Saturday, January 10, 2009

Fifteen Minutes Yoga

So now I am ready to start Yoga. How do I go about it. What should I do. When do I perform Yoga, morning or evening. Where do I do Yoga, inside, outside, noisy or quiet surroundings. All these questions must be clearly answered for a person starting to do Yoga.

Why am I doing Yoga, what is my goal, what shall I achieve after practicing for a month, two months, a year.

One can perform Yoga at a time that one is available, preferably in a quiet place, covered from above. There should not be food in the stomach, that means four hours after meals, or two hours after snacks. Early morning is a good time, sure, but most of us get up late and then rush through the morning essentials, grabbing a bite, and get to our place of work.

If you are advised to get up at 5 AM and do Yoga, the only achievement you are going to have is a serious feeling of guilt everyday, of not being able to do. Ideally whatever time you come back from work is a good time to refresh yourself before anything else. Take off your shoes, wash your hands, smile at your children and wife, listen to them, and take to your Yoga corner, with a mat. If the place is less noisy, it is better. Wear comfortable clothes, your choice, not mine. Your body should not be constrained. Indoors is better initially.

Sit down, say a little prayer with eyes closed.

If you got 15 minutes, start with a fifteen minute session. Do one or two systematic breathing exercises synchronising breath with body movements (total three minutes), and one relaxation exercise (three minutes)and five minutes of Pranayama say Anuloma -viloma, and 'sectional breathing'. This followed by a small prayer should take you 15 minutes.

What will you get, it will certainly be worth the time and effort. Relaxed body and mind to start with. Hopefully, much more....let's see.