YOGA: a 5000 year old tradition
A practice that combines physical, mental and spiritual discipline.
Yoga has become my backbone; my base, the way of connecting to ancient knowledge and deeply hidden wisdom that we encounter in this process helping us to balance and live a more fulfilling life. Over 21 years I discovered Yoga without knowing that it would become one of my most important tools, both within my personal and my professional life.
It all started because of the immense health benefits I gained within just six months. These included the disappearance of my Pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS), improvement of skin disorders and lowering my anxiety levels. Yet, yoga did not just have a positive impact on my physical health, but it also tool me through a whole journey of spiritual and personal transformation.
With the years I have come to see it as a powerful tool that helps us to gain balance, within ourselves, with others and the world around us. At first I found it boring and repetitive, however, as I explored it more I could see the value within discipline and how it can help you to connect with your inner peace. As I started living its benefits, I just wanted more and more, until accidentally I had the privilege of teaching it at my local community centre. Of course, this two year long experience taught me so much more, that I decided to become a fully qualified Yoga teacher in India, Kerala.
I had the privilege of being trained at the Sivananda Vydia Peetham School giving me full access to a unique method to teach this ancient technique, helping me to share an important message:
“Health is Wealth, Peace of Mind Happiness, Yoga Shows the Way” Swami Vishnu-devananda
As part of it, I learned systematic methods that help us to get into deep meditative states, and the importance of connecting to our breath to gain vitality, which are the most important aspects I emphasise within my lessons.
Of course, my teaching style has also been widely influenced by my dance skills and my previous years of self-practice, allowing me to bring in elements of flow and strengthening exercises that compliment the sequences I share with others. More recently I have offered classes in China, where we practiced Invigorating morning yoga sessions, Yoga flow and Hatha yoga for adults.
Everyday I continue to learn both from exchanging the knowledge and from all teachers that I encounter in my path, for this I am extremely grateful.
The benefits of Yoga:
Yoga is one of the best ways to overcome stress as well as many modern disorders and it helps us to come closer to overall Physical, Mental, and Emotional well being. It affects us by giving us greater strength, flexibility and a sense of balance, as it is deeply relaxing and grounding.
At the end of a yoga session carried out with care, attention, and intention, you will be able to notice a feeling of deep, but alert relaxation right at the end and thereafter.
Yoga uses the body to transform the mind, and it helps us to become more attuned with ourselves in order to reach our highest potential and our innate peace. We become more re-calibrated and experience a sense of harmony and vitality which cannot be reached with any other form physical of training.
It has been found to improve circulation resulting from movement, and efficient muscle and breath use, affecting muscle tone, joint mobility and posture. Moreover, it renews the functioning of our internal organs and connective tissues, allowing our bodies to release toxins. It is in itself, the best way to prevent disease, hence the reason why I fell in love with it, wouldn’t you?
Beginner Yoga – Questions & Answers (Q&As)
1. What is Yoga?
Yoga is a mind-body practice that combines physical postures (asanas), breathing exercises (pranayama), and mindfulness to improve flexibility, strength, balance, and inner peace. It helps reduce stress while enhancing a feeling of overall well-being.
2. Do I need to be flexible to start yoga?
No way! Yoga is for all body types and starting points. Flexibility will develop over time as a result of consistent practice. You practice yoga as a way to become flexible—not because you already are. As you use yoga as a tool to get to know your body better, you will be able to work by yourself or together with an experienced teacher to help you walk through the right sequences so you can reach your own personal target.
3. How often should beginners practice yoga?
Based on my own personal experience as a teacher, I can suggest that there is no set frequency as long as you approach the practice with curiosity and self-care. What is recommended in order to begin feeling the benefits of this practice is that you approach it with consistency, therefore practicing AT LEAST once a week to begin with. Of course, the more you practice within a given week, the more you will feel the benefits. If you can practice 2–4 times per week, even for20 to 30 minutes you will not only experience the physical benefits of the practice but you will also begin to builddiscipline, consistency and confidence.
4. What equipment do I need for this course?
· A yoga mat
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Comfortable clothing
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Water to stay hydrated (ideally, before and after the practice)
A more elaborate answer will pretty much advise you to do some research beforehand or get guided by an experienced teacher, so you can take into consideration your alignment, body type and any medical or structural issues.
In case you have knee problems, back problems or previous joint/ mobility issues or any medical history you will need cushions, blankets or an extra mat to support you. Blocks and straps may also come in handy while other props can be added later depending on whether you want to work on mobility, strength or flexibility.
