Locking out your joints in any physical activity instinctively feels "wrong." Locking out the elbow joints in yoga poses is called hyperextension and can lead to overstretching certain ligaments and tendons, or worse, destabilizing the joints. Luckily, there are easy ways to protect your elbows for every pose in yoga.
Detox the Pancreas
The human pancreas is an organ responsible for producing important enzymes needed to digest what we eat. When it is in a diseased condition, or when toxins from food or the environment are introduced into the body, pancreatic hormonal imbalances can occur, and diseases such as diabetes can manifest. The pancreas must be detoxified to keep it healthy.
Build a Yoga Studio
Yoga Journal estimates that 15 million people practice yoga in the United States. The total estimated market for yoga studios is in the millions of dollars. Many yoga studios, however, are founded solely out of a yoga practitioners' love for the practice and desire to share it with others. Because of the spiritual nature of the yoga practice, many people feel uncomfortable thinking about financial matters when they build a yoga studio. Taking a business approach to building a yoga studio, however, gives you a much better chance of sustaining your studio so that students can benefit from the practice in the long term.
Become a 200-Hour Certified Yoga Teacher
Becoming a yoga teacher takes hard work and dedication. When you make the decision to go from student to teacher, it is important to seek out a training program that is affiliated with the Yoga Alliance (YA); YA registers both individual yoga teachers and yoga teacher training programs (schools) who have complied with minimum educational standards established by the organization. YA sets its own standards and requirements. Any training program you choose should clearly outline what will be required of you. The first step to become a teacher is to earn your 200-hour certification.
Perform the 12 Yoga Asanas
The 12 basic yoga asanas are the core of the practice of Sivananda yoga, a form of hatha yoga. Not all of these can be done by a beginner; however, with practice and effort most people can accomplish these as part of a daily yoga routine. Sivanada yoga focuses specifically on relaxation and breathing. These 12 asanas are commonly performed after a sun salutation. Keep posture and alignment in mind when doing any sort of yoga, and listen carefully to your body to avoid overexerting yourself or causing injury.