An old friend asked me what is yoga? Her interpretation was ‘People twisting and turning their bodies like pretzels while chanting and sitting like a statue’. Is that what it really is? I took this question as an opportunity to explain what yoga is and what are its basic dos and don’ts.
What is Yoga?
It is a system- a holistic system of refining the body, the mind and the spirit in unison. Ultimately, it is well-being, peace and bliss. Yogic postures help strengthen the endocrine system and also bring the emotions under control through concentration and relaxation.
The ability to remain in relaxed equilibrium has an important psychological effect. For the basics on yoga and what it is, you can check out this blog: Yoga for the beginners: some myths and benefits
Yogis, through their physical training, gradually learn to keep their psychological equilibrium unaltered to preserve a perfect psychological calmness in whatever environment they happen to find themselves in.
Yoga is the only way by which the highest objective in life can be attained. To decipher the great science and the benefits which it claims, it is essential to understand few basic dos and don’ts which we often tend to neglect.
What You Should Do
- “Early to bed and early to rise makes man healthy, wealthy and wise,” is an universal adage. Yoga practitioners should go to bed early, sleep well and get up early in the morning. Next, attend to their morning routine of freshening up and begin yoga in fasting mode. It can also be practiced 1 hour after a liquid diet, 3 hours after refreshments or 5 hours after full meals.
- One could practice it before bath but after practice one should wait for some time and then take a bath.
- It should be practiced on a leveled floor in a room where doors and windows are kept open for air and light.
- It is helpful in many ways to practice yoga in a place where you can receive the rays of the early morning sun.
- One should not practice it directly on the ground, on cement or mortar floor. Instead, spread a carpet, a blanket or a clean cloth, sit on it and practice by facing east or north in the morning, west or south in the evening.
- One should practice yoga calmly without any haste or exhaustion. If one is tired he or she should rest for a while in a comfortable posture.
- One should try to practice it everyday, preferably at the same time.
- While practicing yoga, one should concentrate on the practice alone and try to keep away from other thoughts.
- During the practice of asanas, the dirt in the internal organs of the body is directed towards the urinary bladder. Soon after completion, one should pass out urine.
- If you feel like attending nature’s call while practicing, go ahead and do it immediately. One should not hold it back forcefully for a long time. One should also not try to suppress sneezing, coughing, etc. If one feels thirsty one can drink a little water as well.
- If one sweats during practice, he or she should slowly wipe it out either by a cloth or with the palms. It is better if it dries up automatically.
- Pranayama should follow the asanas and meditation should follow Pranayama.
- Always lay on your back after finishing postures. 2 to 5 minutes with relaxed breathing.
- Movements should be slow in every case. Sudden movements should be avoided.
What You Should Avoid
- Women should refrain from regular practice during their menses or pregnancy. However, for them there are specific set of asanas that can be performed.
- Don’t have a full tummy while doing yoga, wait until 2 to 3 hours after large meals.
- Don’t touch (shower) or drink water for 30 minutes after practice.
- During illness, after operations, when there is a bandage either for sprains or fractures, one should refrain from practice. They can resume after consulting experts.
- Don’t perform strenuous exercises after yoga.
- One should avoid practice in unclean/smoky places and in areas with foul smell
- Yoga should not be practiced in stormy winds either
Just knowing the asanas in its correct form along with the basic knowledge of Dos and Don’ts would add much more value to your yoga practice!
To practice yoga the right way, you can follow sessions conducted by experts exclusively on GOQii Play within the GOQii app.
Did you find this article helpful? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
#BeTheForce
I am very much satisfied. still I want some more detailed information.
I’m glad you enjoyed reading this. What detailed information you are seeking ?
Can we perform yoga weakly once
Well Crysti, Ideally it has to be done daily, But if your schedule looks busy, Don’t feel hesitant to do it once a week. Something is better than nothing 😉
Can women and men practice yoga at the same class?or should be separated?
Hey,I’m new to yogo and this information definitely helped me,but I want more information about-the breathing,what to do with your abs(I don’t know whether that’s weird),and what is meant by asanas.
It would be great if u could answer at least a question.
Thank you!
