Posts Tagged ‘Yoga Classes’

How to choose Men’s Yoga Clothing

If you want to clear your mind and improve your body, then this is definitely an activity you should try as soon as possible. The great thing about yoga is that it is an activity that is well-suited for people of all genders, backgrounds, and interests. If you are interested in increasing everything from your endurance to your strength, then you should start taking yoga classes as soon as possible. If you decide yoga is for you, then you should invest in some proper yoga clothing. Such garments come in all shapes and sizes: there’s everything from organic yoga clothing to women’s, children’s, and men’s yoga clothing. If you are male looking to try this activity, don’t think that you can get away with just throwing on a t-shirt and pair of shorts. If you invest in the best mens yoga clothing, you can then be sure to enhance your yoga experience. The following are some of the many things you should consider when its time to invest in men’s yoga clothing.

The correct fit for Men’s Yoga Clothing

The fit in men’s yoga clothing is very important. Make sure that the garment you are wearing during yoga practice is not too tight or too loose. This is why investing in proper men’s yoga clothing is a wise investment. Just throwing on any old shirt or shorts will not work: e.g. the t-shirt that you are wearing may flip over your head in the middle of a yoga pose if you are wearing a loose t-shirt. You need not worry about clothing malfunctions if you invest in proper men’s yoga clothing that fits correctly. With this you should be able to contort your body into a variety of yoga poses. This is why it is imperative to try the clothing on: This will tell you whether or not you have the right fit.

Choose comfortable Men’s Yoga Clothing

Since you will be doing a lot of bending and twisting, you want to make sure the men’s yoga clothing you choose is as comfortable as possible. Consider the conditions in which you will be doing yoga: if you will be in an air conditioned room you may want to go with warmer options than if you were doing yoga in a heated room or outside during a hot summer day. There is a wide variety of Men’s Yoga Clothing available, depending on the options that may suit you.

Consider the materials for Men’s Yoga Clothing

The best men’s yoga clothing is the kind that allows the skin to breathe and is airy. Thus, you should look into investing in natural fibres or materials rather than going with synthetic or manmade fabrics. The latter will not allow your skin to breathe as much as the former materials.

Jivamukti Yoga Information

Created by David Life and Sharon Gannon, Jivamukti yoga is a yoga style that combines physical, spiritual and philosophical aspects of traditional yoga. The Jivamukti method of yoga is one of the nine internationally recognized styles of Hatha yoga, the other eight being Ashtanga, Iyengar, Viniyoga, Sivananda, Integral, Bikram, Kripalu, and Kundalini. In the west the rather physical part of yoga is mainly emphasized. More and more people start taking yoga classes in order to make their bodies firmer and fitter.

Yet, lots of practitioners come to realize that what may seem a very strenuous physical workout is in fact a way to the inner self that opens one towards spirituality. David Life and Sharon Gannon became teachers because they felt the need to share the fact that yoga is more than just a system of exercises, but a path to enlightenment and a spiritual practice. Jivamukti yoga thus becomes a relevant translation of the Indian system of yoga for the approach of the westerner mind so that it can be easier to grasp. Among the elements emphasized by Jivamukti yoga there are meditation, devotional chanting or the study of the ancient texts.

The meaning of the word Jivamukti (pronounced Jee-va-mook-tee) can be translated as follows: Jiva means individual soul and mukti means liberation. The word is derived from the Sanskrit jivanmuktih, which translates liberation in this life. The name Jivamukti yoga reflects the fact that it is possible to have a beneficial and fulfilling life in the world but also progress spiritually, perhaps even touching the liberation state.

There are five tenets of Jivamukti yoga which must be considered before taking into account the practice of it. The first one is the study of the ancient yoga teaching including Sanskirt chanting. The second one is the acknowledgment that universal consciousness is the goal of all yoga practices, known under the name of Bhakti. The third tenet is Ahimsa, that is a non-violent, compassionate life-style, which stresses the importance of ethical vegetarianism. The forth one is the Nada, as the development of a sound mind in a sound both through deep listening. The last tenet of Jivamukti yoga, but not the least, is meditation, the connection with the unchanging reality within. Another fact to be considered before taking on Jivamukti yoga is the fact that the classes tend to be quite physically intense. Although it may seem difficult, the great fame of Jivamukti yoga in the United States cannot pass unnoticed; there is a Jivamukti yoga School in New York, and there are experienced instructors teaching it all over the country.

For more about Tibetan yoga schools and yoga instructors Monroe NY, check out our web site.

A Quick Guide to Yoga Retreats and Yoga Holidays

You’ve been to quite a few yoga classes and probably also have done some workshops, and now you want to get even more serious about your yoga development. The decision is made, for your next vacation, you are going away on a yoga course. Here are some answers to a few questions you might ask yourself.

