We might have preconceived ideas of what yoga is about. For some of us, it means deep relaxation and stretching, for others it’s about turning into a pretzel in crazy looking poses or dripping with sweat as we move from pose to pose under 90 to 110 Fo. 

My understanding of Yoga goes back to its initial meaning: Union.

Just like Qigong and Tai Chi, Yoga is about the union, the connection between the body, the breath, and our three levels of energy.

I like the story my teacher Roger Janhke shared with us at my Qigong teacher training. He told us that people in India were looking in the direction of China, wondering what kind of practice they were doing. “I think they are doing Chinese Yoga!”. Whereas in China, looking over to India, they would say “Oh they are practicing Indian Qigong!”

This story emphasizes the fact that all those wonderful practices from the East have a common root: the Union/ Balance/ Alignment/ Connection/ Circulation of our three levels of energy. When we practice Yoga or Qigong, our body, our breath, and our mind benefit from it as we develop a more mindful way of being. We start to feel more in line with the higher source of energy, which connects everyone and everything.

As Yoga is concerned, it targets specific areas of your body in order to strengthen or stretch them. Yin Yoga is a slower (cooling) practice where poses are passively held for longer, working on the deep, dense (Yin) connective tissues and joints in the body. Yang Yoga, in contrast, refers to a more active (warming) practice working on the (Yang) muscles and blood flow, building strength, stamina and flexibility. Yang styles of yoga are those with rhythm and repetition like Vinyasa Flow.

Yoga is generally done on a mat, where you lie down, kneel, stand up, lower down. You can practice indoors or outdoors, like Beach Yoga. For elderly people, Chair Yoga is a great alternative where they can use the chair to sit but also as a prop for standing and balancing poses. I can offer you all variations of Yoga.

Yoga can seem intimidating for beginners and yet your body will always be grateful and respond positively to it. The hardest part in Yoga is to show up on your mat or on your chair, then you will be amazed with what your body is capable of!