SUGGESTIONS FOR A BETTER YOGA PRACTICE

1- Yoga is better practiced on an empty stomach. Eat lightly and allow at least 1 1/2 to 2 hours before your Yoga practice. This will allow your diaphragm to move more freely, making your practice easier and more enjoyable.

2- Drink plenty of water and attend to the call of nature before beginning your Yoga practice. This will release toxins from the body and allow you to feel more comfortable when performing the Postures.

3- Clothing for Yoga should allow unrestricted movement and should keep you cool or warm depending on season and location.

4- If you play a sport or exercise before Yoga practice allow yourself a rest time before your Yoga practice. You need to have full use of the body,mind and breath during your Yoga practice.

5- Mornings and evenings are generally good times for Yoga practice, but select times that work well for you,that serve your needs. A regular 15 - 20 minute practice each day is far more beneficial than a 2 hour practice on the weekends. It is better to do a short sequence thoroughly and with awareness than to rush through a long complicated practice without the reintegration of the body,mind and breath.

6- Work at your own pace and your own level of performance when doing the Yoga Postures. Never do any posture beyond your capacity. Any new or difficult Posture should be performed slow and smoothly, moving into a position that gives you a good stretch, never to the point of pain. Be aware not to compete with yourself or other students (remember everyone had to start at the beginning). Please feel free to discuss with your instructor any Postures with which you are having difficulties. Your instructor can help you to adjust to Postures which are causing resistance and pain.

7- Practice Yoga in a meditative mood. Strive to remain calm and inwardly focused and attentively attuned to any sensations or changes occurring in your body, mind and breath.

8- Uniting the mind with the movement is very essential to proper Yoga Practice. Visualize the completed Posture in the mind and then move the body smoothly and slowly into the Posture holding it only as long as you are comfortable in the Pose. It is important to release out of the Pose with the same slow, smooth movement.With patience, practice and persistence your abilities improve with the more difficult Yoga Postures.

9- Focus upon the breath during your Yoga Practice.The breath moves slow and smooth through your nose at all times unless otherwise directed. Focus upon the tightness or tenseness held in the body and visualize the breath relaxing these tense areas.This will help remove the excess tension that is stored in the body. During the exhale see tension leaving the body. Learning to breath through resistance in this way you will overcome physical limitations and blockages held in areas of the body.

10- Do not perform Inverted Yoga Postures such as shoulderstand, headstand,etc. if you have high blood pressure, glaucoma or during your menstrual cycle.

11- Relax after your Yoga Practice.Ten minutes for every hour practiced is usually recommended. Relax each muscle individually, releasing all tension from the body, mind and breath.This allows for beneficial healing,balance and restoration by assimilating the stimulating effects you created in the body/mind.