Tips for Beginners

It’s often difficult trying something different or going somewhere new

Perhaps you’ve never tried yoga before…or maybe you have…and the experience wasn’t what you were looking for.
Here at the Albany Yoga Room we want things to be different.
Every new student is welcomed very warmly and encouraged to work at their own pace. No pressure!
And if you come regularly for a while you will find yourself becoming part of a warm and welcoming group of friendly students – all happy to be there.

So, a few things you might like to know

  • If you arrive about 10 minutes early you will feel more relaxed when the class begins

  • Don’t eat a heavy meal for at least 2 hours before class

  • Tea and fruit a short while before class is fine, water after class is good

  • Wear clothes that can stretch – layers are good in case you get hot/cold

  • We practice barefoot

  • No need to book – just show up (except for Over-50’s or Mums & Babies)

  • Always tell the teacher before class if you have any injuries, back problems or joint problems

  • Also recent surgeries or medical issues such as high blood pressure

  • And remember – you are there to enjoy yourself. Don’t be competitive!

New Beginners Course

Health Benefits of Yoga

Yoga is good for everyone – you don’t have to be young and flexible.
In fact the first thing most beginners say is “I’m really stiff”- so don’t worry, that’s why you need yoga!

A few other good reasons?

  • Regular yoga practice brings strength, toning and flexibility to your body and helps to ease the aches and pains that come from our less-than-ideal lifestyles

  • Many students find relief from back or joint problems, headaches and a variety of other physical ailments through yoga

  • Yoga can improve your circulation, your digestion and elimination and strengthen your immune system

  • It is widely accepted that gentle inversions (upside down poses) are helpful for balancing the hormonal system – especially good for women!

  • Yoga practice also teaches you how to relax deeply, enabling you to deal with stress more efficiently, to breath easier and to sleep better at night

  • After only a short period of consistent practice you will enjoy renewed vigour and energy both physical and mental

  • As you move deeper into your practice you will begin to feel uplifted by a new sense of balance and harmony in your life

Our philosophy

We believe that absolutely everyone CAN benefit from yoga

We encourage you to accept both your strengths and your weaknesses and using THAT as your starting point, to make steady progress. The benefits of yoga are so wide-ranging, and are available to EVERYONE – so don’t get in your own way by expecting too much of yourself or expecting results overnight. A great place to learn yoga and also a good place for more experienced students to connect back to the basics. Albany Yoga Room welcomes beginners to all our yoga classes.

Life is full of change. Some we can control, some we cannot. Albany Yoga Room provides classes and support for individuals who are struggling with life’s changes. Using meditation, breath-work, philosophy, community, and asana, our teachings will help you feel grounded and supported through the challenges of life. And remember, when you first start coming to class, each and every class is different and that our teachers all teach in slightly different ways.

It is also our belief that the cost of classes should not come in the way of a dedicated student. So whilst we trust that all students who can afford to pay will do so, we are happy to offer financial assistance to those who are feeling the pinch due to the current recession. Students who can’t afford the full price of the classes may join us on a donation basis – just give what you can afford on the day. So if you need to take advantage of this offer please just ask.

Stress Management

The hectic pace of today’s world is taking a terrible toll on everyone’s health.
Stress is now recognised as the one common factor behind a multitude of diseases.

Yoga offers 2 distinct pathways to stress management:

  • The most specific practice to help relieve stress-related imbalances in both body and mind is Restorative Yoga. In this quiet gentle practice you will spend lots of time in comfortably supported poses simply breathing and stretching effortlessly until your body is completely relaxed. The deep relaxation of the body leads to a quietening of the mind and opens the opportunity for your body’s own healing mechanism to begin dealing with whatever problems exist. (For more see the Restorative page under Class Descriptions).

    This state of deep relaxation is also found (hopefully) at the end of every regular yoga class as we finish off each class with Savasana (Corpse Pose).

  • The less obvious pathway to stress management that we learn at yoga is a skill called svadhyaya – a Sanskrit word meaning self-study. Learning to observe the mind objectively is fundamental to treating anxiety.This art of self-study can allow you to observe physical, mental or emotional states in a neutral way. Svadhyaya can teach you how to observe an emotional state without being swept away by it.

    How? By watching for any stress in a particular pose you learn to note it, then pause before reacting. Watch where the stress goes in your body – the jaw? the neck?, the tummy? …. you learn to put yourself in an objective space in relationship to the thing that is making you anxious, and then choose how to respond.

    As you continue to practice, you begin to retrain your body and mind to create new responses to situations that would normally create anxiety. Instead of automatically stressing when a situation doesn’t go according to plan your reactions will become more conscious and more fluid. Less stress, less tension.

A spiritual journey

Since time began man has been asking the same questions – Who am I? Why am I here? Does my life have any real meaning? What is the point of it all?

The philosophy of yoga points to only one place for the seeker to begin the journey of discovery. And that is within the body.

Yoga is not a religion. The goal is to get connected to our higher Self, our inner wisdom; to free us from the trap of our chatter-filled mind and see beyond the illusions of our day-to-day drama. In this way, spiritual practice can both enhance your personal beliefs and give you access to find you clarity and peace of mind within a healthy body.

If you’re looking for a more spiritual option you might want to try Shakti Dance the Yoga of dance. There is a spiritual element to it but it is not a religion. Offering a philosophy of living that helps the student to prepare mentally, emotionally and spiritually for a lifelong search.

Teachers at the Albany Yoga Room maintain a strong emphasis on the careful alignment of the body.

Arvinderfee

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“I started at Albany Yoga Room. It is such a heart warming experience right from the very beginning when you open the door to go in and you are greeted by a wonderful aromatherapy smell, then it’s shoes off and up the stairs to be welcomed always by the smiling face of a teacher. The quietness and calmness are really nourishing after a busy day and that’s without even starting on the yoga! For me, it is a real retreat from the outside world and a time to just focus on me and take care of myself – with no outside pressures. The teachers are really lovely and are all very supportive and encouraging and totally non-judgmental. I just love my ‘yoga time’ and can’t imagine life without it now.”

MORNY HILL