General guidelines for the Dahn Yoga Center’s new members to get the most out of their experience:
- Actual breathing: Inhale through the nose; exhale through the mouth, a little longer. Keep mouth open. Always keep breathing.
- Imagined breathing: Usually inhale to lower abdomen (hara); exhale through hara (for relaxation and strength), fingers and toes or the tense body part being focused on (to release the tension or negative energy).
- Standing, usual pose: Feet parallel (like the number 11), knees slightly bent, legs relaxed.
- Shoulders, neck and arms: keep them relaxed at all times.
- After most exercises: Shake out the arms and legs, and/or sweep parts of body with hands.
- Length of exercises: Usually counting to 10, which is done aloud, by the facilitator or the entire group.
- Smile: as much as possible – 5 minutes of smiling is worth 30 minutes of stretching.
- When feeling physical pain: Be grateful that you are feeling it so you can release or work on it; say, “Ahhh, this feels good.”
- If you have physical problems: When you feel too much pain, adjust the exercise or do not do it.
