The richness and diversity of the yoga tradition provide limitless opportunities for exploration and development. While increasing strength and flexibility are two crucial areas to focus on to advance in yoga, there are numerous others, more subtle paths and tools that can help you better your practice. This list of 12 ways to improve your yoga classes in Singapore is not intended to be approached all at once; focusing on one or two of these areas will be sufficient to see improvements.
1. Consistency is key.
Establishing and committing to a regular yoga practice is essential if you want to progress. Ensure you practise yoga at least three times within one week for flexibility, strength, and concentration improvements. If you cannot attend yoga classes in Singapore frequently, you should adopt a home yoga practice and utilise yoga videos and apps. One must consider that even though frequency is essential, quality is ultimately more important than quantity. Carelessness and distraction are ineffective, so it is encouraged that you approach your yoga sessions with intention.
2. Recognise your physical limitations.
Can your nose reach your knee during a standing forward bend? Some individuals are more flexible than others. Therefore, only bend to your ability. Respect the limits of your own body and cherish it. There is no need to compare yourself to your neighbour or someone on television. Ask your yoga teacher for help during training classes in Singapore.
3. Remember to practice meditation.
Establishing a traditional seated meditation practice will allow you to develop and explore the mental aspect of a Chinese yoga class. As you practise the physical aspects of yoga, asana and pranayama, the discipline you acquire through regular meditation will assist you in focusing and clearing your mind.
4. Find the right teacher and studio.
Finding a teacher, yoga style, and studio that resonates with you will help you exponentially in advancing your practice. Adopt an attitude of exploration and curiosity in your search for these, as it may take years to find them. Trying out different yoga classes for beginners in Singapore, as well as instructors is beneficial in and of itself; it allows you to gain exposure and experience with various yoga practices.
5. Attend yoga workshops.
A weekly yoga class can only teach you the basics of hatha yoga, and your yoga practice will eventually reach a plateau if you only practise once per week. To increase your knowledge and experience, you will need access to additional tools, customs, and methods for yoga classes in Singapore. Most yoga studios offer workshops on various topics and host travelling national teachers, or you can research international yoga festivals and retreats.
6. Incorporate yoga props.
Yoga straps, blocks, blankets, and bolsters will allow you to achieve a broader and more varied asana experience. Actively engage targeted muscle groups with yoga props, or use them in restorative yoga poses to release deeply held tensions and melt away chronic stress.
7. Keep a yoga journal.
Keeping a journal for your Chinese yoga class is a great way to record and monitor your intentions and objectives. Taking a few moments to reflect before or after your yoga practice is an excellent ritual for gaining insight into your work off the yoga mat.
8. Practice pranayama routinely.
The embodiment of pranayama, or yogic breath, is a crucial aspect of hatha yoga. We all come to yoga with dysfunctional or irregular breathing patterns, so regaining slow, deep, diaphragmatic breathing can take up to a year. Once dirga pranayama has become your regular breathing pattern, practise the other types of pranayama to connect with your energy body more deeply and to experience prana through the seven chakras.
9. Take a private yoga class.
If you have been working with a particular instructor for some time, you may wish to inquire about private lessons. Taking one or more private lessons can help you utilise your strengths more effectively and address weaknesses you don’t know. Private instruction will be especially beneficial if you need assistance with advanced poses in yoga classes in Singapore.
10. Buy a considerable yoga mat.
Yoga asanas performed on a substandard mat that bunches up and slips will distract you and hinder your practice. While many yoga studios provide mats for use during classes, it is more hygienic to bring your mat. Owning a high-quality yoga mat will provide a solid foundation for great practice. In addition, as time passes, your yoga mat will become imbued with effort, commitment, and intent during your practice sessions.
11. Take yoga off the mat for further growth.
As your yoga instructor in Singapore helps you investigate and develop an understanding of the connections between your body, breath, heart, and mind on your yoga mat, you will naturally observe these connections in other contexts. Difficult yoga poses teach us to approach difficult life situations with concentration and resolve. Applying the Yamas and Niyamas while flowing through yoga poses may be relatively simple, but applying these philosophical principles to our professional lives and personal relationships is a very different experience. Discovering opportunities to bring yoga off the mat and into your everyday life is a fantastic way to enhance your yoga skills.
12. Make yoga a core part of your life.
Yoga classes in Singapore are not just another fad exercise programme; their philosophical foundations and guiding principles were established thousands of years ago and are intended to be applied throughout one’s entire life. Consider how you can incorporate mindfulness, compassion, and awareness into your lifestyle, habits, relationships, diet, and work regularly.
There are numerous straightforward ways to align your life with the tenets of yoga without becoming a hermit in the Himalayas. Try eating less animal protein, decluttering your home, being honest in your communications, or developing daily gratitude and practising kindness.
Yoga practice helps develop the body and mind and has numerous health benefits, but it is not a replacement for conventional medicine. Yoga techniques must be learned and practised under the supervision of a qualified yoga instructor.
Check out Yoga Mandala today to get more information about their yoga classes for beginners in Singapore.
