FAQ’s

What is Yoga and why practice it?
The word yoga means union in Sanskrit.  This union refers to body, mind and spirit.  While yoga provides a great physical workout, the benefits far exceed this.  The practice allows you to explore yourself and your limitless potential.  In this day and age with life being so busy and many of us on autopilot, we power our way through our days with our minds and leave feeling behind.  Yoga teaches us to pay attention to what we are feeling, giving us a way to go from thinking through life to really living it.

I’m not flexible, can I still do yoga?
It is a common misconception that you have to be flexible to do yoga.  This practice allows you to start exactly where you are.  Yoga will increase your flexibility and you will start to feel better in your body, but you do not need to be flexible to practice.  We welcome the flexible as well!

Are VEERA classes suited for beginners?
YES!  We teach to ALL LEVELS.  At VEERA, we encourage students to practice right where they are.   We provide modifications for postures so that you can find the way that the pose feels best in your body.  Everyone has a different body and therefore different needs.  This approach gives everyone the opportunity to feel the benefits of each posture.  We remind students often to only go as far as your body is comfortable.  Our teachers may also ask you to place your mat in a specific spot in the room to ensure the best view of the postures.

If I do the introductory $39 for 30, do I get 30 classes?
You could- it depends on how often you come.  This offer is 39 dollars for 30 consecutive days of yoga.  During these 30 days, come as many times as you would like to experience different times and different teachers.

Why Heat?
We warm our room to about 85 degrees to help the body and muscles warm up for the practice as it builds.  Additional heat is generated from the posture or asana practice itself and the Ujaii breath used in the VEERA Vinyasa flow.  Most people do work up a good sweat in our classes.  This is such a great thing as it allows our bodies to detox and cleanse.

Is Yoga just stretching?
The practice of yoga is much more than just the few warm up stretches you might go through before a run.  The focus on alignment makes how you stretch much more important than how far you stretch.  At VEERA, we practice Vinyasa which incorporates movement with the postures, moving from pose to pose with breath.  This aspect adds a cardio element to the practice.  It is also good to know that the postures or asana is just one of the 8 limbs of the yoga practice.

Are VEERA Vinyasa Flow(VVF) classes like Bikram Yoga?
No.  VVF classes are based on Vinyasa which links breath with movement.  The class is fluid and always different as each teacher creates his/her own sequencing using Sun Salutations as the foundation.  By contrast, Bikram Yoga is a set of 26 copyrighted postures that are done twice each in the same order for every class.  We also heat the room to 85 degrees versus the 105 degrees that Bikram yoga requires.

Is Yoga a religion?
No.  The focus of this practice is on self exploration and growth in the physical, mental and spiritual sense.  There is no decree declaring the nature of a higher being(s) to be worshipped.

Can men do Yoga?
YES!  Traditionally yoga was practiced exclusively by men.  Consequently, many of the postures are designed more for a man’s physique than a woman’s requiring more upper body and arm strength.  Many men feel that they are not flexible enough to do yoga.  This is a common misconception!  There are many NFL football players who practice yoga to increase flexibility to reduce the chance for injury.  You do not need to be flexible to do yoga, however yoga will make you more flexible!

Will I get a good workout?
Yes.  VEERA Vinyasa Yoga is such that you determine what you get out of it.  Our teachers will provide modifications to poses and also ways to increase the intensity of postures.  It is up to you to feel your body and determine where you need to be for each pose.  We encourage you to find your edge during the practice.   Over time with continued practice, you will build strength, flexibility and good physical and mental health.

What is Om, and why do we sing it?
In the ancient yogic texts, it is said that Om is the sound of the universe.  Given that everything is made of matter, when all of these particles vibrate together, they create a sound – Om.  By singing/chanting it, we are connecting with the universe and each other.

Why chant?
Chanting or Kirtan, is a way to the heart.  When we release our inhibitions and fully allow ourselves to sing freely, we release love from our hearts and create connections with others in the room.  There is no right or wrong way to sing kirtan.  It can sound angelic or dissonant; it doesn’t matter.  What matters is the spirit and the feeling.  Trust me, you’ll grow to love it!