Why learn yoga? Most beginners to yoga are looking for a way to relax, for a way of coping with their stressful lives. Sivananda Yoga offers a 5-point programme for greater physical and mental well-being through yoga, encompassing

• proper exercise,
• proper breathing,
• proper relaxation,
• proper diet and
• meditation and positive thinking.

Beginners Yoga Class

The individual yoga poses (also called yoga asanas), as well as the particular sequence of yoga exercises, are perfectly designed to relieve tension in the body. Yoga poses systematically contract or stretch the muscles of the body, releasing tension and leading to a profound feeling of relaxation.

At the beginning of the yoga class, the yoga student lies on the back in the relaxation pose, breathing deeply, before being guided through an active relaxation exercise where various parts of the body are alternately tensed and released. This combination of deep breathing and active relaxation helps calm the mind and relieve tension in the body – the optimum start to every yoga class!

The Sun Salutation, a classical sequence of twelve yoga positions, is an energising warm-up routine that is performed at the start of every yoga class. Dozens of muscles are stretched and toned in this yoga exercise. 

Between yoga exercises, the beginner yoga student rests on their back in the so-called “corpse” pose, breathing deeply and feeling the positive effects of the previous yoga pose.

Single Leg Lifts – Are not proper yoga poses, but serve to stretch the leg muscles and warm them up for the subsequent yoga exercises.

Relaxation

Double Leg Lifts – Strengthen the abdominal muscles, which in turn helps in holding the yoga poses longer.

Relaxation

This yoga asana is an inverted pose that increases the blood supply to the brain. The yoga pose exerts a gentle pressure on the neck region, which helps regulate the functions of the thyroid gland (which governs metabolism).

Relaxation 

When performing this yoga asana, you are breathing deeply which increases the vital capacity of the lungs and can help improve respiratory problems. This yoga pose energizes the thyroid gland and enhances the flexibility of the upper back.

Relaxation 

This yoga pose stretches the entire back of the body, increasing the flexibility of the lumbar spine and improving postural alignment. The yoga asana gives a nice massage to the abdominal organs, helping relieve such complaints as constipation.

Relaxation 

The final yoga asana in our beginners yoga class. This yoga pose entails a sideways bending movement that simultaneously stretches, contracts and relaxes all major back muscles. This makes the spine more elastic. 

The most rewarding part of the beginners yoga class! The full benefits of the yoga sequence unfold during these 10 to 15 minutes at the end of the yoga session. Through active relaxation (tensing and releasing muscles), deep breathing and a visualisation exercise, profound relaxation can be experienced on three levels: physical relaxation, mental relaxation and spiritual relaxation.