by Rick Kelly

Created on: November 10, 2008   Last Updated: November 13, 2008

If you are looking for a workout that can be relaxing, healing, and challenging all at the same time, then yoga may be exactly what you are looking for. Put into the simplest terms, yoga is the balancing of the mind, body, and breath in order to become a healthier, happier, and better person. While this may be a little granola-sounding, yoga classes have become one of the more popular ways to exercise at some of the leading health clubs in the country. This is partly because a person of any fitness level can participate, and also because many people who try yoga will experience health benefits in the first session. The financial investment is minimal as well. All you need for yoga is a quiet, comfortable place and a few minutes set aside each day to get started.

Daily yoga routines are performed in four parts: breathing, relaxation, meditation, and poses. To be effective, a full routine can be accomplished in a half an hour if you are by practicing by yourself, while a yoga class will normally last for an hour. A yoga routine begins by breathing slowly and focusing on what is called the deep breath.' This will be calming and lead you into the second phase of the routine which is relaxation. Once you are relaxed, mediation will help you focus on what's important for healing, and finally, yoga poses can be used to strengthen and restore health to the body.

Yoga is indeed a wonderful thing, and yoga instruction is very accessible. In fact, the easiest way to get started with yoga is by watching a class on television. There are numerous yoga programs on cable networks and public television that teach the basics of yoga for beginners. Yoga DVDs, music, and mats are also available at most bookstores and on the internet. Once you are comfortable with yoga, it's time to check out a class in person. Yoga classes can be found at health clubs, community recreation centers, and local colleges. The best way to find out if a class is right for you is to sample one first. This way, you can see if you like the instructor and what they are teaching.

Most yoga taught in the western hemisphere is hatha yoga, which emphasizes the familiar yoga poses along with breathing and meditation. However, many teachers have combined yoga with pilates or other forms of exercise to create an extremely challenging workout. These classes are great exercise for some people, but keep in mind that yoga should never hurt. This is why it is important to have a clear goal as to what you expect to get out of any yoga class. Yoga has been reported to improve any number of conditions including high blood pressure, fatigue, back problems, arthritis, infertility, high cholesterol, and even asthma. However, whatever health goals you have, remember that the main point of yoga is to relax, enjoy, and feel great!

Learn more about this author, Rick Kelly.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.