In ancient times yoga was practiced to attain enlightenment. Today, most students come to class for very practical reasons. They come to relax, reduce stress and anxiety and to get more physically fit. In the U.S., the concept of yoga focuses mostly on physical movement (asana practice) but we also bring in a breathing practice (pranayama) and meditation (dyana).

The word yoga comes from a sanskrit root word "yug," which means to "yoke." To understand this meaning, think of a team of horses. Individually a horse moves ahead at his own pace accomplishing a certain amount of work. When several horses are yoked together, they become even more powerful, performing more effectively as a team than they can on their own.

You can apply this analogy to your own life. Human beings are made up of a physical body, a mind and a spirit. Notice how often you may spend your time in one area or the other, rarely linking your body, mind and spirit together as a team.

In our busy modern society, we spend most of our time in the busyness of the mind. I often say "the mind has a mind of its own" and, as you think about your typical day, you may agree with me. Our minds are always racing, keeping busy as we analyze and "multi-task" our way throughout the day. We live our lives in a constant state of tension which takes a great toll on our bodies.

Physically, we fuel our bodies with food and drink that is devoid of nourishment. In our modern age, everything we come into contact with is designed as a labor saving device. As a result, our lifestyles are sedentary and we barely move our bodies throughout the day. Many do not find or make the time to do any type of regular exercise.

Even worse, we neglect ourselves at a deeper level - at the level of our Spirit. We spend our days performing work that holds no meaning for us, working our way through the most mundane details, just getting through the day. We exist in outmoded relationships. We rarely bring things into our lives that are satisfying - little that is nourishing to our spirit.

Yoga is a way to bring yourself into union, to bring all of these divergent parts - Body, Mind and Spirit - together into the same place at the same time. When all three are linked together, you are better able to tune into yourself at a very deep level. Your focus inward brings you to a point where you can step back and observe your thoughts, actions and movements. A greater awareness of these things - of where you are right now - is the first step to knowing how you can make positive changes in your life. You have to know where you are before you can decide where you are going.

As you move your body, you stay connected to the quality of your breath. When moving and breathing are linked together, a calmness and quietness comes to the mind. As the mind quiets, the body quiets. It is within this quiet - this stillness - that you can get into touch with yourself at a pure level of spirit. These concepts are difficult to describe. However, when we finish practicing yoga and meditation, we feel better and a wonderful sense of well-being follows us throughout the day.

Hatha yoga is practiced in various ways. Some styles are more relaxed and meditative, others are more vigorous and athletic. Each style tends to approach a yoga practice from a different perspective, but they all have as their goal, the union of body, mind and spirit. Our staff has taken training from many different styles.

Our own personal yoga practices continuously evolve and each time we encounter new styles and concepts that resonate with us, we integrate them into our classes. Our students have found the combinations of these styles to be both invigorating and relaxing.

Most other forms of exercise focus on strengthening by contracting the muscles. In yoga we get strong by lengthening and extending our muscles. This lengthening action brings balance to how we work our muscles, and as a result, yoga is an exceptional practice to add to your normal fitness routine. It will add a new level of awareness to all of the physical sensations in your body and will most likely improve your performance in many subtle ways.

You learn to focus on proper bone alignment and muscle movement. As a result, you learn how to avoid injury during a yoga practice as well as during any other sport. Most students notice several things after their first couple of classes. Many report that they are more aware of how they stand, sit and walk. Sleep improves and their minor aches and pains start to subside.

The lengthening and extension that comes from our movement creates space in the body, inviting energy, fresh oxygen and blood to flow into areas of the body that have been tight and constricted. The general sense of well-being you have after class is long lasting and will follow you throughout your day.

Yoga can be done every day. In the beginning, you may want to follow the practice routines suggested in June's book, "Joyful Yoga" or her video of the same name. The book and video are both available on this web site. Eventually, you will wake up each day and be able to sense what your body needs. As you get more and more tuned in to the signals your body sends you - your body's own unique language, you will know what will feel the best.

Some days you may feel strong and energetic and do several rounds of sun salutes and standing poses; on other days your stamina may not be as high or you may be ill and may feel like doing a gentler practice, such as seated poses and lying down twists. The point is: Make your yoga practice just that - your practice. Listen to your body and let your focus each day be to create space and openness.

Try not to use your yoga practice as another way to judge yourself. If you find yourself having thoughts like, " I never can find the time" or "I don't do enough yoga each week" or any other negative thoughts, relax! Breathe! Focus on being mindful of your movement in each moment. Once you reach that point, your life becomes your practice.

Breathe through your nose. As you allow your breath to flow through your nose, you can better judge if you are working too hard in a pose. See the next question for more information.

Watch the quality of your breath. Focus on allowing it to be easy and soft. If your breath feels ragged or rough, you are finished and should come out of the pose. As you learn, you may only stay in some poses for 1 or 2 breaths. Above all, listen to your body. Let your length of time in each pose progress as you gradually build up your strength and endurance.

How many times have you ever said that? Most of us seem to be so programmed to keep on giving and doing that we have forgotten what is like to just BE! The practice of yoga and meditation can bring a greater sense of clarity to all of this busyness. People who practice yoga learn to stop, to pause, to take a short break and, most of all, to take a deep breath and realize that we are doing the very best that we can. During this pause, you can stop judging yourself for not getting it all done. You have the chance to re-prioritize and, in the process, to realize that some of those things that just have to get done aren't really so important.

