Philosophy

The goal of yoga is to beget a calm and equanimous life.

A yoga class incorporates 3 main aspects, they are:

  1. Postures

  2. Breath

  3. Mental focus

Movements and postures in a yoga class are designed to make us move with ease and feel comfortable whether we are sitting, standing, or lying down in our daily lives. The emphasis and the different approaches on how to breathe helps to focus the mind and allowing our emotion to feel more settle and calmer.

Postures

The goal of yoga postures is to make us fit. There should be no pain when practising yoga. Any pain, cramps, or even a tiny itch that arises from doing a posture should be investigated. However, in order to build strength and develop flexibility, there should be enough postures in a practice that requires effort and allowing relaxation in between and at the end. A practice that is too easy does not build strength nor develop flexibility that our body needs. However extreme effort on the other hand may cause fatigue or injury.

Progressions and modifications are necessary for people with different capabilities to achieve steadiness, comfort and body awareness.

Breathing

Ideally, yoga postures and movements are practise with ujjayi breathing. However, we can choose to use natural breath as long as it is long and smooth.

The ujjayi is also called throat breathing. It is done by contracting the throat to make a sound which likens the hissing sound of a cobra just loud enough for ourselves to hear. The purpose of ujjayi is to lengthen and smoothen the breath.  

The breath can be a barometer of how we feel in a posture. If the breath becomes shallow and fast, or if we are holding on to our breath, it may indicate that the posture is too hard and intensity needs to be reduced.

Mental focus

When we connect the breath to movements, we involve the mind and keep it focus on the body and breath. We can begin to learn this through one breath one movement then progress to encompassing the movement in one breath.

Concentration on movement and breath can create calmness and clarity which helps to reduce anxiety and stress.