www.yogahoutbay.co.za New Student Info . · It is important to honor your own body whilst doing your YOGA practice. Listen to your body and work with it, gently and responsibly. · Yoga works to decrease stress; you should not feel any strain as a result of performing yoga postures. If you do feel stress or strain during yoga, please discontinue the posture and alert the instructor immediately. · Your breathing is a good indicator of how forcibly or gently you are working in your practice. You should always breathe freely and deeply in yoga postures. If not, you should reduce the intensity of your posture by taking rest, or choosing an easier variation of the posture. · It is more effective to work gently and breathe deeply into a stretch and to avoid pushing or forcing too deeply. Flexibility improves when you work mindfully, patiently and consistently over time. · A dull stretching sensation in your muscles is a normal part of yoga practice; however under no circumstances should you ever feel sharp pain, especially any pinching in the lower back, or shooting pains down the arms or legs. · It is advisable to have the clearance of your medical doctor before starting any new exercise regimen, including yoga. · Please always alert the instructor before class if any new or recurrent condition, injury, discomfort, pain, etc. arises. · Persons suffering from dizziness or high blood pressure should not practice any inversions without strict supervision of a yoga teacher and without following the correct sequence of poses before and after the topsy-turvy postures. · During the menstrual period women should take their yoga practice easy. It is not advisable to do inversions. Listen to and respect your body’s wisdom. · Pregnant women can practice most postures during the first trimester; thereafter it is recommended you speak to an instructor about appropriate pre-natal variations. It is not advisable to practice yoga during the first month after delivery. Keep practicing, and stay gentle with yourself. Remember that yoga is a long-term investment in developing self- awareness.   There is no specific goal in any of the postures we practice; rather, each posture is an exploration within. The perfect pose is an expression of where we are in our bodies each time we step on the mat. Use your breath to guide you, and keep reinforcing your connection to the breathing every time you practice.