5. Can I practice yoga if I have injuries or medical conditions?
Yes, but you MUST always consult your doctor FIRST. Most poses can be modified to fit your bodyand to help you practice safely but you must consult a specialist first. Best advise is to attend an in-person class, discussing your medical needs or injuries with a knowledgeable teacher so any necessary adjustments can be made.
6. What is the best time of day to practice?
There is no “best” time as it depends on your personal needs and your existing daily routines. A morning practice will energize you, while practicing Yoga in the evening will help release tension and prepare you for a good night of sleep. Allow 2 hours before/after meals as it is best to practice Yoga on an empty stomach. With this in mind, just choose a time you can consistently commit to.
7. How should I breathe during yoga?
Breathing is a key aspect to the practice, many schools suggest different breathing techniques. However, as a beginner, I personally recommend to first become an observer of your breath, focusing on the way the breath enters your lungs and the movements created within your body.
Making sure you breathe in through your nose deeply and exhaling as slowly as possible. Use your breath as your main point of focus during your movements bringing in more mindfulness to your practice. If you lose control of your breath or become tense during this process, , simply breath as usual or pause and reset.
8. What is the difference between yoga and stretching?
Yoga includes stretching but also adds:
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mindful breathing
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alignment
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mental focus
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full-body awareness
It’s a holistic practice which does not just improve your physical body and the elasticity of your muscles but also brings in a tone of other benefits as well.
9. How long will it take to see progress?
Beginners often feel improvements in 1–3 weeks with regular practice—these can include better posture, reduced stresslevels, and more flexibility. Every body progresses differently depending on how you approach the practice.
10. I can’t balance in standing poses. What should I do?
This is Actually very common at the very beginning, just make sure you use the correct props, a chair or a wall for support. Keep your gaze fixed on one point and if you can get your posture checked by a Yoga teacher who can help you and give you some tips. Balance improves dramatically with practice, keep showing up and don’t worry if it feels difficult at first.
11. Is yoga a workout or a relaxation practice?
This is what makes Yoga so unique, as can be both. Some schools have a more gentle and calming approach, while others build sequences to build more strength and make you sweat.
In the traditional sense, Yoga was not created as a workout or as a relaxation practice but as a way to live life in harmony, incorporating balance within and without. This meant that the practitioner would gain tools to keep an overall level of optimum health by balancing their physical body as well as all other aspects in order to live a better quality of life.
As Yoga approached the west, it has now become dependent on who and how they teach it, but the more you get closer the Hatha Yoga or the classical schools, you will be able to experience it not only as a physically strengthening practice but also as a relaxation practice and so much more!
12. What should I do if I feel overwhelmed or frustrated?
Slow down, modify poses, or take Child’s Pose. Yoga is not about perfection—it’s about exploration and connection with your body. If this feeling does not go away, I recommend attending an in-person class and discussing these concerns with an experienced teacher.
13. Can yoga help with weight loss?
Absolutely! Yoga is well known for helping to improve metabolism, reduce stress-related eating, increase muscle tone, and encourage healthier lifestyle habits. Just remember, one session alone will not do miracles; consistency matters more than intensity.
14. Why is mindfulness important in yoga?
Mindfulness keeps you safely aligned, helps reduce stress, and trains your mind to stay focused. Italso turns physical postures into a meditative experience that enhances your overall sense of being in the present moment.
15. Practicing online or practicing Yoga in a studio, what is better?
It depends, if you train online with an experienced teacher who can guide you as you build your connection to your body, checking your posture and your alignment; it can sometimes be better than attending a Yoga studio and not being able to access a well prepared teacher who can guide you properly.
In general terms, face to face Yoga is a MUCH better deal, especially if you can do it in India where you can get the real deal (joke is on me). But, let’s be honest, it can be time consuming as well a more expensive choice, so I would stick to finding a really good teacher at your local Yoga center. But if you cannot access a good Yoga centre and you have not managed to connect with the teacher of your dreams, online gentle practice can still work out as the best option, so it all depends on your circumstances.
16. At what age is best to start Yoga?
Regardless of your age, now is the best time to start Yoga, after all Yoga is all about finding balance. What you experience as balance can be at one point perfect and then become unbalancing at another point in your life, depending on what is going on in your life.
What you need to be mindful of, is the different schools or what most refer to as “styles”, as their teachings may not fit certain body types, injuries, or they may not relate to you at a particular point. If you aim for gentle Hatha Yoga, you will be good to go! All postures and sequences can be adjusted to adapt to YOUR physical needs, after all the real aim of Yoga is overall balance not handstands.