Find a yoga instructor in Kelowna

How do I prepare my body for yoga?

“Inhale. Exhale. Arrive on your mat and thank your body for being here today…”

This sentence is probably uttered in several different ways and languages by yoga teachers and practitioners around the world. Why? Well, to be ready for yoga, one must be one with one’s breathing.

HUH?

If you’ve never practiced Yoga here in Kelowna before, you may feel lost by that entire first paragraph. And that’s okay. You don’t need to know how to do a perfect downward facing dog just yet, you just need to know how to prepare yourself: physically and mentally, for a yoga course in Kelowna.

First, it is recommended that you have comfortable clothes to wear during your yoga practice. Think: breathable and light. It doesn’t have to be fancy! Here in Kelowna our Yoga tutors, teachers, and fellow practitioners are of the “come as you are mindset”. Second, it is a good idea to notice how you breathe. Breathing is an integral part of yoga practice. Yoga is not only a physical activity, but a mental one as well. Knowing how you breathe now and how to breathe in a yoga class can be very helpful for your future time spent on the mat. Third, know that you don’t have to be flexible. Everyone has to start somewhere! Maybe for you that is with your personal Kelowna Yogi that you can find here on Superprof. If being in a class intimidates you, a one on one session could be the solution! Our yoga tutors are happy to help all levels of yogis, whether you’ve been practicing for one day or one hundred days - our Kelowna yoga community is here for you. With an individualized yoga tutor, you can learn how to stretch and prepare your body correctly before your next class. Already a yoga aficionado? One on one yoga instruction can benefit you too! One hour of personalized attention can have you mastering poses in no time. Book today!

What should you not do before yoga?

Like many physical activities, yoga requires one to be ready to move. Therefore, it is recommended that you don’t consume a huge meal before practicing yoga - no matter if it’s in person in Kelowna or online. Additionally, drinking alcohol, overhydrating (yes, it’s possible), and having freshly applied lotion all over your hands and feet could also affect the quality and efficiency of your individual yoga practice.

Additionally, one should not rush oneself or pressure oneself before practicing yoga. Whether you’re new on the mat or a seasoned veteran to your local Kelowna yoga instructor, take your time practicing yoga as that - yours. Your body deserves the benefits of stretching, breathing, and pushing itself to the limits - all which is found in a typical yoga practice! So give yourself this time to be kind to your body.  Enjoy what’s to come. Enjoy the challenges and accomplishments that come when beginning your yoga practice.

Is 20 minutes of yoga a day enough?

Of course, nothing is as satisfying as a 60 minute yoga class if you’re eating, breathing, and living for Yoga, but maybe you’re not there yet. Maybe that amount of time seems daunting to you. But is it possible to see the benefits of yoga with only 20 minutes of practicing a day?

The short answer? Yes! Your practice is for you and your body. It depends on what you consider to be enough. There’s an abundance of research to show that being more physically active lowers our risk of developing many long-term conditions including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, some forms of cancer and depression. It is recommended that one exercises at least 30 minutes each day. That’s roughly 150 minutes per week (not including weekends). These 150 minutes of physical activity can be broken down into chunks throughout the week, and even very short sporadic daily activities that get us out of breath such as running for a bus or carrying bags up the stairs make a positive difference to our health. So if you’re wondering if Yoga for 20 minutes a day can have an impact the answer is yes, yes it can.

With one of our Kelowna Yoga tutors, you can easily make that 150 minute threshold of movement with an individualized session. Our yoga instructors are here for your health benefit online or in person. What’s even better is that (oftentimes) the first session is free! So get on some comfy clothes and discover your inner “om”.