Diwali is one of the biggest and most widely celebrated festivals of India; a time of celebrating the win of good versus evil and a time when we share gifts and goodies with our loved ones. As a Thank-You to all my students and to the readers of this blog, today I would like to share some tips that will help you perform yoga properly and derive the most benefit out of it.
Whether you are a yoga class beginner or someone who has been practicing yoga for a long time; whether you have your yoga class at home or go to a yoga class near you, you could find some pointers you can use:
- Make time for yoga – If you attend a yoga class in Mumbai or elsewhere, the structured format and the class timings will ensure that you perform yoga on time and regularly. However if you do yoga at home, you have to make time for it. Remember that regular practice is necessary for deriving the benefits of yoga. So prioritize yoga practice by telling yourself that it is important and that you owe it to yourself. It may be a good idea to practice yoga early in the morning when you are fresh and there aren’t a hundred other demands on your time.
- How and when to practice yoga – It is advisable to practice yoga on a relatively empty stomach. The reason that so many practitioners recommend early morning yoga is this and the fact that the morning time is restful. Yoga in the morning will also give you a positive start to the day! However morning is not the only time to do yoga – far from it. Any time is good; the important thing is to find the time and to commit to your yoga practice.
- Pay attention to the precise movements, limb positions and breathing – If you perform yoga at home and are your own teacher, you may have to pay extra attention to your form as you perform the aasans. The position of your arms and legs, whether or not to lock your joints, how and when to breathe, and the position of your limbs vis-à-vis your torso, are all important to pay attention to.
- Warm up, prevent injury – Many instructors will start class with proper warm up exercises, and then build up the tempo and difficulty level gradually. Remember yoga class is not a competition, nor is it a place to show off what you can do. It is important to recognize your limitations and stay within them; because otherwise you risk injury.
- Choose the right clothing – Fashion has little to do with yoga – functionality and unimpeded movement have a lot to do with yoga! So rather than choose fashionable or trendy clothing for yoga class, pick well fitting but not tight clothing. Ensure that seams are soft and the fabric is flexible and breathable.
- Enjoy yoga – And last but not least, remember to enjoy yoga. Remember that this is something you’re doing for your own well being; enjoying class simply adds to that sense of wellbeing!
Here’s wishing you all a healthy and blessed Diwali! Indulge to your heart’s content. But then do get back to regular yoga practice.