Yoga, like most things in life, is more beneficial and becomes much easier the more it is practiced. Whatever your mantra may be, there is a yoga cd available on the market that can help guide you on your journey to achieving your goal: unity of the body, mind and spirit. Ajapa japa is one such meditative practice that is in line with these goals

Some may feel that a yoga cd is not necessary or perhaps even a hindrance to finding the peace and fulfillment that one is seeking. To the contrary, it is but a tool that should be taken advantage of to expedite the process! Ajapa japa follows three distinct steps, and a cd that is dedicated to this kind of yoga will lead you down the path to enlightenment so you can fully enjoy your life and the universe around you.

The art of Ajapa japa is enhanced through the use of a yoga cd dedicated to it’s practice. Special attention is paid to learning about Ajapa japa and then those teachings are put into practice. Allow yourself to immersed in the teachings of Ajapa japa, then master each of the three stages at your own pace, until you have found the inner solitude and peace that you are looking for.

Contrary to what you may think, this yoga cd set (and others) is not expensive or time consuming. As previously stated, perfecting the art of meditation through yoga, and vice versa, are achieved through practice. Using these cds as a guide will allow you to tune into the universe surrounding you and decreases your life’s stress by letting you better manage it. The answers to your problems become more clear and are more accessible when your mind is calm and your body is healthy.

These images often feature celebrities, particularly Madonna, who is a big fan of proving just how flexible she is even though she’s in her sixth decade. While impressive (and to some, freaky), these pictures of impossible poses are not really a true reflection of what yoga is, or what it’s trying to achieve. Taken further, one could argue these poses are actually off-putting for people who want to try yoga – but are quite sure their foot does not, and never will, belong behind their ears.

If you have always been curious about yoga, but somewhat scared that your first class will end in pain, fear no more. You do not, under any circumstances, need to be super flexible to try yoga. It is the discipline itself that allows these extreme poses to be possible, and achieving such feats can take years of dedication and practice – and even then it is entirely option. Yoga will increase your flexibility, but you don’t need to have a core flexibility to begin to learn yoga. Stiff and non-bendy people are just as welcome as the Madonnas of this world!

However, with every new celebrity yoga devotee and every new DVD, yoga experts were regularly consulted by the tabloid press – who were quick to dismiss this new “yoga in a box” way of learning. Yoga is, they argued, too complex to be mastered – or even practiced safely – in the comfort of your own home, with no one but an inane celebrity to guide you.

Is there any truth in that, or were the traditional yoga teachers just rebelling against a perceived threat to their livelihoods? Well, a little from column A, a little from column B. Yoga is always best learnt with a qualified, respectable teacher, in a safe location where you can be assisted should physical difficulties arise.

On the other hand, attending a class is not possible for some people due to a busy home, work or social life. So celebrity DVDs do have their uses, and are usually for beginners’ – so the risk of injury is minimal. So long as you warm up and cool down properly, use them freely for a quick yoga boost if you can’t make a class.

Now all you need to do is find a local yoga class. Your first port of call should be the local gymnasiums. Although yoga is not only offered at gyms, this is far and away the most popular place for yoga classes to be held. The reasons are simple; existing exercise rooms lend themselves well to yoga, with their clear floors and bright lights, and most people who attend a gym have an interest in physical fitness as it is – so it makes sense for them to be able to get all of their fitness needs met in one familiar building.

In most cases, you will not have to purchased a full gym membership to attend a yoga class at the facility. This is always a good option for general physical health, but by no means essential. You will usually pay for a six-week course up front, though the length of the initial payment period may differ depending on your location. If you do join the gym, the class fee will usually be reduced for gym members, so check that out.

If you don’t like the sound of the gym, check your local Yellow Pages or listings. You may be able to find an independent practitioner to learn from in your own home, so keep that as an option.

