Welcome to the transformative world of Yoga! Whether you already practise or you’ve been curious about it for a while, this guide to Yoga is your doorway to understanding more about Yoga. Plus, you can experience Yoga today with one of our 10-minute Yoga classes, it’s from our MerryBody App but we also published it on our YouTube channel for you to try!
We are so grateful for Yoga, it truly shifted our lives in so many positive ways.
Our first Yoga class was back in the early 2000’s, our Mum took us to our first class when I (Emma) was 15 and Carla was 13. To think all these years later we are teaching Yoga (and Pilates), Mum is working with us and we have our MerryBody App with hundreds of amazing Yoga, Pilates and Meditation classes. It’s been an amazing journey! And we are so glad you are here!
The Essence of Yoga: A Very Brief Overview
Yoga is an ancient practice, we’re talking thousands and thousands of years ancient! With its origins in ancient India, it’s a practice designed to balance mind, body and spirit. In Western culture it quickly became known for its physical benefits, however, Yoga runs far deeper than the surface level.
Yoga is a system that combines physical postures (asanas), breathing techniques (pranayama) and meditation (dhyana), to bring more harmony and good health in mind and body.
Yoga is not just a workout, it’s a way of living that encourages a more mindful and meaningful existence.
The Foundations of Yoga
Before you hit play on the 10 minute Yoga class, take a read of the foundational elements of Yoga.
Mindfulness
Yoga is about being present, in the here and the now. Each posture and breath you take while practising Yoga is an act of mindfulness, prepare to welcome a deep sense of peace and focus.
Flexibility and Strength
While Yoga is known for promoting flexibility (we can thank all those Instagram pics for that!) with consistent practice Yoga can also boost your strength. This is achieved through exercises that use your body weight.
Breath Control
Pranayama, or breath control, is important within Yoga. The breath is seen as the life force that connects the body and mind, and learning to control it can have profound effects on your overall well-being. You can read more about this over here, it’s super interesting!
Inner Peace
The ultimate goal of Yoga is to reach a state of inner peace and help you navigate the ups and downs of life. It doesn’t mean you are always in a state of inner peace (unless maybe you’re a monk) but you will experience more peace.
Why Practise Yoga?
There are so many benefits of Yoga, here are just some!
Improved Mental Health
Regular Yoga practice can decrease stress, anxiety and depression. Don’t just read about it, get ready to hit play on the below class and you will experience it for yourself! Bring on the relaxation.
Increased Strength and Flexibility
Yoga improves flexibility and muscle strength. This is done with movements and postures that stretch and strengthen different parts of the body. All we do is Pilates, Yoga and walk… we’ve never felt better!
Better Posture
In our MerryBody Yoga classes, we focus on improving posture. We’re living in a society where we are sitting more than ever, on the couch, at the desk, in the car and staring down at our phones. It’s crucial to counteract this forward-folding lifestyle. Try this class for desk workers.
Spiritual Growth
Yoga offers a path towards more self-awareness and a deeper connection to whatever it is that you believe in beyond the individual self.
Starting Your Yoga Journey
We’re so excited for you to take the next step of your Yoga journey.
Here are some tips to get you started:
Begin where you are, if you haven’t exercised in a while or if you have old injuries to work with, start with gentle poses. If you’re feeling fit and strong, start with basic poses and sequences. With each class, your confidence will grow, and soon you’ll find yourself taking more challenging poses. This slower approach will allow you to understand the foundations of Yoga Asana. This is important as it will help you create a safer and more effective practice.
If you’re practising at home (this is what we do and this is how we teach), create a dedicated space in your home (or office). Find a quiet, comfortable spot in your home where you can practise undisturbed. You don’t need a whole room, just enough space for a Yoga mat.
Consistency is key. Even a short 10 minute practice can have an amazing impact if done regularly.
Listen to your body. If a pose feels off, pull back and take a break. If you’re holding a Warrior 2 and you want to get out of it because your muscles are burning, we encourage you to stay for another breath. It’s about tuning into your body, knowing when to pull back and when to push through your resistance.
Press play on this 10 Minute Yoga class
Now… it’s time for Yoga. Press play on this class and let us know how you go! This class is designed to stretch out the hips, ahhhh, we have a feeling you will feel amazing!
The class is from our YouTube channel (we have a few free classes available there) and also inside our MerryBody App, the classes inside our App do not have ads.
If you’d like access to more short online classes, sign up for our 5 day Yoga and Pilates Challenge. Each day we will send you a 10 minute class to hit play on and help you move your amazing body!
If you have any questions about this guide to Yoga or the class, get in touch! We are here to help!
Always merrymaking,
Emma + Carla
Ps. hear us chat about the 10 Minute Class Challenge! And sign up here!