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• Yoga translates from Sanskrit into Yoga translates from Sanskrit into “yoke” or “union”“yoke” or “union”

• The uniting of body/mind/spiritThe uniting of body/mind/spirit

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• Sanskrit - Sanskrit is the classical Sanskrit - Sanskrit is the classical language of Indian and the liturgical language of Indian and the liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, language of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainismand Jainism

• It is also one of the 22 official It is also one of the 22 official languages of Indialanguages of India

• The name Sanskrit means "refined", The name Sanskrit means "refined", "consecrated" and "sanctified""consecrated" and "sanctified"

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A Brief history of yogaA Brief history of yoga

Yoga began 5000 years ago in Yoga began 5000 years ago in India as a practice for young men in India as a practice for young men in training to be wisemen. The training to be wisemen. The postures strengthened their bodies postures strengthened their bodies so that they could sit for hours at a so that they could sit for hours at a time in meditation and become time in meditation and become enlightened beings.enlightened beings.

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A Brief history of yoga Continued…A Brief history of yoga Continued…

The postures helped to harmonize The postures helped to harmonize the energy in their bodies so that their the energy in their bodies so that their minds could rest in the present moment minds could rest in the present moment with complete awareness, as spiritual with complete awareness, as spiritual attainment was one of the symbols of attainment was one of the symbols of success in their culture.success in their culture.

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A Brief history of yoga A Brief history of yoga Continued…Continued…

When it began, yoga was practiced When it began, yoga was practiced by men in order to develop strength by men in order to develop strength and concentration to pursue personal and concentration to pursue personal mastery, while the women stayed mastery, while the women stayed with the family. Women practiced with the family. Women practiced traditional Indian dances.traditional Indian dances.

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A Brief history of yoga A Brief history of yoga Continued…Continued…

Today, with current work and family Today, with current work and family demands on both women and men, demands on both women and men, yoga has become a tool to manage yoga has become a tool to manage stress and transforms the body to be stress and transforms the body to be lean and strong.lean and strong.

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Why yoga now?Why yoga now?

Today our goals are a bit more Today our goals are a bit more practical, like building core strength practical, like building core strength for proper posture and learning to for proper posture and learning to de-stress through the fast pace of de-stress through the fast pace of our lives using deep breathing.our lives using deep breathing.

Yoga CelebritiesYoga Celebrities

MadonnaMadonna – “Yoga is a – “Yoga is a metaphor for life. You have metaphor for life. You have to take it really slowly. You to take it really slowly. You can’t rush. You can’t skip to the can’t rush. You can’t skip to the next position. You find yourself next position. You find yourself in very humiliating situations, but you can’t judgein very humiliating situations, but you can’t judgeyourself. You just have to breathe, and let go. It is yourself. You just have to breathe, and let go. It is

aaworkout for your mind, your body and your soul.”workout for your mind, your body and your soul.”

Madonna began to practice ashtanga yoga (the Madonna began to practice ashtanga yoga (the Vinyasa style) to get back in shape after the Vinyasa style) to get back in shape after the birth of her daughter, Lourdes, in 1996birth of her daughter, Lourdes, in 1996

StingSting is a yoga practitioner is a yoga practitioner who has mastered the various who has mastered the various complex asanas of complex asanas of Ashtanga YogaAshtanga Yoga

Sting reveals that yoga also allows him greaterSting reveals that yoga also allows him greatercomposure to confront the more stressful events composure to confront the more stressful events of his day.  He says, "My mind develops calmness of his day.  He says, "My mind develops calmness and clarity and I get a lot more done."  He and clarity and I get a lot more done."  He stresses that there are more benefits to yoga than stresses that there are more benefits to yoga than he would have thought had he not gotten into it. he would have thought had he not gotten into it.

Gwyneth Paltrow’sGwyneth Paltrow’s main fitness main fitness workouts revolve around both workouts revolve around both yoga and Pilatesyoga and Pilates. She also . She also spoke of how important yoga is spoke of how important yoga is for strengthening the pelvic floor for strengthening the pelvic floor after giving birth.after giving birth.

