Proper attitude, a big heart and small ego are the most important ingredients to bring to yoga along with some loose fitting clothes and some quiet time. A balanced diet (sattvic) adds a lot to the practice. At last four hours between meals is advised. Practicing with a mat, blanket, a pillow or blocks is advised as well as getting to know the Basic Yoga Postures or Asanas.

Where and What to Wear for Yoga

A mat will provide support and added comfort when you do lying or sitting positions. Wear loose or stretch clothing, such as shorts, sweat clothes, or leotards. Yoga is traditionally practiced barefoot, however, socks or soft-shoes can be put on. It is also best to practice Yoga on an empty stomach or about one or two hours after a full meal.

When and How Long should you do Yoga

Practicing first thing in the morning is an excellent way to revitalize the mind and body, while practicing Yoga Breathing and Meditation Exercises at night helps induce a deep, restful sleep. Like in regular exercise, you always start with easy poses to condition your body for the more difficult exercises. Pause when you feel pain or fatigue.

Yoga Props

Props help you achieve the proper alignment, balance and make the pose a bit easier. The use of props also minimizes the strain and supports your muscles, thus allowing you to save your energy by exerting less effort on a pose. Yoga props help people with Medical Ailments and the Elderly to cross their limitations. The props provide support, enabling them to do the poses that their ailments or old age prevent them from doing.

Here are some Yoga Props to start with:

    * non-slip mat

    * strap or belt

    * cotton or wool blanket

    * chair with arm rests

    * wooden or foam block or a phone book

Basic Yoga Session

*Warm-up Exercises - conditions your body for safe transition into asana practice. For beginners,                             you may just use the warm-up poses as your entire practice. Warm-up exercises open the shoulder muscles, the spine, the hips, the lower back, and the groin.

*Standing Poses - for alignment of the feet and the body. Opens the hips, stretches the legs, add strength to your back and increases your range of movement. Standing poses facilitates digestion, blood circulation and is good for those who want to lose weight.

* Sitting Poses - sitting poses allows you to infuse with the breath and prana, and to revitalize from a pose by giving you a calm and quiet feeling. These poses greatly contribute in shaping your buttocks and legs, and in adding vitality and suppleness to the spine.

* Twists - twist exercises releases the tension in your spines, relieves backaches and makes your shoulders more flexible. It also facilitates in the circulation of blood and nutrients in the body making it necessary for the health of the inter-vertebral discs.

* Supine and Prone Poses - these poses releases tension in your abdomen and increase the mobility of your spine. It restores strength in your back, arms and legs, and releases your hips and groins.

* Inverted and Balance Poses - inverted and balance poses defies gravity and develops coordination, increase stamina and strength, and improves grace, agility and poise. It also improves you concentration and focus since being quiet is necessary to be able to do these poses.

* Backbends - backbends are the poses that benefit the adrenal glands and the kidney. It also releases tension in the front body and in your shoulders and pelvic girdle, and improves the flexibility of your spine.

* Finishing Poses - these are the cooling-down exercises for Yoga.

Yoga Practices and Cautions

Try to concentrate on each movement - the process of moving is just as important as attaining a given position. You should not strain or continue holding any Yoga posture if it causes pain. Each asana may be repeated up to three times. Perform the poses in the prescribed order, since the routine is meant to help balance the different muscle groups.

The Five Principles of Yoga are the basis of attaining a healthy body and mind through the Practice of Yoga.

Principle 1: Proper Relaxation

By releasing the tension in the muscles and putting the whole body at rest, you revitalize your Nervous System and achieve inner peace, making you feel relaxed and refreshed.

Principle 2: Proper Exercise

This principle revolves around the idea that our physical body is meant to move and exercise. Proper Exercise is achieved through the Yoga Postures or Asana which systematically works on all parts of the body - stretches and tones the Muscles and Ligaments, enhances the flexibility of the spine and the joints, and improves Blood Circulation. Each movement and stretch should be guided by your breath, making your movement and your breath coordinated and feel like one and the same.

Principle 3: Proper Breathing

This means breathing fully and rhythmically, making use of all the parts of your Lungs to increase your oxygen intake. Proper Breathing should be deep, slow and rhythmical. Yoga Breathing Exercises or Pranayama teaches you on how you can recharge your body and control your mental state by regulating the flow of Prana - the life force. This helps you achieve a calmer and more focused mind, and increases your energy level.

Principle 4: Proper Diet

Improper diet results to mental inefficiency and blocks spiritual awareness. Proper Diet is one that nourishes both mind and body. It should be well balanced and based on natural foods. Proper Diet in Yoga also means eating in moderation and eating only when you are hungry. It should keep the body light and supple, the mind calm, and it should also help in keeping a strong immune system.

Principle 5: Positive Thinking and Meditation

The way we think highly affects our way of life. Positive thinking and Meditation helps you remove negative thoughts and puts your mind under perfect control.