Welcome Beginners to Yoga!
Quick "house keeping" notes ... This website contains
information designed to enhance your well-being. However
this website is not intended as a replacement for medical
advice or treatment. Please execute common sense, listen to
your body messages and respect your physical limitations in
attempting all of the exercises. If you have any questions,
please contact your health care professional.
YogaEverywhere is designed to complement your own yoga
program "off line". As with all self-study, it should be
pleasurable and user friendly, not stress provoking.
Everyone’s body dynamics are different so start off easy to
make sure each exercise works for you.
YogaEverywhere shall not be liable for any direct, indirect,
incidental, special or consequential damages resulting from
use or the inability of use the information provided on the
YogaEverywhere.com website. Below is a great article that
will help you as you begin a daily practice of yoga and then
10 simple guidelines for a lifetime of practice.
Why Practice Yoga
By Jon Burras
The last few years has seen a substantial rise in the
popularity of yoga. While this recent trend has brought many
new comers to the yoga experience there is often some
confusion as to the benefits of yoga. The following is a
brief summary of the many benefits that yoga can offer.
1. Flexibility
One of the primary benefits of a regular yoga practice is
that one is able to develop a body that is more flexible.
Reaching down to touch one’s toes or extending an arm up to
grab an object become much easier. With flexibility comes
overall ease of movement in normal daily activities.
2. Anti-aging
Aging does not have to be what is portrayed by the media and
the traditional medical model. Yoga helps one age
gracefully, keeping the joints fluid and open, allowing
movement to be fluid and pain free. Skin is refreshed and
organs are balanced as the forces that add to our normal
aging are reversed. The common stiffness usually found in
those who age poorly is avoided.
3. Breath
Yoga brings attention to the breath. Deep regular breathing
and postures that gently elongate the muscles of respiration
allow the breath to deepen and slow down. Increased amounts
of oxygen are able to reach cells and revitalize the
tissues. A slower and deeper breath aids in relaxation and
calmness.
4. Strength and tone
Muscle tone and strength are achieved by utilizing the
body’s own weight to provide resistance. This helps in
firming and shaping the overall body appearance as well as
providing the necessary strength for daily activities.
Conditions like Osteoporosis are avoided as bone growth is
greatly enhanced.
5. Balance
Balance is not something that most people think about until
they have trouble standing upright. What many elderly fear
greatly is to lose their balance and slip and fall. Yoga
helps to stabilize us and provides a solid sense of balance.
This insures that we are well grounded and not as prone to
falling or slipping as we age.
6. Focus
Many people are scattered and disoriented in their normal
waking lives. Yoga helps to bring us back to a focal point
to become clear with our goals and intentions. As we become
focused we are better able to witness ourselves and achieve
our goals.
7. Expansive movement
Most of the movement in our culture is contractive in
nature. This means that we move to tighten up and harden
ourselves. Unfortunately, this is what stress and repression
are already doing to us. Yoga is a system of expansive
expression that allows us to counteract the forces of stress
and repression in order to expand through our bodies.
8. General health
For those accustomed to grabbing a pill every time they are
uncomfortable, yoga offers another solution. A regular yoga
practice brings life and energy to the body, improves
overall circulation, as well as increases organ and gland
functioning. As you stretch through the body the various
systems of the body begin to have a greater capacity to
function fully.
9. Cosmetic results
People often report that they feel and look better with a
regular yoga practice. They are able to trim down and feel
strong and toned. This helps to build confidence and
radiance about one’s body.
10. Body
self-discovery
The story of our lives is often held within the body. Every
fall or accident from the past is stored within our
musculature. Yoga begins to strip away the layers of holding
to release old patterns. In this manner yoga becomes a
marvelous tool for healing. Old and restrictive patterns of
movement are replaced by more dynamic and natural ways to
move.
11. Metaphor for life
What do you do when difficult sensations or emotions show up
in your life? Do you face this adversity or run away? Yoga
becomes a metaphor to show us new ways to work through
challenging sensations and emotions. We are encouraged to
accept what we are feeling rather than to run from these
feelings.
12. Relaxation
Most people find it very difficult to relax. They are wound
up nearly always and seldom let their guard down. Yoga
offers us an opportunity to unwind and melt away the tension
and stress that keep us locked up. As we do so we are able
to allow the body to heal itself.
13. Energy flow
There is a natural flow of energy that travels through us
when we practice yoga. This is like an electric current that
touches every cell. As the connective tissue of the body
opens up the blockages that prevent energy from flowing are
released. In this manner we become more open to removing
these blockages.
14. Removes toxins
As we move and sweat through the yoga practice toxins are
released and flushed out. This occurs through the skin,
breath, and the lymphatic system. Once released, we are free
to allow new nutrients in to nourish us.
With over two decades of training and practice Jon Burras enjoys allowing nature to be his greatest teacher. Jon is a certified body worker, yoga therapist, and body/mind therapist. He blends a number of different modalities in an attempt to unite the body, mind, and spirit. To learn more about Jon, please visit him at JonBurras.com .
Modfications
YogaEverywhere may modify exercises, postures and format
from time to time in it’s sole discretion. Each time you log
on to YogaEverywhere.com, you will be deemed to have
accepted any such changes. Our guidelines on the next page
will help beginners and those with physical limitations to
modify their own practice for their bodies.
10 Important Guidelines
for Practicing Yoga
1. The most important
lesson is to learn to listen to your body. We do this by
paying attention to the breath. Stretches are only
distractions to retrain your body to breathe with more ease.
2. Don't engage in
negative dialogue with yourself as you explore the poses.
3. Practice compassion
towards yourself and others. No judgments or expectations.
4. When you feel
discomfort or pain, stop. Yoga is about sensation, not pain.
5. If you feel dizzy,
nauseous or feel any tingling or numbing sensation while
practicing, stop.
6. If you are pregnant,
please visit our Yoga for Pregnancy pages.
7. Drinks lots of water
after your yoga practice.
8. Don’t take it too
seriously, it is vitally important to have fun!
9. Make YogaEverywhere
your homepage.
10. Use your breath to
tell your friends about this site by email or Facebook or
Twitter.
