There are many styles and lineages of yoga and with such a rich history and variety of offerings, it can sometimes be confusing to understand the difference between these styles and to find a class that is best for you.

Restorative yoga tends to be more gentle and may also cater to people who are recovering from injuries. Ashtanga or vinyasa styles tend to be more aerobic, but may still include meditative components. Bikram or hot yoga classes are practiced in a heated room. Some classes have a specified sequence that should be followed each class. And there are numerous other styles which will also vary depending on the teacher. Many yoga classes fall under the large umbrella of Hatha Yoga.

For someone who is beginning to explore yoga, I recommend a strategy of identifying your needs and then finding a class that you like which also meets these needs. If you are looking for relaxation or exercise or both, find a class and instructor who can help fulfill those needs. Shanti.

Developing and maintaining a strong abdominal area or "core" can be essential to proper alignment, maintenance of posture and to prevent low back pain.

Many poses in yoga focus on strengthening the core, but a quintessential pose for this area is "navasana," also called "boat pose". Try incorporating this pose into your practice to strengthen the abdominal muscles. There are several variations of this posture and you might start with the bent-knee variation (with shins parallel to the floor.)

shanti.

Muscular strength and joint mobility begin to decrease in adults after the age of twenty-five; this occurs for many reasons that are both physiological (reduced tendon elasticity, reduction in the number of Type II muscle fibers) and environmental (an inactive lifestyle.) However, we can greatly improve muscle/joint function and impede degenerative processes through activity:

For joints: Engage in activities that take the joints through their full range of motion daily.

For muscle: Improve muscular strength through resistance or weight training. This can include exercises in which you resist against the weight of your own body.

Aging is a good thing, it means that we're living. Choose some activities to enhance the quality of your living.

shanti.