Frequently Asked Questions
and some comments, for good measure
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Benefits of YogaQ: Why do people take yoga? What are the benefits? —S.L.P.
The reasons people take yoga are numerous. The most straightforward and well documented are physical, such as flexibility, balance, muscular strength, and endurance. Other benefits include relaxation, reduced stress, depression, and anxiety, and improved breathing. I started yoga because I like to move, and continued because it relaxes me like little else. It improved my patience and ability to sit for long periods, which I later learned was an inspiration for its development.
One classmate said, “I take yoga because of the smile it puts on my face for the rest of the day.” Another said, “I sleep better, feel less stressed out, and have a better week. Moving makes me feel alive and in the moment.” And another, “ In yoga, my mind really stops and I'm able to feel silence. It’s hard otherwise to get myself to stop thinking....I want to forget who I think I am and remember who I really am. After every class, I am inspired to treat myself better than I do—to eat better, get more sleep, forget about stress. Not that I do it, but I have great Tuesdays nonetheless.”
Q: Is yoga good for people with joint problems, such as knee or hip injuries? —P.W.
Yoga lubricates the joints, and is usually low impact, which are both good for knee and hip injuries. It’s important to be very aware of your alignment and not push yourself too far, especially where injury has occurred. If you have questions about this, always ask an instructor.
Q: Is yoga strenuous enough to count as aerobic exercise (for cardiovascular benefits)? If not, what are the ideal aerobic activities to complement yoga? —C.A.F.
This depends on the type of yoga, the class, and your level of fitness. Fast-paced yoga, like Ashtanga and Vinyasa, are generally aerobic. But some classes are slower than others, and teachers vary from class to class. It’s possible that the heat of Bikram will get your heart rate up as well. To be certain, you can take your heart rate in class. For info on your target aerobic rate, visit the CDC site.
The ideal aerobic activities to complement yoga? Dancing! for certain. We would all do well to get more dancing into our busy, chair-bound lives. What else? Frankly, whatever aerobic activities you enjoy. Because yoga in usually done inside, it’s a good idea to get outside. Walking, hiking, running, biking, rollerblading, & swimming are all fantastic. Choose whatever your body enjoys most. Activities done in the gym are all fine, too, though I’m not qualified to speak about them.
It’s a good idea to do aerobic work (other than yoga) either before your yoga practice or on a different day entirely. After Savasana (the final resting pose), it’s best to let your body assimilate the benefits of the class rather than skip off to another intense physical activity. But if you want to try it and it feels good to you, why not?
Q: What medical research has been done on yoga and/or meditation? —D.D.
More and more research is being done on the medical benefits of yoga and meditation. An excellent reference site is called Open Mind Open Body, by a psychologist and yoga teacher at Stanford. Browse the rest of her site as well for excellent general articles, podcasts, and an online community.
Q: What are the physical and health benefits of each posture? —C.C.Yoga Journal’s posefinder is an excellent resource on each pose. You can search for poses by “anatomical focus, therapeutic application, or contraindication, or just browse poses by (English or Sanskrit) name.”