The Language of Yoga and How to Begin Your Yoga Practice

Before you start your practice and learn the beginning yoga postures you will first want to understand the various types of yoga and how they may benefit you. Yoga consists of more than just exercise and postures as we discussed in the previous article on the history of yoga. Here you will learn various forms, the language, and the basic principles to assist you in building a successful practice.

Language of Yoga

You need to know four key words related to yoga:

Asanas, the exercises or poses, with which yoga is most often known.
Pranayama, the practice of breathing and breath control in combination with yogic exercises.
Meditation, or mind focus, including mindfulness, which is practiced during yoga.
Mantra, the sound or chant.

Various Yoga Forms

There are, to put in précis, three major forms of yoga.

Hatha yoga, or physical yoga, is the most popular style of yoga. Hatha yoga is based on the fundamental principle that a strong body is a must for enlightenment. The method lays great emphasis on concentration, breathing, determination, flexibility, stretching, and also alignment. Hatha yoga also includes principles that help strengthen the body, quieten the mind, and awaken the spirit within us.

Astanga yoga, an offshoot of Hatha yoga, is another popular form. Astanga yoga focuses on the co-ordination of asanas with breathing. There are six sets of postures in the practice and each set is performed separately.

Viniyoga yoga is another form. It attracts people who wish to practice a more subtle, or gentler, form of yoga. Viniyoga is a form of yoga which gives detailed personal attention to individual needs. In this form of yoga, the practitioner uses flowing movements [vinyasa]. These movements provide the strength and balance to the psyche. It also heals us from within.

This yogic practice is most beneficial and effective for both the young and the elderly. It offers relief to chronic pain sufferers, and also patients who are convalescing following injury, trauma, or disease.

There are other yoga brands which are offshoots of these three major forms.

Yoga Training

Yoga is physically, emotionally, and mentally challenging. You’d sure think that you need to be flexible and in good shape to practice, or do, yoga. Not at all. All you need is a leaning to be a student always and learn along the way.

While it is recommended that you learn the tradition from a yoga teacher, it all depends on how you evolve yourself with the practice — for tangible results to accrue.

The more you evolve, the better it is for your health, well-being, and spiritual evolution.

Seven Easy Steps for Beginning a Yoga Practice

• You’d do well to think that yoga is not goal-oriented. You need not set a goal.
• Yoga does not need focus to perform the most complicated of asanas.
• Remember — you need to focus on the process, not on the result.
• You need to learn, and know, your own self. In other words, yourself.
• It is always ideal for you to enroll in a beginner’s class to learn the beginning yoga postures and breathing exercises.
• You should learn to also listen to your body and set your own pace.
• Most important. Yoga is your own journey. You are not doing it for someone else.

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