Yoga- How Difficult?
Yoga is the practice of unionizing the mind, body, and spirit through physical poses and posture. Most people associate yoga with stretching, but stretching is not the only exercise involved. It is a practice that builds strength and flexibility to create balance in the body by maintaining postures. Each posture has a specific benefit for the body. For example, many poses increase back and abdominal strength. Poses such as boat pose, side plank, and crow strengthen the core through the use of several different muscles. Every class has a different level of difficulty, so whether you are just beginning, intermediate, or advanced there is a class that will satisfy your pace.
Beginning Classes:
Hot Beginner: In this class, the temperature is set to 94 degrees. It is a Hatha-flow style that includes beginning-intermediate poses. It will leave you feeling strong, stretched, and relaxed.
Beginner: This class will teach you the basics of yoga. You will learn how to breathe correctly, hold poses, and practice alignment. It is an hour-long class that focuses on strength and flexibility.
Stress Relief: This class includes gentle and revitalizing postures and stretches. It relaxes and calms both body and mind. Music and aromatherapy (relaxing scents) are used to create a soothing environment.
Intermediate Hatha: Hatha, or traditional yoga, will focus on stretching and alignment, along with being able to hold poses. It focuses on postures that create balance and will teach you relaxation methods. It has a slightly higher difficulty level than a beginner class.
Intermediate-Advanced Classes:
Hot: This class is held in a heated room of 104 degrees. Heat promotes a better, more fluid stretch in muscles, joints, and ligaments. This allows a greater range of movement. The room is hot to promote sweat, which detoxifies your body and leaves you feeling cleansed. This class builds flexibility and strength.
Hot Power: This class is more intense than the traditional, stretching classes. The room is set to 104 degrees so that you can hold poses longer and move deeper into your posture. Hot power is a class that improves core strength considerably by involving floor work and many challenging postures.
Hot Flow: Hot Flow is also known as Hot Vinyasa, and focuses on breathing. You will move through postures with the breath. Vinyasa challenges the muscles by being in constant motion along with using the heat of the room to help rid the body of toxins.
Hot Power Flow: This class combines Power and Flow. It focuses on balance and core work, and also uses the heat of the room to detoxify the body and promote strength and flexibility.
Power: This class follows poses with strength training, creating a challenging workout. Power Yoga focuses on strength training and not only strengthens the core but burns calories create lean muscle and increase your metabolism.
Yoga Flow: Flow is a class where the poses flow from one to the other in a dance-like motion. It focuses on breathing and constantly switches poses from one to another. It is gentler than the Power classes.
There are many different levels of yoga and Flow Pilates and Yoga Center has a class that will suit any yogi’s needs. One of the great things about this practice is that it is non-competitive, so beginners do not need to feel inferior to others in the class. Once you step foot into the studio, egos are set aside and it is time to concentrate on bettering yourself, both body and mind. Don’t be afraid to start today!
