Do’s and Don’ts of Yoga Practice (2024)

2020-06-02

Do’s and Don’ts of Yoga Practice (1)

Do's:



  1. Śauca means cleanliness - an important prerequisite for Yoga practice. It includes cleanliness of surroundings, body and mind.

  2. Asanas should be practiced on an empty stomach.Consume small amount of honey in lukewarm water if you feel weak.

  3. Bladder and bowels should be empty before starting Yogic practices.

  4. Practice sessions should start with a prayer or an invocation as it creates a conducive environment to relax the mind.

  5. Yogic practices shall be performed slowly, in a relaxed manner, with awareness of the body and breath.

  6. A Warm up or loosening exercise and stretches before asanas is mandatory to avoid injuries.

  7. Asanas should be done slowly and one should move to advanced postures with practice.

  8. Try to eat Satvik food (Avoid meat, eggs, onion, garlic and mushrooms from diet).

  9. Stay hydrated before going into yoga practice

  10. Wear supportive and comfortable clothing.Light and comfortable cotton clothes are preferred to facilitate easy movement of the body.

  11. Yoga should be practiced in a well ventilated room with a pleasant draft of air

  12. Use a mat with a good grip to do Yogasanas

  13. Be aware of breathing while doing Yogasanas.

  14. Complete the yoga session with relaxation techniques to cool down

  15. Do not hold the breath unless it is specially mentioned to do so during the practice.

  16. Breathing should be always through the nostrils unless instructed otherwise.

  17. Do not hold the body tight or give undue jerks to the body.

  18. Perform the practices according to one’s capacity. It takes some time to get good results, so persistent and regular practice is very essential.

  19. There are contra-indications/ limitations for each Yoga practice and such contra-indications should always be kept in mind.

  20. Yoga session should end with meditation/ deep silence / Sankalpa / Śānti pāṭha etc.

  21. For the spiritual seeker , the Yamas and Niyamas are yoga’s ethical guidelines and disciplines laid out in the first two limbs of Patanjali’s eightfold path and together, they form a moral code of conduct. The niyamas are things to do, or observances. They include Śauca (शौच): Purity, clearness of mind, speech and body; Santoṣa (सन्तोष): Contentment, acceptance of others and of one's circ*mstances as they are, optimism for self; Tapas (तपस्): Austerity, self-discipline, [8] persistent meditation, perseverance; Svādhyāya (स्वाध्याय): Study of self, self-reflection, introspection of self's thoughts, speeches and actions; Īśvarapraṇidhāna (ईश्वरप्रणिधान): Contemplation of the Ishvara (God/Supreme Being, supreme consciousness).


Don'ts:



  1. Yoga should not be performed in a state of exhaustion, illness, in a hurry or in an acute stress conditions.

  2. Women should refrain from regular yoga practice especially asanas during their menses. Relaxation techniques and pranayama can be done instead.

  3. Don’t perform yoga immediately after meals. Wait until 2 to 3 hours after a large meal.

  4. Don’t shower or drink water or eat food for 30 minutes after doing yoga.

  5. During illness, surgeries, or any sprains or fractures, one should refrain from Yoga Practice. They can resume yoga after consulting experts.

  6. Don’t do strenuous exercises after yoga.

  7. Don’t practice yoga in adverse and extreme weather conditions (too hot, too cold or humid)

  8. According to the yoga texts for the spiritual seeker one needs to followThe yamas or restraints. They are the basic principles which are to be followed to lead spiritual growth.

  9. They include Ahiṃsā (अहिंसा): Nonviolence; Satya (सत्य): Truthfulness; Asteya (अस्तेय): Not stealing; Brahmacharya (ब्रह्मचर्य): Marital fidelity, sexual restraint; Aparigraha (अपरिग्रहः): Non-avarice, non-possessiveness. Other attributes such as Kṣamā (क्षमा): Patience, forgiveness; Dhrti (धृति): Fortitude, perseverance with the aim to reach the goal, Dayā (दया): Compassion Ārjava (आर्जव): Non-hypocrisy, sincerity, Mitāhāra (मिताहार): Measured diet etc are also to be adopted.

Consult health experts if you have any health condition or you are pregnant before doing yoga practice.

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Do’s and Don’ts of Yoga Practice (2024)

FAQs

What are the dos and don'ts in yoga? ›

Yoga should not be performed in a state of exhaustion, illness, in a hurry or in an acute stress conditions. Women should refrain from regular yoga practice especially asanas during their menses. Relaxation techniques and pranayama can be done instead. Don't perform yoga immediately after meals.

