I’m not flexible. Can I do yoga?

Yes. Absolutely. Flexibility is not a pre-requisite to practicing yoga, but it is one of the beneficial side effects! Media depictions of yoga might lead us to believe that to do yoga is turn your body into a pretzel. That’s simply not true. Yoga is a practice that meets you where you are. Yoga is not limited to people who can touch their toes, stand on their hands, sit on the floor, or close their eyes while standing on one foot. If you can breathe, you can practice yoga.

I have an injury. Can I do yoga?

The short answer is yes, but we always recommend consulting with your doctor about physical injuries or conditions that may impact the way you practice prior to picking up or continuing your yoga practice. Our teachers are skilled in offering modifications but we are not doctors. It is always best to follow your doctor’s orders and listen to your body. Whether you’re injured or not, if it hurts, don’t do it.

How often should I practice yoga?

It’s ideal to practice at least 2-3 times a week. When you practice at least twice a week, your body will have time to get used to postures, the flow of classes, and you will be providing yourself with the opportunity to build a solid foundation for the rest of your yoga practice.

I haven’t done yoga in a while. Where should I start?

If you are free from injury, consider beginning with a Hatha or Vinyasa Level I or I/II. If you’re looking for our most accessible yoga class, start with Gentle Yoga, Yoga for Longevity, or Qigong.

What does a typical yoga class look like?

Most classes begin with centering, a few minutes to land in the present moment. Next you’’ll move onto warm-ups, movements and poses to prepare the body for asana (yoga poses) that follow. After the asana, you can expect some stretching to cool down. After cooling down you’ll move into savasana (final relaxation), a few minutes where you can get comfy, relax, and integrate your work on the mat. Some classes may also incorporate meditation. Pranayama (breath work), will be woven in throughout class.

What is Qigong?

Qigong (pronounced CHEE Gong) literally means “Energy Work” or “Cultivate Energy”.  It is an Ancient Chinese practice that includes T’ai Chi as one of its branches.   Qigong began thousands of years ago as a practice to support health and longevity. T’ai Chi originated hundreds of years ago as a martial arts practice but today T’ai Chi is recognized as having health benefits when practiced regularly: for balance, focus, joint health, longevity, and immunity .   Qigong provides the same benefits as T’ai Chi.  It also nurtures the body, mind, and soul to release tension, calms the mind, and soothes the nervous system.  

Qigong is similar to Yoga in that it is a holistic ancient, mind body practice, designed to cultivate balance, reduce stress, create inner peace, and circulate life-force energy (called prana in Yoga and qi in qigong). Both Qigong and Yoga have breath practices and meditation, where practices often synchronize breath with movement and combine movement with mindfulness.  Although Yoga originated in India and Qigong developed independently in China, there is historical evidence that the early forms of qigong and Chinese health practices were enriched with methods and philosophies of India when Buddhism spread from India to China during the Han dynasty and when an Indian monk brought teachings to the Shaolin Temple in the 5thor 6th century CE.  

How does a Qigong class differ from a T’ai Chi class?

There is no need to memorize long series of movements in Qigong. The Qigong movements are more easily adaptable than T’ai Chi for various abilities and can even be done seated.  The emphasis in Qigong is on flow rather than strict rules or postures.  Less space is needed in Qigong than in T’ai Chi where wide fluid movements are required. 

Some find Qigong easier to learn than T’ai Chi.  Note that many T’ai Chi classes include Qigong practices as warm-ups.  Qigong classes may also include forms (i.e., sequences of movements) but the postures in the form contain the characteristics described above (i.e., repetitive, simpler, requiring less space) so no memorization is needed. 

How does a Qigong class differ from a Yoga class?

There is no floor work in Qigong so you will not need a mat.  Qigong movements emphasize constant, slow, relaxed motion to develop joint elasticity, balance organ systems, and enhance the flow of energy in the body.  Movements in Qigong tend to be flowing and circular.   Traditional Hatha Yoga asanas in contrast, tend to be more linear with the intent to stretch and strengthen muscles. Inverted postures, which are common in Yoga, are not as common in Qigong, which focuses instead on grounding and balance. Qigong’s focus on elasticity and internal strength rather than stretching and external muscle engagement helps avoid overstretching the joints.

Have a question we haven’t answered here? Email sarah@thehappyyogi.com