Body and soul

Yoga enthusiasts find this ancient healing art improves both physical and emotional health By Allison Lawlor Experiencing the connection between her mind, body and spirit is what got Jenny Kierstead, 33, hooked on yoga. But for Kierstead that connection didn't happen immediately. Her first attempt at yoga about a decade ago was far from life changing. The former basketball player actually hated it. Used to an intense aerobic workout, she found the class too slow. Looking back Kierstead recognizes now that she tried a class ill suited to her personality and physical level. A couple of years later she gave yoga another chance and this time something clicked. "It's more than just a physical workout," says Kierstead, who went on to study in India and is now the owner of Breathing Space Yoga Studio in Halifax. "I remember exercising and thinking there has to be more." With yoga she found that something more. Today Kierstead credits it for not only helping her through an eating disorder but for motivating her to live a more fulfilled life. "It's very inspirational," she says. People come to yoga for various reasons. For some it's to keep fit, increase flexibility and strength, relieve stress or help with a specific ailment such as a backache. For others it's the quest for more meaning in their lives. Initially, the sole purpose of practising yoga was to expe¬rience spiritual enlightenment. In Sanskrit (the ancient language of India), yoga translates as "yoke" or "union," describing the integration of mind and body with the goal of connecting deeper with one's own essential nature. "Your whole body is healthier and happier," says Maxine Munro, yoga studio manager at Halifax-based Therapeutic Approach Yoga Studio. Nearly all yoga styles are rooted in hatha yoga, which focuses on developing control of the body through asanas, or poses. While all styles seek to balance the body, mind, and spirit, they go about it differ¬ently. They can differ in how asanas are done and where attention is focused. Some focus on mastering and holding a posture, others on breathing or the flow of movement. It's important to remember that no style is better than another. It's a matter of personal preference. "There is a style of yoga for every person," says Munro. "Some yoga styles are more physically based while other styles are more interested in helping people get in tune with their breath." To get started on your yoga quest, it's helpful to have a clear idea of what you want to fulfill. In your practice are you looking to sweat and increase your heart rate with the goal of a leaner, stronger body, or are you looking for a gender, more meditative approach? When you start, take into consideration your age and current activity level and choose a class and style accordingly, says Munro. Try attending a few different types of classes to see which one works for you. "It's important to shop around for the right instructor and the right style," says Kierstead. Before attending a class, check out the studio's website (most have them now) and give them a call. Ask a lot of questions to find out the studio's philosophy and approach, says Munro. Are the poses held for a certain length of time or do they expect their students to move quickly from one pose to the next? Is meditation or chanting included? Do they push their students? How do they accommodate special needs or injuries? Answers to these questions will give you a better idea if the studio's classes are vigorous or more meditative and whether they will likely meet your particular needs. Also find out how and where their teachers are trained. Yoga instructors should have a minimum of 200 hours training, says Munro. When you start out don't compare yourself to the illustrations you see of the more advanced yoga postures. In the beginning only do what feels right for you. "You should leave with more energy after a class," Munro says. "It should boost your energy." But don't be surprised if you're initially a bit sore. After the first couple of classes it's not uncommon for students to complain of muscle tenderness, says Kierstead. If this happens, she says it's a sign that you should ease off on the poses by not holding them for as long or going into them as deep. You should never physically force yourself in a posture. It shouldn't cost you a lot to get started. An introductory yoga class, ranging from 75 to 90 minutes, typically costs between $10 and $17. Costs vary depending on the studio, yoga style and class duration. While there are countless yoga props on the market, such as straps, bolsters, sandbags, eye pillows and blankets, all you really need to get started is a yoga mat with a non-slip surface. You don't need the latest, hippest yoga clothing either. Munro suggests wearing a loose fitting t-shirt and leggings to class—"something you can move freely in." Your feet should be bare, to keep you from slipping on the floor, but also to bring you into contact with the ground. Yoga is most beneficial if practised regularly. For best results and to really notice a difference in your body, Kierstead suggests practising three times a week. But she acknowledges that most people can only squeeze in one one-hour class per week and says this is a great start. While several different yoga styles are practised today in North America, here are some of the more common ones: ASHTANGA   One of the most popular schools of yoga around, it is a fast-paced series of sequential postures. Students move from one posture to another in a continual flow and link movements to breath. Physically demanding, it is for those seeking a serious workout and wanting to build strength, flexi¬bility and stamina. IYENGAR   In an lyengar class, poses typically are held much longer than in other yoga styles. Close attention is paid to the precise muscu¬lar and skeletal alignment that this system demands. Also specific to lyengar is the use of props, such as belts, chairs and blocks, which help accommodate special needs such as injuries or structural imbal¬ances. BIKRAM   Expect to sweat a lot in a Bikram yoga class. Each studio is designed to replicate the climate in India with temperatures pushing 58 degrees Celsius. Why the sauna-like effect? The idea is that sweat helps to remove the toxins from your body. KUNDALINI   Stemming from the tantra yoga path, it is also known as the "yoga of awareness." This style combines breath, yoga postures, chanting and meditation. KRIPALU This style of yoga is a challenging approach to different postures that emphasizes meditation and breath work. It encourages inward focus and spiritual attunement.