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yoga, which is more than 5,000 years old Indian tradition, has become immensely popular in the United States of America. Americans have discovered the art of relaxation through yoga.

Since its popularity is soaring by the day, a number of yoga schools have mushroomed all over the USA to provide the advantages of yoga to the millions of Americans.

A number of yoga classes are conducted through adult education programs and at various yoga centers located in different states. You can get information about yoga centers on the internet. There are many private yoga teachers who conduct classes to give you personal attention.

Though you may be very keen to do yoga exercises the key is enrolling in a right yoga class which has an expert yoga instructor who will look into your personal needs. It is also important that you must know your limitations and goals.

Though the advantages and disadvantages of yoga are well known, very little is known about the yoga instructors. Therefore, before plunging in to yoga classes you have to find the right yoga instructor for it is his/her handling the yoga exercise(s) that either benefits you or may harm you in the long run.

There are a number of important aspects that you should look for in a yoga instructor. The instructor should at first glance identify whether you are doing the right yoga pose and if not he/she should be able to modify or correct the pose. He/she should warn the students which yoga exercise should be done and not to be done depending upon your physical and mental condition. yoga exercises which are uncomfortable and causing excruciating pain to you should never be done. An instructor should encourage the students to know their limitations and advise remedial measures for improving them.

It is extremely important that you check the credentials of the instructor over and over again, as a wrong choice may cause you more harm in doing yoga exercises which the instructor himself may not know. Look for a qualified yoga instructor.

You should find out the number of students in your yoga classes that you are going to select. A class with less than 30 students is preferable so that the instructor can give you personalized attention. You may join a class on experimental basis to gauge the expertise of the yoga instructor before deciding on the choice of yoga exercises.

There are different types of yoga classes and if you are a beginner in yoga you must look for a beginners class. Do not ever start with advance yoga classes. You should also look for the type of yoga classes that are being conducted which are suitable for stretching and relaxation.

You need to know where you want to take yoga classes. If you are looking for fitness through yoga then you can join a yoga class held at a fitness facility. If you are looking to be a yoga expert yourself then you should look for a place which is solely dedicated to yoga classes only and possibly teaches the "higher" or mental yogas.

If you are having any physical handicap or respiratory problem it is advisable to get yourself medically examined. Even if you are not having any disability, medical check up is advisable before undertaking any yoga classes.

Cathy Taylor is a marketing consultant with over 26 years experience. She can be reached at Creative Communications: creativecommunications@cox.net or by visiting http://www.everythingmenopause.com and http://www.howtoconquermenopause.com and http://www.everythingandropause.com

posted by 55208  # 12:56 AM