One way to deal with this is to go along to the end of one of the yoga classes prior to the one you’ll be attending, and – without being obvious – have a quick look at what everyone is wearing. As every class, every gym and even every city is slightly different in what they wear, this is the best way of discovering ‘common practice’ at your local gym. Alternatively, when you sign up for the class, ask what it is recommended that you wear. Don’t worry about this, as the question has doubtless been asked before, and it will provide the answers you seek.

If, however, that all sounds a little too forthright, you can go for an “anything works” option – something that will fit in everywhere. Many people who practice yoga work in leotards, skin tight lycra ensembles that allow for maximum flexibility – so that’s an option if you’re brave enough for such exposure. If you’d rather be a little more covered, a baggy tee-shirt and stretchy leggings work well. Just ensure you can move freely, without any restrictive fabric, and all will be well.

Exercise classes are always difficult to join, and can make even the most self assured person feel uncomfortable. Yoga classes all the more so, as one is almost lead to believe you will be approaching a zen-like situation in which you are expecting to close your eyes and hum and all other manner of Hollywood-inspired practices. If you have concerns about a yoga class, all you need is a brief etiquette in yoga. It’s really very simple, and will make the classes more enjoyable.

Yoga is primarily taught in silence, with only the Yogi (the person leading the class) regularly speaking. However, if you’re having any questions or queries – and particularly if you’re feeling uncomfortable – then you are perfectly within your rights to ask for guidance. Do so by raising your hand, it may feel childish but it’s polite.

By and large, the class itself and your instructor should be your sole focus. Be polite, and within time you will adapt to the natural rhythm of the class, and fit in just fine.

The word that you will hear repeated time and again separately from any exercise is namaste. Literally translated it means “I bow to you” and is used as a respectful, cheerful greeting. It can also be used to mean “thank you” and is usually accompanied by clasped palms over the heart and a small bow of the head. You may also hear at the start and finish of your classes a simple chant of “om”. This is to signify the union of body, mind and spirit in one, the whole universe in a single sound. It is pronounced more like “a-um”

The word “Yoga” itself similarly refers to a union of soul and spirit through yogic exercises. Different types of yoga referred to by their Sanskrit names include Ashtanga – a physically challenging form of yoga; Ananda – a more gentle, inward form of the practice; Iyengar – a form noted for its attention to detail and the frequent use of external props; Vinyasa is a word which represents the flow of interconnected yogic poses, linked together by breath work in one continuous motion.

Say, for example, that you have been suffering from stress for a while. The one thing you will most want to meditate upon will be calm – you will want a sense of inner calm upon which to meditate. Let this be your focus, and take a seat with your legs crossed somewhere quiet. Close your eyes, relax, and repeat your focus word on the exhalation as you breathe slowly and naturally.

If your mind wanders, do not let it drag you away, just don’t engage the thoughts. Let your mind wander back to you. By doing this you enable your mind to stay concentrated on what you are meditating upon. The optimum duration for a spell of meditation is considered to be between ten and twenty minutes, but if you have nothing pressing to be getting on with, then you can go a few minutes over without worrying about it. After all, this s all about clearing your mind of worry.

You begin by lying flat on your back with your eyes closed. Allow your face and then your body to relax. Simply lie there paying attention to your breath, Do not modify it at all, at this point, just let it in and out. If your mind keeps chiming in with unwelcome thoughts, let them go and keep thinking about your breath.

Slowly, inhale deeply through your nose, allowing your belly to fill up with breath until it feels totally full. Once you come to exhale, breathe back out through your nose, ensuring that you empty your belly properly. Repeat this process for a total of five breaths.

The next time you inhale, allow the belly to fill with air and then take in a little bit more. This will cause your ribs to widen. When you exhale, repeat the previous process of breathing out through your nose until your belly is clear. You will repeat this process again for five breaths.

The third and final part of the three-part breath is as follows: You repeat the steps above for breathing in and once you have got to the point where the ribs expand, take in a little more again, allowing it to expand your upper chest. When you breathe out, similarly let it all go. Once you are doing this, repeat it for about ten breaths and then relax. By now, you should feel very chilled and ready to sleep.