All yoga stretches are not created equally...

Your yoga stretches happen in YOUR body. In every single class I teach I repeat several times throughout to "listen to your body". It will let you know if it doesn't like a stretch. Your instructor cannot feel your pain, and cannot see it most of the time.

You are the only one who knows your comfort level.Your yoga stretches should be based on your body and your flexibility. Start where you are and then progress. Don't try to start at someone else's flexibility level because it won't work for you.

Yoga is never a competition or a spectator sport. The old saying, "no pain - no gain" does not apply to yoga. Your yoga practice is not about tearing muscles and tendons, it is about lengthening and strengthening. If you have an injury you can't practice comfortably and you won't get the benefits of the stretch so please listen to what your body tells you. Be comfortable.

Chair yoga might be where you want to start if you are not too steady on your feet or not comfortable getting down on the floor and back up again. A chair yoga practice can be rejuvenating while staying secure in your pose with the aid of a stationary object. You can practice seated stretching or simply use the chair to aid with balance in standing positions.

A gentle Hatha yoga practice might be where you want to start if you are comfortable moving around without any support. Generally in a hatha yoga class you practice standing, kneeling and seated (on the floor), positions as well as reclined on your back and/or on your stomach. Click here for information about yoga stretches and how to adapt them to your body.

A restorative yoga practice is for when you really need relaxing postures just to de-stress or to recover from an injury. These poses could be specific to a particular injury or just plain relaxing. Many times restorative poses include using props such as blankets for underneath your head or lower back.

Let's talk about heat a little more. You should practice in a room that is warm and comfortable.If your body is cold your muscles tend to tighten. Warm ups should be done prior to stretching. Some instructors use sun salutations as a warm up, others teach breath connected stretches. You want your yoga stretches to be easy and comfortable.

Speaking of comfortable, your clothing should be loose - but not so loose that it gets tangled in your body. If you bend forward and your shirt is so loose it falls down over your head - that's not too comfortable. Stretchy is best and bare feet are best.

There are little tiny nerve endings under your feet that are stimulated when you are in your yoga stretches. Wearing socks can be dangerous. Socks can be slippery and cause you to do a split when you don't want to or any number of other slippery injuries.

Whichever form of yoga you choose to practice, listen to your body. Make your yoga stretches fit your body. Chair yoga, gentle Hatha yoga or Power yoga all provide benefits to people but not always to the same people.

Your yoga stretches~~ your yoga practice is all about you. We can't say that about many things these days. It seems that so much time is used up taking care of others. Take some time to be all about you. Make your yoga stretches fit your body.