Yoga is often associated with promoting strength and flexibility, therapeutic value, and overall personal development. This activity is indeed very beneficial. It can be done in a class with other practitioners, or at home. It is also easy enough to be performed by people of all ages. However, Yoga can do much more harm than good if not done properly. You can get muscle strain and even injuries in some parts of your body. Here is a list of guidelines to keep in mind to stay injury-free while practicing Yoga:

Find a reputable Yoga instructor.

It is ideal to practice Yoga under the supervision of a certified Yoga instructor who can see if you are doing the Yoga Poses correctly and help you when necessary. You also need to tell your instructor if you are pregnant or if you have had any injuries, surgery, or special needs. He or she will be able to modify the poses or suggest other exercises that will meet your needs. Ask your doctor if you can practice Yoga.

Practicing Yoga is not a competition.

If you are practicing Yoga with other people, there is no point in comparing your performance to theirs. Should you get left behind, just do your own thing at your own pace and do not force yourself to keep up with them. Besides, there is no hurry when it comes to Yoga. Carry out each pose gently while breathing slowly and evenly. Start with the basic poses and if your body is up for it, move on to difficult ones.

Stay within your limits.

Prevent injuries by knowing what you can and cannot do. Your Yoga instructor can assist you in determining the poses suitable for your ability level. If you feel something painful, stop doing the pose.

Do some Warm-up exercises before a Yoga session.

Relax your muscles and promote blood circulation prior to a Yoga session by doing some Warm-up exercises. Stretching is a good way to improve flexibility of the muscles.

Wear loose clothing that will make you comfortable.

Being comfortable with what you are wearing can make Yoga a lot more enjoyable to do. This activity requires a wide range of motion so avoid wearing clothes which can restrict your movement.

While a certified Yoga instructor can guide and help you in doing the poses, it is only you who really knows what’s good for your body and personal well-being. Yoga should be a relaxing experience, not a cause of pain. Listen to your body as you practice Yoga so you can reap the numerous benefits that it can offer you. 

from :http://www.abc-of-yoga.com/info/yoga-safety-tips.asp

       

The skyrocketing popularity of Yoga in the Western countries is something that cannot be left ignored. With the pace of time, yoga is gaining more and more popularity than ever before. Millions of people from all across the globe now choose to enroll themselves in Yoga classes. As there are various types of yoga including Power Yoga, Vinyasa Yoga, Bikram Yoga, Iyenger Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga, and Hatha Yoga to name of few, people seem to get puzzled regarding this matter to some extent. The main objective of this article is to let you understand the logic behind some of the most popular styles of yoga so that it’d be an easier job for you to choose the right one for you.
Hatha Yoga – “Ha” refers to “sun” and “tha” refers to “moon” in the Sanskrit language. This style of yoga is comparatively slow paced, and is quite gentle kind of Yoga. Additionally, Hatha Yoga is best for the person who is completely a newbie in the world of Yoga and lack knowledge about yoga poses. Hatha Yoga helps in uniting the body, mind, and spirit.
Ashtanga Yoga –In Sanskrit, Ashtanga means “eight limbs” and I’d like to mention that I prefer doing this Yoga in a regular basis. In fact, this is my favorite kind of yoga.  It actually is a fast paced, intense kind of Yoga practice. You can ensure that you’ll be enhancing your flexibility, strength and stamina to a great extent if you prefer undergoing Ashtanga Yoga daily as you’ll require moving immediately from one pose to another, which is no doubt physically demanding.

Power Yoga – It is believed that this yoga has actually been derived from Ashtanga Yoga and is highly preferred in western countries. Although the classes of Power Yoga may not absolutely stick to the accurate sequence of postures as Ashtanga Yoga does, it does include practicing a sequence of yoga postures without resting.
Iyengar Yoga – The Yoga actually started its journey being based on the teachings by B.K.S Igengar and focuses on the right form and alignment of the human body. When it comes to Iyengar Yoga, one should necessarily hold his every posture for a long duration of time rather than changing it continuously. 
Vinyasa Yoga – The “Vinyasa” refers to “breath synchronized movement” in Sanskrit and is considered as next fast paced Yoga. The yoga actually emphasis on one’s breathing manners.
Bikram Yoga – This yoga is also well-known as “Hot Yoga”. The requirements necessary to perform Bikram Yoga includes a room of 105 degrees where the level of humidity is at least 40 percent. Normally, a sequence of total 26 different postures is practiced throughout a Bikram Yoga practice and the hot temperature assists in loosening one’s muscles. The high temperature also helps in cleaning the toxins present in body via their sweat.
If you are recently getting started with yoga and have never undergone any sort of yoga before, I strongly recommended trying a couple of different yoga styles in order to figure out what you think is best in your case!

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