Yoga retreat or yoga holiday?

While the variation between yoga holidays and yoga retreats is not always lucid, from time to time, even the organizers have not thought enough about how to correctly name their course), there is quite a difference in terms of focus point and general feel or environment

Generally speaking, a yoga vacation is primarily an activity vacation. The time dedicated daily to yoga usually won’t last more than four hours, in one, or perhaps two daily classes, and you will have a lot of time for other activities or just to loosen up and take it easy. The place should show this, with a beach or other important attractions nearby.

The feeling is often unperturbed, and it is usually a great to encounter other like-minded people. On a retreat, on the other hand, the yoga agenda is likely to be more intense, possibly including some meditation, times of silence, etc.

The key focus is no longer to enjoy yourself on holiday, but to deepen your yoga practice. Again, the choice of location should reflect this, with a quiet, possibly remote location. Retreats should be fully residential, the food vegetarian, and meal times cautiously thought out to fit smoothly within the daily yoga practice. You will find more ‘hard core’ yogis and yoginis on retreats, and the overall feeling can be quite serious, with much less ‘free’ time.

Unless you are quite certain that yoga is your thing, and want to move your practice to the next level, a yoga break rather than a yoga retreat may be the best choice for your first time doing yoga away from home.

Go on your own, or bring a buddy?

Going alone is not a catch. Actually, most people going on yoga course go unaccompanied. The aspect to going on your own is that you may have to share a room with one or more absolute strangers, but at least, you will know that, like you, they have a keen interest in yoga, and great friendships are frequently formed on yoga retreats.

If you decide not to go on your own, choose your companion(s) cautiously. A few yoga centres will approve of guests who don’t do yoga, but in most cases, and definitely in the case of a retreat, yoga should be a shared interest with your prospective travel companion, so if you don’t want to go alone, a yoga buddy is a far better choice than your new boyfriend (unless, of course, you met him on a yoga weekend!)

Where and when to go?

The yoga leave market is now becoming increasingly competitive, and main stream travel agents are moving in, sometimes with disastrous results. Unlike yoga teachers and dedicated venues, they do not always understand the particular requirements of what is still very much a niche market.

Complaints about such new comers to the yoga holiday market, who often have operated successfully in other branches of the tourist trade such as the organization of seminars or other types of package holidays, are their lack of understanding of the specificity of the yoga market, particularly in relation to diet (vegetarian and vegan options are not always available) and the unsuitability of the venues chosen, which are often large, soulless resorts, sometimes shared with a crowd of rowdy drunks (as happened to me in Goa a few years ago).

All this is not very conducive to peace of mind, so it is best to avoid large operators and stick with small, dedicated venues. There are a lot of them to choose from all over the world, and new ones are sprouting up everywhere so there’s a large choice of destinations at any time of the year!

Sun destinations such as Greece, Spain, Portugal, Turkey, Italy, and the south of France tend to be most popular in the European summer while in the winter; India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Mexico and the Caribbean tend to be favorites. There are also a number of other locations which don’t emphasize the ‘sun’ part including Scotland, various parts of England, Ireland, Finland, Canada, Austria to name just a few.

See for example the Yoga Centres listing of the Yogaholidays.net site. Even thought they might not be right up on the beach, these venues are chosen for their quietness and are far more suited to the practice of yoga than large tourist resorts.

What style, what teacher?

Perhaps more important than the location is the teacher and the style of yoga. Remember you will be stuck with your choice for the duration of the course, so a bit of thinking may be in order.

The best, of course, is to choose a teacher you have already studied with, perhaps in the context of weekly classes or a short workshop. Second best, is to get an opinion from someone who has been on a holiday/retreat with a particular teacher before. If this is not possible, you might find some useful information on the Internet, as most established teachers now have websites.

This should at least give you an idea of who they are and of whether their style of teaching (and style of yoga) will suit you. If nothing else, don’t be afraid to ask the teacher such questions as who they studied with, how long they have been practicing and how long they have been teaching yoga. Try to ring rather than email, as you’ll get a far better idea over the phone.

Tell the teacher about your yoga experience, level of fitness and your expectation for the retreat so they can advise you properly on suitability. Usually they don’t want to be stuck with the wrong student any more that you want to be stuck with the wrong teacher, so they will advise you honestly. It is also recommended to try the style of yoga that will be taught as part of the holiday/retreat by taking a few classes in your area, just to be sure that it will suit you, before booking.

What to bring?

Check whether you’ll need a yoga mat (if you have your own, it best to bring it anyway). Bring some reading, yogic or not, and don’t forget your practice clothes!