People are always making promises to themselves — promises to be better and to treat themselves better. Whether it is by losing weight, eating better, reading more or quitting smoking, people everywhere share a common desire to lead a healthier, stronger and improved lifestyle.
Well what if there was a way to kill two, make that three birds with one stone? What if you could increase the strength of your body, mind and soul all at once?
You can.
Francine Messano, yoga instructor and owner of downtown Tampa’s first yoga studio Yoga Downtown Tampa, has contributed this guest column to introduce DIVE IN readers to the wonderful benefits of the practice of YOGA – an exercise and art that can bring you mental clarity, a relaxed psyche and some serious muscle tone.
“WHAT IS YOGA?
Yoga was developed in the east as a way to keep the body healthy in effort to extend meditation times, but I believe its real power to unify our physical and mental health was realized by the west. When yoga came to the US, some traditions were maintained but, as with most things, we twisted and stretched it to fit our needs. And in all of those relaxing contortions, we came to realize that Yoga could also give us a beautiful body.
As a yoga practitioner, teacher and owner of Happy Buddha YOGA Lounge, I have had many skeptics who don’t quite believe in the athletic aspect of Yoga say that if they’re going to exercise, they want it to be a good workout. I say, come to my studio and spend some time with me or one of my instructors and then let’s have a chat. One of my instructors ran the hurdles in the Olympics in Athens. Ask him if it’s a good workout.
A TYPICAL CLASS
In the beginning of any yoga class we sit for a moment and clear our mind in order to focus on our practice. Each posture, or asana, has been designed to energize the body and calm the nervous system. Postures also have an affect on our internal organs; “massaging” them and bringing a healthy blood flow into places that are not touched by the average gym equipment. At the close of our practice we don’t have a cool down, we have savasana or corpse pose. It’s a few moments that allow us to absorb the work we did and feel the energy surging through our body. At that moment you can feel your body thanking you.
If you choose to begin a yoga practice you’ll experience the power immediately. In order to hold postures and keep your mental focus, your breath becomes important. Breath control can help you both in the yoga studio and out. Ever try to be angry or anxious while breathing deeply and steadily? It’s impossible.
Next, core strength is essential. Core strength is what allows yogi’s to practically levitate off the ground, balancing on our hands with our legs extended outwards or upwards. Flexibility of both the muscles and the connective tissue eventually will help you either touch your toes or take your leg and wrap it around the back of your neck. Muscle strength? Yoga develops that too. Chaturanga is the yoga version of a push up and we do plenty of those during a practice. Yoga works isometrically, requiring you to activate your muscles in every posture.
CHOOSE THE TYPE OF YOGA RIGHT FOR YOU
Don’t know what “flavor” of yoga you’d like to experience? There are definitely many different types, each with the same foundations but each with a different focus. Start with an introductory class or workshop. Ask the studio owner or manager what you’ll experience in each type of class. If there’s a written explanation of the class on the studio’s website, read it. Or you can just Google it and research for yourself. After an introductory class it will probably take you some time to find the type of yoga that fits not only your goals but also your body type. Some forms require you to be very athletic and some forms are simpler, but I can promise all forms of yoga will transform you in ways you never expected.” —- Francine Messano
Yoga Downtown Tampa is located at 206 East Cass Street. They offer a variety of class for all levels of Yoga Practice. For more information Find them on Facebook or at their official website www.yogadowntowntampa.com
Want to try out a Yoga Session for Free? Yoga Downtown Tampa offers Free Yoga in Curtis Hixon Park every Sunday. Click here for more information.
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