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Your biggest yoga questions... answered!


Yoga Month might be coming to an end, but it's never too late to sign yourself up for a tranquil workout. For those of you who were too timid to try it out in September, we sought wisdom from Charm City Yoga instructor Sarah Sloane for clarity on your most puzzling questions.

What makes yoga different than just stretching? 
Warming up your muscles might be a good way to loosen up before a game, but yoga goes way beyond that by unifying your mind with motions. "We are flexing, bending, holding and breathing our bodies and minds during yoga," Sloane explains.  Makes sense, considering yoga comes from the Sanskrit phase "to unite."

How long does it take for me to get flexible?
"It really depends on your body and the amount of practice time," Sloane says. For her, it took three weekly practices seven months straight to nail the Monkey Pose, or a split in non-yogini terms.  If you want to improve your flexibility, she insists it's all about self-discipline.

How many calories do I burn in a regular yoga sesh? 
"It varies based on your weight and build," she spills, "but you can burn between 500 and 800 calories in a hot yoga session." Sweet, sign us up!

Does yoga really help curb my slouching?
You bet! We've been a fan of good poise, and now Sloane dishes how yoga ties in: "[It] helps to reshape your body by straightening up your posture and toning your muscles."

What are some tips for doing yoga at home so I know I won't injure myself from doing it wrong?
Before you pop in that Vinyasa DVD, you should "drink plenty of water and not eat too [much]." While the slight muscles soreness shows you're getting a good workout, Sloane reveals, "[that] shooting pain during a pose or stretch is your body's way of saying back off." So don't push yourself too much, girl.

What can I do to prevent from being sore the next day after a yoga sesh?
Sloane recommends noshing on some healthy fruits, like bananas, and be sure to drink plenty of water (think: 40 ounces a day). Above all, "Listen to
your body if it needs to rest."

Sarah Sloane is a yoga instructor at Charm City Yoga in Baltimore, MD.

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by Karmen Fox | 2/1/2016
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