Frequently Asked Questions

• What is Yoga
• What are the Benefits of Yoga?
• What Types of Yoga does Body Investment Studio Offer?
• What to Expect at a Body Investment yoga class?
• What is Body Investment Studio’s etiquette protocol?
• What do I wear & bring to a yoga class?
• Is Yoga a Religion?

If you have a question not addressed, please Contact us at info@bodyinvestment.com

Q. What is Yoga?

The word "yoga" comes from the Sanskrit root "yuj", which means "to yoke" the spirit and physical body together. Yoga has evolved over thousands of years to embrace a wide range of styles and disciplines.

Yoga can be modified to suit all levels of fitness. Yoga has been proven to lower blood pressure and increases strength and flexibility. Yoga energizes our bodies and calms our minds.

Popular types of yoga include:

• Ashtanga: Try Ashtanga yoga for a challenging physical practice
• Anusara: This style of hatha yoga integrates heart-opening poses with principles of bodily alignment
• Bikrams: Named after its founder, Bikram Choudury, and practiced in a heated studio.
• Hatha: A physical yoga that pays close attention to the breath and moves more slower between poses than Ashtanga or Power yoga.
• Iyengar: A style of Hatha yoga that emphasizes precise alignment of poses, sometimes using yoga props like straps or blocks
• Power/Flow/Vinyasa: These forms are derived from Ashtanga yoga, and are flowing, dynamic and physically challenging styles of yoga
• Yin: Streeeeeeeeeeetch it out in pigeon pose in this slower style of yoga that targets the connective tissue of the hips, pelvis and lower spine

[top]

Q. What are the Benefits of Yoga?

Yoga is the original stress reduction program!

• Increased overall health, energy and vitality
• Greater body awareness
• A stronger and leaner body
• Increased flexibility with improved range of motion
• Better posture
• Natural weight loss
• Reduced stress and tension

• Improved concentration

[top]

Q. What Types of Yoga does Body Investment Studio Offer?

Yoga Flow: Vinyasa

Vinyasa is a flowing sequence of poses with breath. The result is an incredible body/mind workout. Excellent for those who are looking for better body strength, tone and definition combined with stress reduction and total relaxation. Classes are appropriate for all levels. Body Investment instructors will modify classes and poses based on the needs of their students. Power Vinyasa will benefit you whether you are here for the first time or coming for the continued challenge.

Restorative: Yin/Yang

Restorative yoga focuses on alignment, relaxation, and surrender into poses. Restorative Yoga is the Yin (stillness) to the Yang of Vinaysa Yoga (movement). Our teacher will guide you through how to use props like blocks, blankets, and straps in order to help increase your flexibility and range of motion. You will be holding your poses longer and be encouraged to relax both your body and mind. Our Restorative yoga class is designed for all levels, and is ideal for beginners, golden-ager, and those looking for a balance to their dynamic workouts.

[top]

Q. What to Expect at a Body Investment yoga class?

Students place their mats facing the front of the room (facing North, the potted trees). The students sit either in a cross-legged position, corpse pose, or do some gentle stretching while waiting for class to start. The teacher starts class with a breathing exercise or short meditation followed by leading the class in “om” three times. This is followed by a series of warm-up poses, more vigorous poses (Vinyasa), some balancing poses, then Savasana (final relaxation.) At any time, if you need to rest or reestablish your breath (ujjayi), take child’s pose or downward dog. At times the teacher will go to each student during Savasana and give them a light massage. Just as class began, class ends with OM and end with Namaste.

[top]

Q. What is Body Investment Studio’s etiquette protocol?

At Body Investment Studios, we practice honoring sacred spaces. Please be mindful of the following

• Only bare feet in the studio.  Shoe cubbies are located in the changing room.
• No cell phones.
• Arrive early (please do not disrupt the class if you are more than 10 minutes late).
• Enter and exit the room quietly.
• Honor and listen to your own body. Make appropriate modifications and inform your teacher of any injuries.
• Savasana: Your final relaxation is the most IMPORTANT pose.  If you must leave early, please let your teacher know before the class begins.

[top]

Q. What do I wear & bring to a yoga class?

Choose clothes that are not too baggy and that help you and your yoga instructor make sure you're not doing anything harmful to your body. Fabrics with stretch will help you feel most comfortable as you move from pose to pose. Bring your mat, a towel, and a bottle of water.

[top]

Q: Is Yoga a Religion?

Yoga is not a religion. It has no creed or fixed set of beliefs, nor is there a prescribed godlike figure to be worshipped in a particular manner. Religions for the most part seem to be based upon the belief in and worship of things (God or godlike figures) that exist outside oneself.

Yoga is a system of techniques that can be used for a number of goals, from simply managing stress better, learning to relax, and increasing limberness all the way to becoming more self-aware and acquiring the deepest knowledge of one’s own self.

According to the American Yoga Association; The common belief that Yoga derives from Hinduism is a misconception. Yoga actually predates Hinduism by many centuries. Ancient seals unearthed in the Indus Valley provide clear evidence of widespread Yoga practice earlier than 3,000 B.C.E. The techniques of Yoga have been adopted by Hinduism as well as by other world religions.

The practice of Yoga will not interfere with any religion. Many students who have practiced Yoga intensively for many years continue to follow the religious traditions they have grown up in or adopted without conflict.