WHAT IS YOGA?
Yoga meets you where you are now. It is not necessary to be flexible or athletic to practice yoga.
You don’t even have to be able to cross your legs and sit on the floor. Yoga has as much benefit for a beginner as it does for the most experienced student. All that is needed is some level of attention or focus on the part of the student. To truly practice yoga, your mind must be present with what your body is doing.
At the Bay Area Yoga Center, we emphasize individual development and a self-paced practice. Everyone works at his or her own level within the same class. Yoga poses are adapted to meet the needs of all students. In this non-competitive environment, students are encouraged to value their own experiences. The poses feel like and how your breath moves in any pose is more important than what a pose looks like on the outside.
When practiced regularly:
Yoga brings health and vitality to the body and calmness and clarity to the mind.
Yoga can bring a sense of harmony and balance in one’s life.
Yoga offers numerous physical and mental benefits.
Yoga has an increasingly well-documented ability to help with various conditions, including arthritis, fibromyalgia, obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, hormonal imbalances, and insomnia, to name a few.
Yoga helps reduce stress, boost the immune system, improve cardiovascular health, increase bone density, and leads to greater strength, better posture, increased range of motion, and more energy and mental focus.
Perhaps yoga’s greatest gift is how it develops in us the ability to be more present in each moment and more present in our lives.
I have never done yoga before!
It is recommended that you begin with a private yoga lesson or the Beginner’s Course in Yoga Movement. Our slow flow or gentle classes will also help you become accustomed to yoga. Please contact us if you are unsure of which class to start with.
Which class is for me?
Yoga is not about levels or rating your practice, but about joining your own effort and being. Our classes vary in pace, intensity, and heat, so variations in all of our classes are demonstrated for beginners and experienced students. You are encouraged to listen to your body and adjust to your needs on any given day. On some days, you may feel the need to take it slow and rest more during your practice. On others, you may feel the desire to work to your edge with more intensity.
Try our Beginner’s Course in Yoga Movement 6 – week program
New course begins October 30 – December 4, 2024. Registration now available. Click Here to reserve your spot.
There is growing evidence that all you need is yoga for a fit mind and body. Benefits when you maintain a consistent yoga practice:
- Allows maximum fitness capacity by harmonizing body, awareness, and breath.
- Improves aerobic capacity and lung function.
- Increases energy, releases stress, improves concentration, and relaxation.
- Improves strength, flexibility, and tones muscles.
- Prevents or heals injuries and aids in weight management.
- Promotes a healthy lifestyle for the body, mind, and spirit.