What are the basic rules of yoga? ›

The Five Major Principles of Yoga
  • 1 Proper Exercise (Asanas) Proper exercise is necessary to keep the body healthy, strong and flexible. ...
  • 2 Proper Breathing (Pranayama) ...
  • 3 Proper Relaxation (Savasana) ...
  • 4 Proper Diet and Nutrition. ...
  • 5 Positive Thinking and Meditation.

What are three disadvantages of yoga? ›

An adverse effect of yoga was reported by 1.9 percent of the respondents. The three most common adverse effects reported were: (i) soreness and pain, (ii) muscle injuries and (iii) fatigue.

What are the golden rules of yoga? ›

The moral rules or yamas and niyamas. The brilliant rule in yoga guides you to carry on with a moral and amicable life. You shouldn't hurt yourself or others by lying, taking, cheating, or being brutal.

What is a negative aspect of yoga? ›

The state of yoga science

After a year, the researchers then contacted the participants to assess the impact of yoga on muscle, bone, and joint pain. Nearly 87 percent of participants reported pain within a year, and more than 10 percent said yoga had caused pain in their hand, wrist, shoulder, or elbow.

What is yoga etiquette? ›

If you need to talk with someone, speak softly. And set down your mat gently, especially the heavy ones. Practice scent free: Many people are sensitive to smells, so avoid wearing perfume, scented lotions, or essential oils during yoga class. Warm bodies and movement will only amplify these scents.

What are common contradictions in yoga? ›

Every asana or pranayama comes with its own set of contraindications. A yoga contraindication is a condition or factor that can lead to certain asanas or pranayamas harming the practitioner. These could range from lower back pain and asthma to hypertension and pregnancy.

What are the physical disadvantages of yoga? ›

A group of disorders that impact a person's ability to move and maintain balance. Cerebral palsy is usually caused by abnormal brain development or brain damage that affects one's ability to control one's muscles. It is the most common motor disability present ar birth.

What is the first rule of yoga? ›

1. YAMA – Restraints, moral disciplines or moral vows. This first limb, Yama, refers to vows, disciplines or practices that are primarily concerned with the world around us, and our interaction with it.

What not to do after yoga? ›

Don't touch (shower) or drink water for 30 minutes after practice. During illness, after operations, when there is a bandage either for sprains or fractures, one should refrain from practice. They can resume after consulting experts. Don't perform strenuous exercises after yoga.

What are the weakness of yoga? ›

Yes, while yoga offers numerous benefits, it can potentially strain the body, cause injuries, lack individualized attention, and may not focus on muscle recovery.

What is the first yoga pose? ›

1. Mountain Pose (Tadasana) This simplest yoga pose teaches one to stand with majestic steadiness like a mountain. The word 'Tada' means a mountain, that's where the name comes from .Mountain Pose is the base for all standing poses; It involves the major groups of muscles and improves focus and concentration.

What are the side effects of daily yoga? ›

Though the benefits of yoga are many, it also has a few disadvantages. Serious side effects of yoga are generally rare Some of the common side effects of yoga include musculoskeletal injury, complication with glaucoma, abnormal increase in blood pressure due to forceful breathing, back injury, muscle strain and others.

What is the etiquette for yoga? ›

Arrive early: We recommend that you arrive 10 to 15 minutes before class to sign in and set up your mat and props. If you're running late, quietly find a spot in the back of the room so you don't distract the other students. Take off your shoes: Unlike working out at the gym, yoga is meant to be done in your bare feet.

How not to appropriate yoga? ›

Here's how:
  1. First, pause. Come to yoga with humility and openness, and a willingness to consider whether your actions may be causing harm. ...
  2. Ask questions. ...
  3. Go beyond the physical. ...
  4. Learn about the indigenous roots and wisdom of the practice. ...
  5. Be respectful of symbols and iconography. ...
  6. Be committed to your studentship.
Sep 2, 2021

What are the hints and cautions of yoga? ›

Safety Guidelines for Yoga Asanas
  • Don't strain. If you feel any sharp twinges or pain during asanas, you've gone too far. ...
  • If you feel too weak or shaky in a pose, come out of it. ...
  • If you experience numbness in your hands or feet, come out of the pose immediately and be sure to consult your doctor.

Is it OK to drink water during yoga? ›

As your practice develops over the years, you most likely will find that you rarely need to drink water during a class. It is probably a good idea to hydrate before and after class (especially vinyasa or heated classes.) But please be aware that the majority of people may not drink during class out of thirst alone…

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