I’m glad to enlighten you via my blog. Asanas means the yoga postures in which you are suppose to be calm and relaxed. For instance, if you sit in normal crossed legs while your mind being calm, that becomes one Asana in yogic language. As far as breathing is concerned, one needs to know the correct way of breathing. Imagine yourself as a balloon, as you inhale, your stomach and chest should expand. There is a wonderful blog on “how to breathe correctly” by author Balwant in GOQii blog section, I insist you to go through it.
And also I want to know whether yoga helps with weight loss
Thank you!
Certainly yes if one practices it regularly. However this has to be in conjugation with healthy lifestyle, balanced meals and adequate sleep. When one practices yoga, he owns the control over his mind and eventually learns to stay calm and stress free. Stress is one major factor which leads to weight gain and emotional eating, thus yoga can play a great role if practiced sincerely. Thanks 🙂
Whether we have to go to Latin before yoga or after yoga.
Respect body’s signal and go to Latin when required.
Is it harmful to do pranayam without attending natures call in da morning.
It’s not harmful. What’s harmful is to hold the urge to attend nature’s call.
I workout in gym but want to do yoga aswell
Tell me the time gap between them ,
Or should i split it in morning /evening time????
Hey Avinash, Splitting would be better.
Hey, I have a question on breathing. So when Im asked to inhale and exhale; should I not take breath in between and keep my self with same oxygen which I already inhaled ? I am confused.
Yes, that’s right Deipak. Usually in some asanas holding of breathe is very important that’s called Kumbhak. If you hold the breathe inside it’s AntarKumbhak and if you hold it outside, it’s BahirKumbhak. However, In Yogasanas usually one doesn’t hold breathe. Inhale means to start the asana with a deep inhalation- continue with normal breathing – and end the asana with deep exhalation. That’s how the normal pattern seems. However in some Pranayamas, Bandh Mudras, you need to practice Kumbhak. Hope this is helpful ! 🙂
Can I listen to the music while performing yoga?
Crysti, You can choose any mild instrumental calming music if you wish too. Something like this will not distract you.
Is surya namaskar compulsory before yoga aas an as or can it be skipped?
Sivakumar, It’s not compulsory to do Surya Namaskar. But it’s always good to do few of them in your daily practice as Surya Namaskar involves many asanas and engages 90-92% of body’s muscle. Also, when done it with proper mantras, it has spiritual and mental benefits as well along with physical benefits.
Dear charmi,you have written an amazing and informative blog..
Go ahead with it. I am eager to gain more from you .
Also I love the way you reply to comments,and clarify doubts
That’s certainly a helpful article. Could you please wore about practicing about each anga of astang yoga beginning from Yam to Samadhi . Please explain each in details and explain why one follows other . Give some methods and explains benefits of each asana and pranayama i.e like good for brain, memories etc. I really loved the way you explained the above . Thank you so much .
Yeah sure, I can do that. That’s a great suggestion, Thank you. I will draft soon and publish it. Stay tuned ! 🙂
Great suggestions, thanks!
Thanks ! 🙂
hi.. How to handle knee pain after doing several rounds of surya namaskar? i am 40 year old female, weigh 74 kg, height 5’3 .
You can do modified Suryanamskaras. It can be done while sitting on chair. You may find many links on youtube or can ask your yoga instructor for this modification.
Hi, can you tell me how long I should wait to have my breakfast after practicing yoga..
Thank you
If heavy breakfast, Wait for 60-90 mins, if just a fruit or so, wait for 30-40 mins
Hi, I am a beginner and have challenge lifting my upper body when doing asanas like naukasana. I am able to lift my lower body but find it really difficult to pull upper body beyond small angle. Could you help me understand what I could be missing or what do I need to do to ensure I am able to lift my upper body?
Yes, It takes time but with practice you will do well. Lift how much ever you can, nextday try to raise a bit more than yesterday and so on. Also, please check your posture well for each asana and learn the technique as well, follow authentic youtube links / blogs for asanas.
HI, I am a dancer and want to do yoga. Which one I have to do first. Yoga or Dancing? Can I do yoga in the morning and practice dance in the evening. Please suggest me.
Morning Yoga , Evening dancing sounds good !
