Yoga is far more than just an exercise — it’s a holistic practice with countless styles, each offering unique benefits for the body and mind. From calming, meditative practices to fast-paced, strength-building flows, there’s truly a yoga training program for everyone.
Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned practitioner, exploring various yoga training programs can help you find the approach that best suits your needs and deepens your connection to the practice.
Learn about different yoga training programs and where to find classes near you.
It should come as no surprise that yoga offers physical benefits — improved strength, balance, coordination, and flexibility, to name a few. However, the practice of yoga is deeper than its physical perks.
Research indicates that practicing yoga may reduce stress and improve an overall sense of well-being. Some studies indicate many other effects, including:
The practice of yoga dates back thousands of years, beginning in ancient India and the Far East, and has evolved to today’s modern world. As the practice has evolved to serve diverse needs, dozens of different types of yoga training programs have begun and been adapted by various teachers to suit the needs and preferences of every practitioner. This diversity allows interested yogis to find a class that best aligns with their fitness levels, goals, mental state, and overall well-being.
You can find yoga training to meet you where you’re at, wherever Body & Brain Yoga Tai Chi classes are offered, so you can reap the many benefits of the yoga practice. Contact us today to learn more about our yoga classes.
A wide variety of yoga styles have developed, from ancient origins to modern. Different styles have different purposes and benefits. You might want to think about what you need from yoga in order to find what will give you the benefits you want.
For example, there are slow, meditative, floor-based yoga practices with a self-healing emphasis, often called “restorative yoga.” There are also yoga formats that emphasize deep stretching, like Yin yoga, to develop flexibility. Some styles of yoga are known for their breathwork, like Kundalini yoga. Other styles of yoga, like ancient Hatha yoga and modern Vinyasa yoga, include a mix of poses, movements, breathing exercises, and meditation.
In Body & Brain Korean energy yoga, you’ll find elements similar to many other styles of yoga, but the underlying purpose is to balance your internal vital energy, called Qi (Chinese) or Ki (Korean) ~ a uniquely East Asian emphasis. Body & Brain Tai Chi and Qigong also follow the same principles. You can learn more about energy balancing in the modern primer Water Up, Fire Down.
A typical Body & Brain Yoga Tai Chi class lasts 50 minutes to 1 hour, and follows a unique flow, although there can be plenty of variety between classes. A Body & Brain Yoga Tai Chi instructor will guide you to activate, circulate, balance, and accumulate your vital energy. Classes usually include deep stretching, breathing postures, relaxation, and meditation.
During a Body & Brain Yoga Tai Chi class, your instructor will first awaken your body through active movement and stretching exercises based on the tradition of opening meridian energy channels. With carefully guided stretching, you may feel your muscles relax, and your joints open up to help increase flexibility during your practice.
Try this sampler of Body & Brain stretches:
Body & Brain Korean-style breathwork may be done standing, seated, or lying down; but in a Body & Brain yoga class, instructors typically lead the class in breathing exercises combined with a sequence of static postures while lying down on a mat. This kind of focused breathing is meant to circulate vital energy throughout the meridians and to accumulate energy in the lower abdomen (lower dahnjon, traditionally thought to be the body’s center of physical power).
Some of the exercises in this sequence are also meant to develop core abdominal strength, like the one in this video, called “Sleeping Tiger”:
In a Body & Brain yoga class, instructors usually end the breathwork sequence with a few minutes of guided relaxation while lying on the mat.
Here is where you create your inner peace. Having completed the energy-balancing exercises, Body & Brain instructors usually lead a guided meditation called jigam, which is easy to learn. By focusing on the sensation of energy circulating in and around your hands, you can let go of external thinking and emotions and calm your mind. Even just a few minutes of this simple meditation can leave you feeling refreshed.
Try jigam meditation with this video:
Whether you’re seeking to relieve stress, improve flexibility, or find a deeper mind-body connection, exploring yoga can help you discover what resonates most with you.
As a leading holistic health practice, Body & Brain Yoga Tai Chi encompasses a variety of yoga classes with deep stretching, breathwork, meditation, and more. Our instructors combine East Asian energy and self-healing traditions with modern techniques to help practitioners develop their mind-body connection and a stronger sense of overall well-being.
Interested in experiencing some variety in your yoga practice? Contact us today to begin your yoga journey with like-minded individuals.
The content in this blog should not be used in place of direct medical advice/treatment and is solely for informational purposes.