I will venture a guess that what most people think of as yoga is really what we call Hatha Yoga – a practice of mostly physical exercises called asana. Hatha yoga classes also may include breathing exercises called pranayama, as well as meditation, though not always.

Hatha Yoga is just one branch of yoga that comes from a much larger philosophical school encompassing a variety of mental, physical, and spiritual practices. It originated in ancient times and is closely tied to the philosophies, religions, and cultures of India. Trying to explain it here is like trying to explain what “Western Civilization” is in a paragraph! Other branches of yoga deal with such wide ranging subjects as the mind, right action, devotion, and knowledge.

No. Yoga is a philosophical system originating in India at least 5,000 years ago, and has roots in the religious culture of that time and place. Just as you can be moved by the Renaissance paintings of Christ in a museum without being a Christian, you can participate in yoga practice without being an adherent of Sanatana Dharma (or what we call Hinduism). In fact, many people who teach or practice Hatha yoga don’t explore the more esoteric side of yoga at all. I know many students and teachers of several faiths, even clergy members, who incorporate the inspirations and universal truths of the teachings into their own faith system.

We practice yoga to reconnect with ourselves and our higher nature, the deepest spirit within. That means taking a care for our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. From there, we start to see that everything and everyone around us also has that sacred spark, and we treat them in kind. Ultimately, we become One with the Universe.

And you thought it was just to relieve back pain, huh?

Since becoming One with the Universe might take a while, the everyday answer you might have been looking for is this: yoga may help teach posture and alignment, relieve stress, tone and strengthen the body, increase flexibility, release toxins, provide relief for any number of injuries and illnesses, aid in weight loss, help you explore your spiritual nature, instill discipline, relax you, slow down the aging process, invite inner peace, instill confidence, cope with life’s challenges, and improve well-being.

Yes!

Yes!

Do you see what I’m getting at here? The scope of yoga is so vast that if there are any parts that you think disqualify you, there are so many practices and degrees of activity that we can find the right options for any condition that you feel might disqualify you from practicing. In fact, many people practice yoga in order to find relief from any number of conditions.

I certainly don’t want to limit what a class could be, as there are so many styles and creative ways that teachers share the joys of yoga. But often you will start a class with a calming, centering practice, such as breathing exercises or listening to a reading. Then the teacher will move you through a series of postures appropriate to your abilities, and then class may end with a relaxation or meditation.

It better not hurt! We always respect our bodies, and acknowledge pain as your body’s way of telling you to stop what you’re doing. The aim is to bring awareness and acceptance to whatever your current state is, and most of the time you’ll find that the only one pushing you to pain is yourself. There should be no competition between you and other students – the real practice is in doing what is right for you, in this moment, letting go of expectations, and being open to the changes that are always occurring.

I have a great collection of DVDs, and for at least my first year of practice I only used them. They really were wonderful and opened up my world, and even now, my old ones still inform my practice because I can come back to them and discover things I didn’t understand as a beginner. But a video vs. a teacher is like night and day. One day I knew I was finally ready for a real teacher, and stepping into a studio with the late Jyoti Chrystal, my teacher, changed my life.

A teacher keeps you physically safe by offering adjustments to your alignment. He or she will observe your practice, setting a pace to slow you down, or to push a little past your comfort zone to help you grow. They share inspiration and wisdom, and guide you as an individual that isn’t possible in a static video. They select poses complimentary to your practice. And one of the most obvious is that they mix it up – on a video, you know the next pose and what they’re going to say!

On an emotional and spiritual level, yoga is not just about interacting with ourselves, but with other people and the world around us. Being a student is a gift because you participate in a real world, flesh and breath interaction – you benefit from the teacher’s knowledge, but the teacher also develops, communicates, and opens their heart to learn from your experience and challenges. If you are in a class, you also contribute to and benefit from the energy of the people around you. In this way, we can even learn a lot from a lousy teacher – they are some of the best for life lessons! (All the same, I will not be looking to provide THAT service to you!)

There are so many styles of Hatha Yoga it can be pretty overwhelming. I almost look at it like trying to pick a restaurant: Is Thai food better than Italian? There is really no need to decide that. You may try different ones from time to time and expand your palate. At some point you might find you have a hands-down favorite like French food, and in order to develop a sophisticated palate, you focus on that for a while. But it is also good to keep an open mind and see what other types of cuisine can enrich and inform you. So there is no one style better than all the others. They all have something to offer, and you may benefit from specializing in one that is better for YOU, or you may spend a lifetime being open to exploring all of them!

As a beginner, I wouldn’t worry so much about it. If you try a style and hate it, try it just a little longer to see if it has something to teach you. If not, don’t be afraid to try something else – the styles can be vastly different, and you are sure to find one you like. And as much as I value and need your business, I also encourage you to work with other teachers if you feel a need for other experiences. Feel free to ask me for referrals at such times, and know that there is an open door to come back!

Unless I am specifically offering a class in a given style, I teach an eclectic mix of the styles that have made up my own practice over the years, such as Gentle/Restorative, Iyengar, Anusara, Vini-yoga (or Krishnamacharya’s yoga as they say), and Naam styles. I also teach my own sub-style of Yoga for the Transgendered, and can be found offering Gentle and Restorative at Starseed in Montclair, NJ.

Perhaps the question should be, where does my practice lead me? The key is to move away from an achievement-based goal, and open to exploration. There is no magic number to tell you how many hours or times it takes to be healthy or see certain benefits. If you take an hour-long class once a month, you might relieve the stress of the bad day you had. If you practice once a week, you might notice subtle changes in your body and mind. If you practice 20 minutes a day, you may cultivate a habit of daily calm. Approach your practice with enthusiasm and open to what it has to show you.

A mat is really all you need. There are a wide variety of props that may assist and enrich your practice, and ironically, it is most helpful for the beginner to have these props handy, since you may find you don’t need these props as much as you become stronger and more flexible – though the more experienced practitioner also uses props in a wide variety of applications. Please see my article on props. I really don’t want you to feel like you have to acquire a large collection of stuff, but if you are inclined to purchase, make, or use household objects as props, start with blocks, thick blankets, a strap, a bolster, and a folding chair.

Wear comfortable workout style clothing. The attractive and expensive yoga clothing available out there is not necessary, but keep in mind the point of it – it is snug fitting so the muscles of the body are more visible and so the clothing doesn’t get in the way, but not constrictive to movement or blood flow.

Try not to eat just before taking a class – you will not like how that feels! Allow for a couple of hours between meals and practice so you do not feel bloated and uncomfortable.

If you are experiencing your menstrual period, take it easy, rest if you need to, and avoid poses that invert your body. I can advise you on poses that are appropriate.

And finally, if you are experiencing any illnesses, diseases, injuries, or health conditions such as pregnancy, always tell your teacher so they can not only keep you safe, but give you specific guidance on ways to accommodate your situation.