...heir lifestyle. In fact, the classification of Yoga levels is easy to understand, but it is inaccurate. Terms such as, beginner, intermediate, and advanced, are all based upon the physical difficulty of performing an asana (Yoga pose). Again, the physical challenges are presented as the major aspects of Yoga practice.

So, what do Hatha Yoga students want? To put it simply, they want some sort of mind and body exercise. Beginner Yoga classes could be presented as an exercise class, with much more to learn on the horizon. To guide beginner Yoga students on the path toward the study of Yama, Niyama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi, is a lesson in futility.

Many beginning Yoga students do not know what they are looking for. Most beginning Yoga students do not want to hold Asanas for long. They are so used to stimulation from technology, that short attention spans are common place. This is why Flow Yoga, Vinyasa Yoga, and Power Yoga, are so popular with beginners. To ask them to practice Pranayama and meditation is a big challenge. This would ...more

Yoga Accessories- Getting What You Really Need

...Unlike some other sports, you dont need a lot of yoga accessories when you practice. With yoga, your body is really the most important equipment that you need. There are some items that are basic and which can help you be more comfortable and safer in your practice.

Standard Yoga Accessories

clothing
Your clothing should be comfortable and breathable and allow you to move freely. You dont want anything that is going to get in the way of your movements or that will bunch up or create a distraction. For instance, oversized, loose fitting tee shirts can fall towards your face during some inversion poses and cause you to pay more attention to whether or not anything is showing, th...more

Foundations of Yoga: Yama and Niyama, Part 1

...anglements." Patanjali very carefully and fully outlines the elements of the support needed by the aspirant, giving invaluable information on how to guarantee success in yoga.

The first Yoga Sutra says: "Now the exposition of yoga," implying that there must be something leading up to yoga in the form of necessary developments of consciousness and personality. These prerequisites may be thought of as the Pillars of Yoga, and are known as Yama and Niyama.

Yama and Niyama

Yama and Niyama are often called "the Ten Commandments of Yoga." Each one of these Five Don'ts (Yama) and Five Do's (Niyama) is a supporting, liberating Pillar of Yoga. Yama means self-restraint in the sense of self-mastery, or abstention, and consists of five elements. Niyama means observances, of which there are also five. Here is the complete list of these ten Pillars as given in Yoga sutras 2:30,32:

1) Ahimsa: non-violence, non-injury, harmlessness

2) satya: truthfulness, honesty

3) Asteya: non-stealing, honesty, non-misappropria...more

Benefits of Yoga Practice for middle-Aged People

...th of the midsection in middle aged and overweight individuals.

Researchers from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center who have conducted a study showed that regular yoga practice for at least 30 minutes a week for four or more years can lead to weight loss for obese people in their middle ages. They had looked into the data accumulated from 15,500 men an...more

Nada Yoga Effortless Meditation Insomnia