| Questions About Yoga | |
| Q: What is yoga? | back to top |
| A: The word yoga, from the Sanskrit word yuj means to yoke or bind and is often interpreted as "union" or a method of discipline. A male who practices yoga is called a yogi, a female practitioner, a yogini.
The Indian sage Patanjali is believed to have collated the practice of yoga into the Yoga Sutra an estimated 2,000 years ago. The Sutra is a collection of 195 statements that serves as a philosophical guidebook for most of the yoga that is practiced today. It also outlines eight limbs of yoga: the yamas (restraints), niyamas (observances), asana (postures), pranayama (breathing), pratyahara (withdrawal of senses), dharana (concentration), dhyani (meditation), and samadhi (absorption). As we explore these eight limbs, we begin by refining our behavior in the outer world, and then we focus inwardly until we reach samadhi (liberation, enlightenment). Today most people practicing yoga are engaged in the third limb, asana, which is a program of physical postures designed to purify the body and provide the physical strength and stamina required for long periods of meditation. |
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| Q: What is Pilates? | back to top |
A: The Pilates method refers to a series of conditioning exercises that combine stretching, elongating, strengthening and breathing. This form of exercise has become popular for its low stress approach to building strength, increasing flexibility and its emphasis on balance and posture. Pilates' exercise is done with mindful attention to each movement and with an emphasis on quality and precision as opposed to simply focusing on the number of repetitions. These carefully executed movements can help you to become more aware of strengths and weaknesses in your body, achieve greater balance, coordination and symmetry and help you to avoid injury in day-to-day activities. Great for Ab toning! (just take a look at the renowned Melissa Enfield, our pilates instructor!) |
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Q: I've never done yoga before, is it safe for the complete beginner? |
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| A: Yes!! Absolutely. It is important to be gentle and allow yourself time to get used to the process. Give yourself at least 10 classes and take it easy; lie down when you feel like it. You are clearing toxins and stretching like never before so it is normal to feel a bit overwhelmed at first. Be patient and you will transform yourself. | |
| Q: I am not flexible. Is yoga for me? | back to top |
A: Yes! You are a perfect candidate for yoga. Many people think that they need to be flexible to begin yoga, but that's a little bit like thinking that you need to be able to play tennis in order to take tennis lessons. Come as you are and you will find that yoga practice will help you become more flexible. This newfound agility will be balanced by strength, coordination, and enhanced cardiovascular health, as well as a sense of physical confidence and overall well-being. |
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| Q: Can yoga help me lose weight? | |
| A: Yes! Choose an ashtanga yoga (also known as "power" yoga) or an anusara-inspired class. Because of the rigorous nature of these classes it is an excellent cardiovascular workout, a key element in weight loss. In addition, the body is reshaped by burning fat and creating muscle tone. Students who come frequently in the first 3-6 months enjoy the best results. Try to do as many classes as possible in the first 60 days! You will be amazed! | |
| Q: How many times per week should I practice? | back to top |
| A: Yoga is amazing–even if you only practice for one hour a week, you will experience the benefits of the practice. If you can do more than that, you will certainly experience more benefits. We suggest starting with two or three times a week, for an hour or an hour and a half each time. If you can only do 20 minutes per session, that's fine too. Don't let time constraints or unrealistic goals be an obstacle–do what you can and don't worry about it. You will likely find that after awhile your desire to practice expands naturally and you will find yourself doing more and more. | |
| Q: How is yoga different from stretching or other kinds of fitness? | back to top |
| A: Unlike stretching or fitness, yoga is more than just physical postures. Patanjali's eight-fold path illustrates how the physical practice is just one aspect of yoga. Even within the physical practice, yoga is unique because we connect the movement of the body and the fluctuations of the mind to the rhythm of our breath. Connecting the mind, body, and breath helps us to direct our attention inward. Through this process of inward attention, we learn to recognize our habitual thought patterns without labeling them, judging them, or trying to change them. We become more aware of our experiences from moment to moment. The awareness that we cultivate is what makes yoga a practice, rather than a task or a goal to be completed. Your body will most likely become much more flexible by doing yoga, and so will your mind. | |
| Q: What do I need to begin? | back to top |
| A: All you really need to begin practicing yoga is your body, your mind, and a bit of curiosity. But it is also helpful to have a pair of sweat pants, leggings, or shorts, and a t-shirt that's not too baggy. No special footgear is required because you will be barefoot. It's nice to bring a towel to class with you. As your practice develops you might want to buy your own yoga mat, but we have mats ($1 rental fee) and other props available for you. | |
| Q: Why are you supposed to refrain from eating two to three hours before class? | back to top |
| A: In yoga practice we twist from side to side, turn upside down, and bend forward and backward. If you have not fully digested your last meal, it will make itself known to you in ways that are not comfortable. If you are a person with a fast-acting digestive system and are afraid you might get hungry or feel weak during yoga class, experiment with a light snack such as yogurt, a few nuts, or juice about 30 minutes to an hour before class. | |
| Q: What does "Namaste" mean? | back to top |
| A: The gesture Namaste represents the belief that there is a Divine spark within each of us that is located in the heart chakra. The gesture is an acknowledgment of the soul in one by the soul in another. "Nama" means bow, "as" means I, and "te" means you. Therefore, Namaste literally means "bow me you" or "I bow to you." | |
| Q: How do I get to The Yoga Studio? | back to top |
A: We are located at 40 Eglinton Avenue East, 8th Floor. The Eglinton subway station is just around the corner from us. We are 1/2 block east from Yonge & Eglinton on the north side. We are in the building with the Second Cup on the ground floor. Map We also have a location at The Yorkville Club at 87 Avenue Rd. |
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| Q: Do you sell mats at your studio? | back to top |
| A: For those of you interested in buying your very own yoga mat, we have a variety of mats to choose from. We sell basic tapas mats, thicker ultra-mats and the famous mandara mat - voted the best yoga mat period, based after the manduka. We also have a wide range of props including bolsters, mat bags, straps, books, cds, bolsters, and much more!
For those of you who don't want to buy a mat, we have rental mats available for for $1. |
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| Q: Do I have to register before coming to a class? | back to top |
A: We have two types of classes: drop in classes and pre-registered classes. Our drop in classes classes do not require registration. We suggest that you come about 15 minutes early for your first time so that you can fill out our waiver and get yourself settled, but that's it! Our pre-registered courses do require pre-registration. These courses are courses which usually run for a 4-6 week period, and they build upon one another, and give you more personalized instruction due to smaller class sizes. We suggest you register 7 days in advance in order to guarantee a space, as space is limited. |
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| Q: What makes The Yoga Studio so special? | back to top |
| A: The Yoga Studio has been around for over a decade! We are one of the first yoga studios in the city. We are also the largest, with 3 studios in one space. We offer a wide variety of classes and class times, making all types of yoga accessible to all people. Our location also makes The Yoga Studio one of the most accessible studios around - a 30 second walk from yonge and eglinton! The Yoga Studio is known for its great teachers and inspirational space. Just come in for a class and you will see what all the hype is about! | |