Gwyneth Paltrow’s yoga routine starts at 4:30amGwyneth Paltrow’s yoga routine starts at 4:30ameach morning. She says “I’m really not a morning each morning. She says “I’m really not a morning person at all, it’s just sheer determination. I’m person at all, it’s just sheer determination. I’m very strict with myself. When I practice six days a very strict with myself. When I practice six days a week and eat clean food, I feel much better.”week and eat clean food, I feel much better.”

• Evander HolyfieldEvander HolyfieldWell know boxer Evander Holyfield has been practising Well know boxer Evander Holyfield has been practising yoga for years, to keep him focused on his games and to yoga for years, to keep him focused on his games and to help him concentrate in daily life. As yoga helps to make help him concentrate in daily life. As yoga helps to make muscles more supple and keeps up your stamina and muscles more supple and keeps up your stamina and regulates your breathing, people performing sports regulates your breathing, people performing sports professionally benefit greatly from yoga. professionally benefit greatly from yoga.

• The Los Angeles LakersThe Los Angeles LakersThe entire Lakers team practices yoga few times a week, to The entire Lakers team practices yoga few times a week, to improve performance and to help prevent injuries duringimprove performance and to help prevent injuries duringgames. Using yoga techniques to warm up before games, games. Using yoga techniques to warm up before games, the Lakers prove that yoga is a technique to be reckonedthe Lakers prove that yoga is a technique to be reckonedwith as they are convinced that yoga helps them perform with as they are convinced that yoga helps them perform better. better.

What other students have to What other students have to say…say…• ““Yoga is … the place where I can go to let Yoga is … the place where I can go to let

everything just roll off my shoulders and not everything just roll off my shoulders and not worry about it.”worry about it.”

• ““I can now manage my emotions better I can now manage my emotions better through yoga.”through yoga.”

• ““Yoga is more than just exercise – it is a Yoga is more than just exercise – it is a lifestyle.”lifestyle.”

• ““I’m actually a happier person because of I’m actually a happier person because of yoga.”yoga.”

• ““I was sceptical at first… (but) I began to feel I was sceptical at first… (but) I began to feel good for the first time in a long time!”good for the first time in a long time!”

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My expectationsMy expectations

– Respect your self and others always Respect your self and others always – Attend class regularly and arrive on timeAttend class regularly and arrive on time– Do not disrupt the learning and practise Do not disrupt the learning and practise

of others during class time and of others during class time and especially during Savasanaespecially during Savasana

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My expectations ContinuedMy expectations Continued

– You will be prepared for yoga class You will be prepared for yoga class (loose, comfortable clothing)(loose, comfortable clothing)

– NO food or drink, except water in classNO food or drink, except water in class– Absolutely no electronic devicesAbsolutely no electronic devices– Participation is Participation is essentialessential for meeting the for meeting the

outcomes of this courseoutcomes of this course

TadasanaTadasana(Mountain pose)(Mountain pose)

General benefits of mountain pose or what is General benefits of mountain pose or what is also called “Tadasana” also called “Tadasana”

• Aligns the spine, which increases circulation Aligns the spine, which increases circulation • Helps develop proper standing posture which Helps develop proper standing posture which

can reduce problems associated with can reduce problems associated with improper weight distribution, resulting in improper weight distribution, resulting in worn joints. This reduces wear and tear on worn joints. This reduces wear and tear on the knees. the knees.

TadasanaTadasana(Mountain pose)(Mountain pose)

• Tones abdominal muscles and Tones abdominal muscles and strengthens the legs strengthens the legs

• Strengthens the arches of the feet, Strengthens the arches of the feet, knees and thighs knees and thighs

• Fosters mental focus and clarityFosters mental focus and clarity

TadasanaTadasana(Mountain pose)(Mountain pose)

• Enhances self-confidence Enhances self-confidence

• Reduces mild anxiety Reduces mild anxiety

• Encourages deep breathing for an Encourages deep breathing for an overall sense of calmoverall sense of calm

• Enhances digestionEnhances digestion

• Prevents osteo-arthritis in the spinePrevents osteo-arthritis in the spine

• Job successJob success