1. What is Yoga?
Yoga as it is taught in this course relies on the Classical Yoga tradition as described in Patanjali Yoga Sutra. Eight limbs are described, and this course emphasises the use of postures (asana) and controlled breathing (pranayama) which are two of the limbs of yoga. Yoga is made more accessible by approaching through these two limbs.

2. What is the meaning of the term yoga?
There are many meanings of the term yoga which is derived from the ancient Sanskrit jug meaning to join, yoke. In this course the mind and body is connected through the breath, and thus joined allowing distractions to dissolve.

3. What is a yogi?
A yogi from yogin is a male Yoga practitioner. Yogini is a female practitioner.

4. What is a guru?
Gu means darkness and ru means removal, so a guru should be someone who helps us move from darkness into light. In this process, we are not setting ourselves up as gurus, we are teachers of yoga. If practitioners feel the need they can look for a guru, but they should look carefully at the effects of that guru on other people.

5. Am I too old to commence Yoga?
The older one is the more one has to gain from Yoga. An appropriate practice of yoga is beneficial to everyone.

6. Do I need to be flexible?
There are modifications for those who are less flexible. Flexibility is gained by using the breath, and releasing into the tight areas.

7. What are the benefits of yoga?
Yoga has all the general benefits of exercise including the benefit of improved posture, increased depth of respiration, improved feeling of well being, relaxation, better sleep, there is an improvement in the range of movement of joints, an improvement in core strength, help with prevention of falls through better balance, decrease in back pain, overall strength improvement. Correct breathing is a very beneficial benefit from yoga.

8. Is practicing with a video good enough?
Some benefit will be gained by practicing with a video, but there may be a tendency to push things too far, or to not do an appropriate practice for the individual. At least at first, some individual lessons are helpful to understand your strengths and weaknesses.

9. What is best a class or individual lessons?
Although we run class sessions, we believe individual lessons are the optimum. Certain things can be done in class, but one’s physical practice should ideally be individually supervised.

10. How can just breathing help?
During controlled breathing, the lungs are filled better with air, the brain waves change to give a relaxed alert state called alpha. It is in this state much healing, renewal and improvement occur.

11. How often should I practice yoga?
Ideally we recommend a daily practice. We believe the intention to practice daily is as important as the actual practice, because we have made a commitment to care for ourselves.