gift you can recommend to your relatives if they can't think of one themselves. If you're looking to purchase a floor mat, we offer a great selection. How about a cozy new wool mat ? In addition to these cozy mats, we also offer classic mat shapes made of robust PVC or beautiful natural materials . ...and stop with joy! When practicing, always remember that pain isn't welcome in yoga. It shows you your current physical limits and may even warn you about a wrong movement. Therefore, we always recommend the beginners' course, perhaps with a good DVD (read our recently posted article about the yoga media landscape). Then just stop; don't torture yourself. That's not the point of yoga. So, if you have one, set up a meditation cushion and relax. Sink into your inner self and enjoy the moment. It belongs only to you – this moment, like all others. We just don't usually realize it in our hectic daily lives. But when we meditate, we can truly capture it! Image © kbuntu