Yoga

Since the 1960's yoga has been steadily gaining ground on the island of Ibiza. Whether you are an experienced practitioner of the art or a complete novice, there will be a spa or individual teacher to accommodate your needs.

There is far more to yoga than simply stretching and exercising the body. Yoga aims to create a balance in mind, body and spirit using exercise, meditation and powerful breathing techniques. When both strength and flexibility are practised on a regular basis, then a natural balance will follow. This balance is achieved using a variety of poses, of increasing difficulty, sometimes in quick succession one after the other. Done quickly, and the body will generate an internal heat. Practised more slowly, and the body will develop more stamina and strength.

Yoga is best practised in natural surroundings, preferably with access to clean air. Fortunately, Ibiza has this in abundance. Some yoga teachers prefer to take their classes well away from their own workshop, for instance, and it is not unknown to find yourself on a deserted hillside or, depending on location, even at a nice quiet beach for you sessions. Best of all, as yoga is a very personal activity, you can take your own practice wherever and whenever you please, and with the mild year-round climate of Ibiza, there are no end of beautiful, inspiring surroundings to lift the spirits and soothe the mind.

Yoga can help with, amongst other things, lowering stress, relieving back pain, and generally living healthily right into old age. One of the prime tenets of yoga is the losing of the ego - yoga is non-competitive, there are no belts, grades or medals awarded. Everyone is considered equal, and your yoga teacher is a guide, nothing more. You either practise yoga, or you don't practise yoga, it's really that simple.

Because yoga is generally practised barefoot and with a minimum of equipment (most studios use a mat, simply for comfort), this makes it an inexpensive exercise regime. You don't need to go out of your way to purchase any expensive gadgets or clothing. The only clothes you'll need, in fact, are your own. Just make sure they're loose and comfortable to aid the flexible poses you'll be undertaking.

There are no age limits for yoga. If you feel you're too old to take up mountain-biking or other strenuous sports, then yoga is possibly the perfect solution. Likewise, you're never too young to start learning the art. And if you are already a keen sports-person, then regularly practising yoga can only help you in your chosen field, by strengthening your muscles and increasing your all-round stamina.

As with yoga's approach to age, there are no barriers between the sexes either. Yoga is just as potent for men as it is for women. Much has been made of a certain pop-singer's Tantric longevity in the bedroom, but this can be again be attributed to the stamina-building properties of yoga. Besides, tantric yoga is only one of many different philosophical approaches. There are many connections between yoga and several different religions, but regardless of your faith or lack of it, yoga remains an effective promoter of good health. It could easily be argued that there are as many types of yoga in the world as there are teachers of yoga.

Yoga and pregnancy

Yoga is considered by many to be an invaluable tool during your pregnancy. There are many quite safe poses and exercises to practise, and the meditation and breathing techniques have a renowned relaxing effect upon mothers-to-be.

Bikram Yoga - Diputat Josep Ribao, 8 Eivissa 07800 Ibiza +34 971310450

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