New to Yoga?
Welcome! We know what it’s like when you’re just getting started. It can be confusing, exciting and all a bit unclear.
Let’s start from the beginning, together.
“If the foundation is firm the building can withstand calamities. The practice of yoga is the foundation so that the self is not shaken under any circumstances.”
What is yoga?
Yoga is a classical Indian system dealing with well-being in body, mind, and spirit.
Yoga is a practical philosophy involving every aspect of a person's being. It encourages the evolution of the individual through the development of self-discipline and self-awareness.
What is commonly referred to as yoga in the West refers to the discipline of physical yoga. Through a series of physical poses, called asanas, yoga teaches us how to quiet the mind by placing attention on the breath and on the movement (and stillness) of the body. A refined system of physical development, the practice of yoga focuses not only on flexibility but also on strength, balance and endurance.
For all students new to CYC,
we offer a special promotion – 3 classes for $45!
Classes appropriate for beginners
Whether new to yoga or just new to CYC, you’re welcome in any of the classes below.
What can I expect in a typical CYC yoga class?
A yoga class is typically 90 minutes in length and will include combinations of some or all of the following types of poses:
Standing poses for flexibility, strength and stamina
Seated poses for a healthy back, and reflection
Forward bends for calming and nurturing the body and mind
Inverted poses for circulation and stress reduction
Breathing awareness and deep relaxation for energy and renewal
The poses or asanas have Sanskrit names. The teacher may use Sanskrit name interchangeably with the English translation. Props such as blankets, mats, bolsters, ties, and blocks are often used to modify or prepare or deepen a yoga pose.
In some classes you many actually focus on more controlled breathing or be asked to observe normal breathing in a seated or supine position. This latter is the beginning of another aspect of yoga, Pranayama.
Searching for beginner poses?
Click below for a list of postures and break down for poses you’ll commonly find in our beginner classes.
“I love and appreciate the quality, the energy, the caring of the teachers at California Yoga. I would find it a very sad day to be without the studio and the friendship of the students and teachers. I can’t thank the teachers enough.”
What are the benefits of yoga practice?
Practicing yoga regularly can:
Help proper functioning of organs, nerves, and glands
Improve circulation and respiration
Aid digestion
Strengthen the immune system
Improve coordination
Increase vitality
Reduce stress
Strengthen bones
“You should do the asanas with vigor and at the same time be relaxed and composed.”
Who is B.K.S. Iyengar?
B.K.S. Iyengar developed his approach to yoga based on the yoga tradition handed down to him by his teacher, Shri T. Krishnamacharya, a classically trained Hindu scholar and yoga master. Mr. Iyengar's system of yoga is unsurpassed in grace, subtlety, and precision. Iyengar-style yoga emphasizes alignment and develops flexibility, strength, balance and endurance. It emphasizes the importance of regulated breathing; the use of blocks, chairs, and other props; and the therapeutic value of adapting the poses to the needs and limitations of the individual students. Mr. Iyengar has authored a number of classic texts on hatha yoga including Light on Yoga. Mr. Iyengar died in 2014 at the age of 95. His daughter, Geeta, and son, Prashant and other teachers continue his work at the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Institute in Pune, India.