yoga FAQ

What exactly does “yoga” mean?

Let’s take a minute to get on the same page about what this thing is. If you’re a fellow Westerner, your first thought when you think of “yoga” is probably a studio full of people practicing poses. These are the asanas, which are just one of the eight limbs of yoga. More simply, yoga simply translates to “union.” For the purposes of this article, we will focus on the asanas and cultivating a physical practice, and in a later post I will talk about the other seven limbs and yoga as a lifestyle.

Do I need expensive leggings and 9284+ crystals to get started?

At its essence, an asana practice is incredibly simple – it’s nothing more than movement coupled with breath. So why does it seem so damn complicated? Partly, it's because people with a knowledge of yoga have a knowledge of all of the limbs, so we get layers added with emotional, spiritual, and lifestyle aspects of the practice. This is where all of the crystals and singing bowls come from. This is why people sage. And while some people feel that that adds to their practice, none of these objects or rituals are necessary to a yoga practice, especially at the beginning.

All you need for yoga is yourself. A mat will help, but as long as you’re on soft ground you’ll be fine. Props are useful, although you can probably find household items that work as substitutes. Comfy clothes will make your practice easier, but you can really do yoga wearing whatever you want. Yoga is actually one of the most physically accessible forms of exercise. You don’t need extra sporting equipment. You don’t need a team. You don’t need to rent a space. You just need to be a willing participant.

Do I need to be able to touch my toes?

My vision is a world where I say, “hey, come out to my class,” and I’m not met with, “oh, I’m not flexible enough to do yoga.” First of all, yoga is equal parts and strength and flexibility. And second, yoga is something you enter into to improve yourself, to work on your weaknesses. If you’re not flexible, you probably need yoga more than your neighbour who is! As a yoga student, nobody is judging how “good” you are at any pose. And just so you know, as a teacher, I always have an extra little bit of appreciation for my (mostly male) super inflexible students, because I know they’re pushing themselves out of their comfort zone.

I’m not a fit twentysomething white girl or a hippie with a man-bun burning incense in elephant pants. Can I still do yoga?

All is not lost! I think the Westernized version of yoga misses a lot of important pieces, and unfortunately one of the biggest things lost in translation is the idea that, contrary to popular belief, yoga is for everybody. As long as you respect your limits and seek out resources to make sure your alignment is correct (YouTube, photo tutorials, studio classes, etc.…), yoga will be a safe activity for you. And as long as you have a mind and a body and a soul, yoga will be useful to you in some way.

I don’t have very much free time. Can I still do yoga?

Good news: your practice is all about you, and you can make it whatever you want it to be! It can be your form of exercise, or how you help your back pain, or 10 minutes of gentle stretching every day, or anything else that you can make space for in your life.

I don’t speak Sanskrit. How do I choose a yoga class?

It really seems like Sanskrit isn’t doing anybody any favours. But if you know what they mean, they actually provide more information than English names do. The Sanskrit words refer to specific traditions of yoga, so you know exactly what you’re getting into - as opposed to showing up for “power” or “de-stress” or “stretch” yoga where there are no official definitions. Here’s a quick breakdown of the most popular types of yoga.

• Hatha – the original yoga practice. “Hatha” means “sun and moon” in Sanskrit. In the east, hatha yoga refers to physical postures as well as other types of “lifestyle” yoga; in the west, it is an umbrella term for a practice that is purely focused on asanas. This is a good type of yoga to start with. The postures are typically held for longer and the movements are slower. In general, hatha will challenge your muscular endurance, but probably not your cardiovascular system.

• Ashtanga Vinyasa – not to be confused with just Ashtanga, which refers to the 8 limbs of yoga that we discussed above. Ashtanga vinyasa is a branch of hatha – it’s faster paced and traditionally follows a pre-set series of advanced poses, so it’s not a beginner class. If you attend a class entitled “power yoga,” this might be what you’re really practicing. Fun fact: the sun salutation that you practice in Western classes is probably an Ashtanga A Sun Salutation.

• Vinyasa – arguably the most physically challenging type of yoga. It couples movement with breath, so every single time you breathe you’ll be shifting into the next pose. Many styles of yoga will occasionally incorporate vinyasa into a class (for example, cat/cow or low lunge/half split flows are common in not-strictly-vinyasa classes).

• Yin – this is a slow-paced, relaxing class of seated and supine (laying down) poses. This is a great beginner class. Expect a meditative experience, as each pose will be held for up to 3 minutes.

• Restorative – similar to yin, but with a greater emphasis on props. A great beginner class!

• Kundalini – Kundalini is part physical, part spiritual. The goal is to channel energy up the spine and through the 7 chakras. This isn’t a beginner-level class, but it’s a good thing to try if you’ve developed a physical practice and you think it’s time to get spiritual.

• Baptiste – this relatively newer style of yoga centres around meditation, inquiry, and asanas. This style isn’t for beginners. It’s a powerful flow in a heated room, which can be intense. However, the non-physical practices are a great place to start your off-the-mat practice. A big focus is placed on reading, journaling, and self-reflection. This is a great style to practice if you’re looking to transition into the spiritual.

• Iyengar – this practice focuses heavily on alignment and using props in postures. The poses are held longer and it’s a good place to start if you’re recovering from an injury.

• Bikram – hot yoga! This is a set series of poses, but again – I wouldn’t recommend starting with a heated class unless it’s restorative.

Should I practice at home or in a studio?

This is totally a personal thing! I started my practice with classes on campus. I found them super helpful for teaching me the poses and giving me the motivation to do a full hour of yoga and not give up halfway through or choose the easy way out every single time (child's pose for dayssss). I know some people are uncomfortable with the idea of learning yoga in public, so another option is to learn the basics on your own using YouTube, your new best friend, before transitioning into studios.

I would definitely recommend attending classes, at least occasionally, where a teacher can adjust your postures (if you’re a post-secondary student, you can probably find some on campus for cheap or free; if not, most studios have a “first-timer” deal, and some have cheaper classes for charity on a weekly or monthly basis). If this isn’t possible, check out YouTube videos or my photo tutorials that explain how to do the basic poses in-depth. The last thing you want is to injure yourself through chronic misalignment. If you’re DIY adjusting, use a mirror or take a video with your phone so you can see whether your posture matches the teacher’s. Once you’re comfortable with the basics, move on to flow videos (and you can search the styles I outlined above if you think there’s one that’s especially right for you; you can also search by intensity, time, or teacher).

If you are creating a home practice, please consider purchasing a block and a strap. You can buy these for about $7 each on Amazon. (And in terms of mats, you really get what you pay for - but if you're just starting out, you can find a pretty decent mat for under $20. If you're starting your practice at a studio, mats are provided for free or for low-cost rental). Instead of a block, you can use a stack of books, and instead of a strap, you can use a scarf or a resistance band or any kind of rope – but because of the low price and in the interest of safety, I’d recommend investing – especially in a block or two.

Above all, whether you’re practicing at home or in a studio, listen to your body. If you feel pain at any point, back off. Ask a teacher to modify the pose, or avoid the pose altogether. Pain in your joints – knees, wrists, and low back especially) is always a no-go. Respect your limits.

I hope this has been a helpful starting point for your personal practice. As always, please contact me or comment below if you have any questions that I didn’t answer!

Namaste.