What Is A YogaFit Workout?

I'm sure you're familiar with yoga, but one fun exercise trend you may not have tried yet which is growing in popularity lately is called YogaFit.

Yoga Class at a Gym (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

YogaFit was created in 1994 by an experienced certified yoga instructor named Beth Shaw. Beth noticed that traditional yoga principles did not always translate well into the group setting that is commonly found in today’s health clubs.

YogaFit differs from more traditional yoga practice in several important ways. First, YogaFit does not strictly adhere to the ancient Sanskrit names of various postures and poses, which makes YogaFit more reliable and easier to pick up for many participants. In addition, YogaFit does not incorporate the traditional “chanting” that is sometimes done in certain yoga stances. This helps to distill the various yoga exercises into the most “user friendly” experience possible.

What Are the Benefits Of YogaFit?

YogaFit is based upon the time tested principles of Hatha yoga. This style of yoga combines exercises and poses that work to develop a practitioner’s balance, strength, power and flexibility. Yoga poses and movements are ideal as a low impact and safe way to exercise nearly all of the muscles of the body without weights or complicated machinery.

Balasana pose in Hatha yoga, commonly known as child pose (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

YogaFit also has the benefit of greater accessibility. Some exercisers may be intimidated by (or simply don't relate to) the “spiritual” elements of traditional yoga, so YogaFit offers them a way to take advantage of all of the fitness benefits without having to get up to speed on the nonphysical ones.

How to Get Started with YogaFit

There’s a good chance that YogaFit is currently being offered in a health club or gym near you. Because YogaFit has proven so popular with so many individuals, a number of yoga studios across the country have added YogaFit classes to their traditional yoga offerings. If you have a yoga facility located close to where you live, then this might be the best place to take your first YogaFit class.

If you’re already a member of a fitness facility, ask the staff if they offer YogaFit. If not, then tell them you’re interested. Even if a health club doesn’t have a particular offering, they are likely to consider adding it if enough of their members express an interest.

Wherever you decide to take a YogaFit class, make sure that your instructor is properly certified. YogaFit trains its teachers through various levels of expertise, and also offers three different levels of certification. YogaFit also works to keep its instructors fresh and up-to-date on new techniques through a continuing education program. Many of the YogaFit instructors choose to receive their continuing education at various conferences that are conducted each year throughout the U.S. and Canada. Many of these conferences also have programs that permit students to participate. For individuals who are fully embracing the YogaFit lifestyle, these conferences can be a great way to better their understanding of the exercises they are doing.

You can also find YogaFit workouts in DVD or book format, so you can try this at home whenever you like. Beth Shaw's version is probably the most popular and well-liked, and you know you're getting great instruction, since she is the founder of the method! See below to pick up a copy for yourself.


YogaFit Resources For Home Workouts:
   

Video - Choosing a Yoga Style For You

I hope you enjoyed this week's posts on the different types of yoga, and hopefully you learned enough to know what form of yoga you would like to start with and try out. This quick video offers a quick summary of these, as well as some visual guidance on the different yoga styles.

You can find some good basic beginner yoga videos below, which incorporate several of these types of yoga, and are quite affordable if you decide to try them out yourself.

Tips for Choosing a Yoga Style
Choosing a yoga style that works for you can be difficult, since there are so many different types of yoga to try. Here are some tips on the different yoga styles so that you can choose one that fits with your fitness level and exercise needs.



A Few Good Introductory Yoga Videos:

   

Video - Yoga Workout for Beginners - Part 2

Here is the next installment in the free beginners yoga workout video series. This one includes variations on Mountain Pose and the Standing Forward Bend, as well as the Lunge. Pay attention to the modifications for beginners, as well as the more challenging tips for more advanced yoga practitioners. I've been doing yoga regularly for over a year, and I still really like this workout!

01 Basic Yoga Workout for Dummies Part 2
Part 2


Want to see the full Tree Pose? Check back next week for the next segment!

Or visit http://www.newholisticliving.com/exercise.html for more fun exercise ideas.

Basic Yoga Trainer Course - Review

There is a whole list of reasons why yoga is good for your health and your overall well being (we've covered many here on this blog). It's been practiced for thousands of years and still, to this day, finds lots of followers. Yoga is about becoming more energetic and fitter, but also calming your mind and allowing you to relax and de-stress. Given the busy lifestyles we lead these days with jobs and families, I find this is especially of great importance.

For many, being a working parent makes it difficult to find time to go to regular yoga classes. The Basic Yoga Trainer online is - in my opinion - a great alternative to joining a class. With the help of the online Basic Yoga Trainer course, you will be able to learn the basics of yoga from the comfort of your home. The course is divided into 21 lessons, ideally over 21 days, but you can take as long as you want. It is very detailed and covers a lot of ground in those 21 lessons. A great addition is the streaming video which demonstrates the individual moves. Every lesson starts with a bit of information on Yoga, such as Yoga Diet, History of Yoga and then specific yoga moves and techniques. Once you sign up online, you will have instant access to the course material, downloadable instruction guides and everything else you might need to make this course as convenient and worthwhile as possible.

Overall, if you are interested in Yoga and want to start learning how to incorporate it into your daily lifestyle, the Basic Online Trainer Yoga Course is a fantastic resource. It is easy to use and will give you the benefits of a healthy body and mind. I think that this course would benefit a variety of people, from complete yoga beginners to people already enjoying the benefits of yoga.

You can find more info at: www.theyogatutor.com, or click here for a free trial!