“How Often Should I do Yoga?”

“How Often Should I do Yoga?”

It’s the most asked question we get at TSB, and the answer, friends, is that it depends on what your GOAL is.

Let us explain.

If your goal is to simply calm the mind and try something new, honestly, once a week is going to make a big difference. Our recommendation – start slow. Slow and consistent wins the race always! We don’t want you to try and commit to classes 5 times a week and you wind up burnt out, and even injured.

The whole vibe at TSB is to listen to your body!

So here are some FAQs we’re answering for you that may help you discover how often YOU should do yoga for YOUR own body and mind…

I’M BRAND NEW. WHAT CLASSES WILL BE BEST FOR ME?

We recommend beginning with our 45 minute gentle yoga on Tuesday evenings. This class involves just enough movement to stop your busy brain from running wild all class, but is slow enough that you won’t feel intimidated. After this class, you will feel more capable of attending any “All Levels Vinyasa” class on our schedule. But remember, start slow. Check out our schedule to sign up!

I HAVE AN INJURY BUT I AM TRYING TO BEGIN OR GET BACK TO YOGA TO HEAL. CAN I DO IT?

Absolutely! Just let your teacher know ahead of time about your injury (or any other concerns you have, even!). This way, they can make sure to check on you during class and even provide additional modifications for you proactively knowing your situation. If anything feels like you cannot do it in class, just don’t do it! Our teachers are FANTASTIC and they will be able to give you something else that you can do. Always listen to your body. And of course, check with your doctor first.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD I DO YOGA TO IMPROVE FLEXIBILITY?

Yoga is a fantastic practice to improve your body’s flexibility. While some people are naturally flexible and can retain this by doing only one to two yoga classes per week, others may have to practice every day to keep their muscles and joints limber. A good rule of thumb for the average person seeking to do yoga to improve flexibility is to aim for 3 to 5 classes per week.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD I DO YOGA TO INCREASE STRENGTH?

Yoga isn’t just good for flexibility — since you’re using your body’s weight throughout the movements, it can help you get stronger as well. If your goal for yoga is to increase strength, you should aim for 3 classes per week – and check out our Hot Pilates and Barre classes to achieve this goal too! Make sure to leave enough time between sessions to give your muscles time to recover. We always need that time off for our muscles to actually grow.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD I DO YOGA TO REDUCE STRESS & ANXIETY?

Stress can be just as harmful to your body as medical conditions such as hypertension or obesity. The practice of yoga is well known as a natural stress reducer — so if you are someone who gets anxious easily, you could benefit from regular yoga practice. If you are looking for stress relief from your yoga practice, then you should do it as often as you want and can fit it into your schedule. There’s no such thing as too much yoga if done properly. So doing yoga every day or even more than once per day to reduce stress is never a bad idea. Our favorite stress reducing classes are Yin Yoga classes!

Which goal are you reaching for this season?!