The ancient arts of yoga and meditation have many physical, mental and spiritual benefits. One of the goals is to bring a balance between activity and quiet, between busyness and stillness. We accomplish this balance in our practice and, more importantly, achieve the benefits as we integrate these arts into everyday life.

The goal of yoga is not to "do a pose." Instead, you strive to open space to allow healing energy to flow throughout your body. You also gain awareness of your flexibility and range of motion, whatever it may be, and to learn to appreciate this miraculous vessel which is your physical body.

The beauty of yoga is that you never have to go beyond your limits. Instead, you are encouraged to listen to your body and to challenge yourself, but not to the point of strain or pain. You understand how to be with your body as it is right now, in this present moment. Each day your practice will be different because your body, mind and spirit are in constant change and transformation. Some days, certain poses will come effortlessly; other days, you may be more challenged with balance or stiffness or you may find lots of thoughts keep trying to intrude on your concentration.

Whatever happens during your practice, yoga teaches you to simply accept whatever that particular day presents. The process of learning to accept what happens during practice begins to translate to your everyday life as your learn to work with what life presents you each day.

Digesting food takes a great deal of energy. Have you ever noticed how tired you feel after eating a big meal ? Practicing yoga takes a great deal of energy too. It is much kinder to your body to allow it to only have to do one of these major activities at a time. Yoga is an internal art. Each pose stimulates glands and organs in addition to working in the muscles and tendons. You will not receive as many positive benefits in these functions if your body has to keep busy with digestion. Eating and then performing some poses, like forward bends actually may hinder proper digestion and elimination.

In the western cultures, the perception is that yoga is a physical exercise. Many perceive it to be a series of pretzel-like poses that can't be accomplished by the typical person. However, this ancient art encompasses much more than just physical movement. Over two thousand years ago, yoga was an oral tradition, passed down from teacher to student. That all changed when the sage, Patanjali, wrote these traditions down into a single body of work called "Yoga Sutra." This work has stood the test of time and is considered to be the authoritative text on yoga. Within this text, Patanjali explains that there are eight aspects, or limbs, to the practice of yoga:

Yama - Universal ethical principles - How we treat others such as: non-violence, truthfulness, moderation in all things, non-possessiveness.

Niyama - Rules of conduct - How we treat ourselves such as: cleanliness, discipline, education.

Asana - Practice of yoga postures.

Pranayama - Practice of breathing techniques.

Pratyahara - Control of the senses.

Dharana - Concentration of the mind.

Dhyana - Meditation.

Samadhi - Well-being, joy and peace. Communion with your soul. Bliss. A higher level of consciousness.

In the West, you will traditionally work with asana (poses), pranayama (breathing), and dhyana (meditation). You focus on the aspects of the physical body to keep it healthy, since it is the vessel that carries you throughout your lifetime. As you study this list, notice that yoga really touches all areas of your life. Also notice that each aspect of yoga is not necessarily achieved in the order they are listed. The practice of asana, pranayama and dhyana brings you in control of your senses (pratyahara), leading to increased concentration of your mind (dharana). The eight limbs also represent how you treat others and how you treat yourself (niyama). When all of these aspects come together in union, you discover the way you live your life contributes to your overall state of well-being (Samadhi).

If you would like to learn more about yoga philosophy, I highly recommend BKS Iyengar's translation entitled "Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali." It is listed in the suggested reading list on this website.

Each of our teachers have their own style. Most of our yoga classes are 90 minutes long. Body Basic/Pilates classes, Pre-Natal Yoga, Kid's Yoga, and Mother and Baby Yoga classes are 1 hour long. We spend a few minutes at the beginning of each class practicing a simple breathing technique that calms the mind, body and spirit. After a series of full body stretches, we begin various warm-up exercises designed to strengthen and tone the abdomen, back and full body. We then move through various combinations of standing poses, seated poses and balancing poses, followed by a 10 to 15 minute guided relaxation meditation at the end of class. Each class is designed to provide a balance of movement and stillness, dynamic activity balanced by gentle relaxation. It a great way to spend some time each day.

The classes are mostly mixed-level. We often have many beginners in each class, as well as more experienced students. Throughout the entire class, each movement is modified to fit what your body will allow. A yoga practice should conform to your body, not the other way around. You will begin to explore your own range of motion. You learn to simply observe this process - without judgment - gradually allowing the pose to unfold in your own body in its own perfect way. As the poses come in your own time, you begin to think differently about your body. You will feel a new sense of appreciation for your body and how miraculous it really is.

Each class is designed to show you how to take your body through a full range of motion. We like to link the poses together in different ways so that you can learn to appreciate each movement and how it can feel different, depending on how the poses are linked together. Everyone is welcome: Male, female, all ages, all size, all shapes!

Yoga can be done by anyone. Depending on your physical condition or medical issues, some poses may need to be modified to fit your body. In some cases, poses may not be appropriate and may aggravate your condition. When in doubt, consult your physician.

You can order props from this web site at the Yoga Store. You also can purchase them from your favorite Joyful Yoga teacher in class.

Click here to go to the Yoga Store.

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