Hi,
I am an engineer and wish to learn more about nutrition. I would love to do Some certified course also. Can you tell me are there any such courses available and where can I do it?
Sure, Where are you from ?
Some times its a pain in the ass to read what people wrote but this site is rattling user pleasant! .
Thank 🙂
Hii mam …..i have some doubts plz help me
1)After waking up and before nature’s call i used to drink a glass of warm water but now i want to start oil pulling so i want to know can i do same before oil pulling ??
2) And after brushing my teeth i do a body massage and just after body massage i drink a glass of lemon water and take bath(i always get hungry between all these) and after 15 mins i eat 5-6 almonds and after 30-40 mins of eating almonds i eat my breakfast so plz tell me i m doing right or not. If not plz correct me.
3)I Want to start yoga so plz tell where can i fit yoga in my daily routine…
4)last but most important plzzz stop me if anywhere i m wrong ….
Excuse my English
Is it ok to do yoga early morning before the sunrise or after the sunset.
Hello, I’ve heard that yoga cannot be practiced or done alone, it has to be done in pairs. Is this true?
Your blog help alot..thank you..
Can you suggest any book where I can find details about postures and how to execute it and what are its benefits?
I just have one doubt,if I practice yoga in the evenings,what time is preferable!?n what should be the gap between the eating hours!
Ty.
thank you for the useful informations…I wanna know that doing asanas with the guidences of book and videos is good?pls tell ur suggestions
The provided information was helpful……
From what age should a child start doing yoga. My grandson has started yoga in his nursery school and he is just turned 3 a couple of weeks ago and from the photographs, he could have been just 2 years and few months when he must have started. I am trying to put his photo here but have not been able to do it.
Hi
Can we do pranayama after suryanamaskar?
I know that yoga helps in weightloss.. will the result will be same if I sleep right after practicing yoga
Hi Charmi
I am a regular yogi and practising Sirsasana (Head stand pose). Would be helpful if you could suggest step by step performing Sirsasna.
Hello Charmi, Can I do Yoga at 8:30 in the morning?
Or may be by 09:00 AM
I underwent with angioplasty. Which Asana I should avoid. ? What are the precautions I should take.
Hi
There are many aasans for gaining weight in yoga like bhujangnasan, vajrasana etc. I m just confused about all these steps. I mean do i need to practice all these aasans all the time or just one.
Do we need a bath for chanting surya mantras during surya namaskaram s??
Hello… is it necessary to switch off fans while doing yoga as I’m practicing it in closed room …??
This information is authentic as I’ve heard elders saying the same. Btw I’m a college student and everyday I can dedicate not more than half an hour to yoga. Can you please post the asanas and pranayam that I should do regularly (with sequence)
Great information about yoga which helps to weight loss. It’s really very useful for me. after reading your blog i try to weight loss with help of yoga . can you suggest me what type of food help for weight loss??
Just I started. Yoga my age is 62. I do some asan i don’t have any problem to do yoga. I take blood pressure medicine regularly so I think any problem should create after sometime ? Thanks
I just started yoga from 15 days my age is 64 & I’m blood pressure patient .i think day by day may be occur physical problem like knee pain chest pain Is it possible.? Thanks
Can v on fan during Surya namaskar yoga….
Is it true that some physical injuries happens during yoga only (while performing yoga only).
If you follow all the above do’s and dont’s, there are certain asanas which can cause you trouble.
Like some asanas are exclusive for males and some are exclusive for females only .
What rules follow after yoga ¿
Mam i have to take harmone pills for thyroid on empty stomach. So can i do yoga immediatly r should i mantain gap? Please tell me.
Sleeping after performing yoga is good or bad?My yoga adviser has said to perform it on 4am. If I perform like that I get less sleep of 5 hours. So please clarify my doubt.
Can I do yoga aftr drinking water in early morning??
Hey can we drink water before doing yoga?? And what should be the time gap between to have breakfast after yoga??
Hey can me drink water before doing yoga?? And what should be the time gap between to have breakfast after yoga?
I m a female of 33 nd my weight is abt 60kg,
I m not fat bt me afraid of getting faty as my height is norml…
Kindly suggest me.