Other Things You Need To Know
Because Yoga postures affect internal organs, you will find it more comfortable and beneficial to practice on an empty stomach and bladder. Leave a gap of at least two hours after a heavy meal and one hour after a light meal.
It is recommended that some inverted postures (i.e. shoulder stands and headstands) be avoided during menstruation, and any pose where the head is taken below the level of the heart should also be avoided if you suffer from glaucoma, detached retina or high blood pressure.
If you have a heart condition refrain from doing postures that raise your arms overhead (i.e. do not allow your elbows to lift above shoulder height).
“Yoga is almost like music in a way; there's no end to it.”Sting
If you suffer from osteoporosis, cervical spondylosis, arthritis, or any other degenerative bone condition or if you are pregnant please tell your teacher.
If you are suffering from any other ‘labelled’ medical condition please tell your teacher as there may be further postures that you need to avoid and others that may be particularly beneficial. It is also wise to check with your G.P. before embarking on any exercise programme.
If you feel pain in any position it is important to STOP – pain is a signal that something is wrong.
If in doubt about any of the breathing techniques – just breathe evenly and normally throughout.
Getting the most out of a posture:
Nurture feelings of lightness, elongation and strength in each movement. Ask yourself how you can adjust to further lengthen the spine, feel stronger or steadier. Even in a curled ball you can create space in the joints of the shoulders and hips and the length of the back of the neck and spine.
You should feel good after a pose, better than before. Any slight discomfort whilst holding a pose should immediately disappear when you release it. Pain in joints during or after a pose indicates incorrect practice. Likewise unusual uncomfortable pressure in your eyes, ears or head is a sign to ease up. If you don’t feel relaxed and energized soon after completing your session you may be overdoing it.
Above all LISTEN to your body – only you know what it feels like!
During a class you will often see me looking around and sometimes focusing on a particular person, I know this can be disconcerting if you are the subject of my gaze, but I’m not judging how flexible you are or aren’t, I’m just wanting to ensure you are practising safely. Sometimes I may think you look uncomfortable or unbalanced, so I may come and suggest a slight adjustment to your pose, give you some support, or even recommend an alternative position, this is in no way intended to undermine your efforts, the intention is always to help you improve your agility.
If you are ever uncertain about anything, please don’t wonder in silence, ask, ask, ask, the chances are someone else in the group will have the same question inside their head too. I may not always have the answer, often someone else in the group does, or I will do my best to find out for you.
Remember we are all individuals and the things we find easy or challenging will be different, the more we can share with each other the faster we will all develop. To quote Richard Bach – “we are all learners, doers and teachers”.
