F.A.Q.s
Do
I need to be supple to practise
Yoga postures?
No: You practise them in order to become supple and healthy.
Are
the classes suitable for beginners?
Yes: You will be encouraged to practise at the optimum
level for your experience and ability.
How
long before I will feel the benefits of
Yoga practice?
You will experience relaxation during and
after the first class you attend. Students often report experiencing
a better night’s sleep straight away. Benefits to general
health and fitness are experienced in 3 weeks to 3 months depending
on how much you practise at home. There seems to be no limit
to the benefits of practising Yoga and there are always new
things to learn.
Is
Yoga a religion?
No: not “a religion”, but the word “Yoga” is
etymologically very similar to “religion”. Yoga comes from
the Sanskrit root “yug” (to join).
Religion comes from
the Latin “re”(again) and “legere” (to
join). So both words carry the same basic meaning.
Yoga, Religion and Philosophy share the common ground of a search for Truth
and pursuit of personal and social wellbeing and integrity. You will find
that practising Yoga deepens your experience and understanding of your religion
or philosophy.
Can
Christians practise Yoga?
Yes: Yoga deepens your experience and understanding
of your religion or philosophy. It never conflicts with beliefs
that are based on experience; it also brings you close to the
experiences of the authors of sacred texts and the great classics
of mysticism. Some Christian Yogis believe that the Bible contains
references to Yoga. E.g. “Take my yoke upon you. My yoke is easy and my burden
is light.” Burden can mean message and light can mean
enlightenment.
Do
you have to be vegetarian?
No, but practising Yoga increases you links with
all life and you may decide not to eat meat or fish. The classic
Yoga diet in India is lacto-vegetarian and rather difficult to follow
in the West. However, moderation and sensible healthy eating are
recommended.
Do
you have to believe in reincarnation?
You need only believe that practising Yoga
may benefit you in some way.
A belief in reincarnation can
help you to make sense of life, but the major world religions
and Patanjali’s Yoga
Sutra all teach the importance of acting correctly in this
present life which is the only one most of us know.
I
want to be a Yoga teacher; can you help me?
Probably
not; it depends on why you want to teach Yoga. Yoga is all about
getting beyond your ego; so you have to give up wanting to be a Yogi
or Yoga teacher before you are fit to teach Yoga.
The tradition is to be a student until your teacher tells you to teach or
to train to teach.
