Yoga Quotes

The body is your temple. Keep it pure and clean for the soul to reside in. —B.K.S. lyengar

Life is not about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself. —Source Unknown.

What you think you create. What you feel you attract. What you imagine you become. —Source Unknown

Life isn’t measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away —Author Unknown

What lies before us and what lies behind us is nothing compared to what lies within us.— Emerson

Life is not about finding yourself, life is about creating yourself —Source Unknown

Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift, that’s why they call it present —Source Unknown

Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without. —Buddha

The way is not in the sky. The way is in the heart. —Buddha

To conquer oneself is a greater task than conquering others. —Buddha

Knowing others is intelligence. Knowing yourself is true wisdom. —Lao Tse

We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think, when the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves. —Buddha

Breathing into a space of peace, calm and tranquility. To Understand everything is to Forgive everything. —Buddha

Laugh as much as you breathe and love as long as you live. —Anonymous

Yoga is like music. The rhythm of the body, the melody of the mind and the harmony of the soul create the symphony of life. —B.K.S. lyengar

Whatever you do in life, yoga shows you how to do it better. —Chuck Miller

Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment. —Buddha

And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years. —Abraham Lincoln

The strength of a tree lies in its ability to bend. —Zen Proverb

Man is a creature of habits. When you do yoga, you unlearn your habits. —Bharat Thakur

Yoga is like music. The rhythm of the body, the melody of the mind and the harmony of the soul create the symphony of life. —B.K.S. lyengar

What to Expect When Starting a Yoga Routine

Yoga. We’ve all heard the word and seen the mats everyone seems to carry around with them these days. But can yoga really help improve your health and fitness levels? The answer is yes, definitely – provided that you start safely and sensibly and know what to expect.

Why Yoga?

Yoga can help you get fit quickly and safely because it uses the weight of your body to tone and trim. It is low impact, and good for people of all ages and body types who want to build their strength and stay fix and flexible.

You’re Never too Old for Yoga

Yoga is ideal even for seniors because it can improve range of motion, balance, and stability. It also relieves stiffness. The long lean muscle built through yoga can protect bones and aging joints in order to keep you mobile and injury-free. Those muscles can also help boost your metabolism so you will burn more calories, which is ideal if you wish to lose weight.

Thousands of Years of Proof That It Works

Yoga has been used for thousands of years for health, healing, and fitness. It may seem weird or “New Age” to us in the West, but the truth is that Hatha yoga has been practiced for thousands of years in the Far East.

The health benefits of a regular yoga practice include increased:

• Concentration
• Strength
• Flexibility
• Long, lean muscle
• Stamina

Yoga will decrease:

• Anxiety
• Stress
• Tension
• Blood pressure
• Stiffness

Safety First

Before you start to twist yourself into a pretzel, it is important to put safety first. If you have any underlying health issues, check with your doctor before starting yoga. Choose a yoga that is low impact, such as Hatha, Kundalini or Vinyasa, compared to the more demanding forms such as Bikram (hot yoga) or Ashtanga.

Be aware of any old or recent injuries and protect your back and knees. Start with yoga poses that can work your core muscles, such as Mountain, Tree, and the Warrior series of poses, and Plank pose. A good set of abdominal and back muscles will give your practice stability and help keep you safe.

Don’t believe the myth of “no pain, no gain” in reference to yoga. That is the surest way to sideline yourself with a potentially serious injury. After a workout, it is natural to feel a little sore the next day, but if this persists, rest those muscles until the strain in healed.

Practice on a level surface and use a non-skid mat so you do not slip. It will cushion your joints as well when doing your poses. Warm-up before and cool down after with some gentle stretching. Stay warm but not too hot. Cold muscles will tense can be injured more easily.

If you are using a DVD, work at your own pace. Pause it as needed. If you are confused, look up the poses online at a reliable site like Yoga Journal.

Enjoy your meditations. Think of them as a mini-break from your daily life even if some of them seem weird. Chanting mantras such as OM might also seem a bit odd, but you will soon notice your body, mind, and spirit all becoming in tune with each other.

Don’t skip deep relaxation at the end. This is usually done lying down in Corpse pose and is a great way to de-stress.

Now that you know what to expect, start a daily yoga practice and see what a difference it can make to your health.