The following is a compilation of some of the most common misconceptions about yoga I come across, and my responses to them.
“I can’t even touch my toes, how am I supposed to do yoga?”
This is a very popular fear and misconception that keeps people from trying yoga for the first time. While flexibility is important to perform certain poses, no teacher expects a new student to be super limber. Flexibility comes with time and practice; it is not a requirement to walk in the door.
“Yoga is too hard.”
Some styles of yoga are very challenging, however other styles such as Hatha, Yin and Restorative Yoga are gentle, and offer a great starting point to build up strength and stamina for harder classes.
“Just sitting there and breathing is not my thing, I need something more active.”
If you want a hard workout that challenges every single muscle group and more, seek an Ashtanga, Power Vinyasa or Bikram Yoga class. These classes are not for the timid and do require a moderate to high level of fitness to attend.
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Hatha yoga is one of those commonly misunderstood and misused words in yoga. Unlike Ashtanga, Bikram or Iyengar, which are specific styles of yoga, Hatha yoga is the umbrella term for what Westerners consider to be yoga. In truth, Hatha yoga is the actual physical practice of yoga, or the postures. Therefore, all yoga that involves asana or postures is hatha yoga.
What it is
Hatha comes from two Sanskrit words: ha meaning sun and tha meaning moon. Implied in its meaning is the idea of uniting opposites, like the sun and moon or yoga’s specific meaning of yoking the mind, body and spirit together.
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Tune in this Friday, January 7 to the Rachael Ray Show when Academy Award winning actress, Gwyneth Paltrow stops by for the first time.
Gwyneth will dish with Rachael about the fitness routine that keeps her slim, as well as her new singing role in the movie Country Song, which she reportedly gained 20 pounds in order to play the role of a country singer desperate to make a comeback.
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Tune in this Friday, March 19 to the Rachael Ray Show to hear one woman’s inspirational story about losing 164 pounds, and find out her number one tip for keeping the weight off!
Julie struggled with her weight her entire life and reached a high of 321 pounds, but it wasn’t until her mother was diagnosed with cancer that she decided to make a change.
After doing research and learning that being morbidly obese increases your risk of cancer, Julie committed herself to Weight Watchers and their Lose for Good campaign. The 32-year-old has since lost 164 pounds, and she tells Rachael the most important thing she gained from the program.
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Some common names we think of when it comes to yoga include Ashtanga, Bikram, or Vinyassa, but Raja yoga is not one that quickly comes to mind, unless you’re Deepak Chopak or a devotee of this ancient spiritual practice.
So exactly what is Raja yoga? Here is a basic overview of this transforming and meditative style of yoga.
The Philosophy
Raja yoga, or sometimes referred to as Raj yoga, literally translates to the ”royal way to union,” with union representing the melding of the mind, body and spirit.
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