Turning To Yoga with Yoga Journal's Elana Maggal

BART BRODSKY: What are the top five benefits of practicing yoga?

ELANA MAGGAL: Yoga is a powerful stress reduction technique. Studies have shown that regular hatha yoga practice also increases strength and flexibility, improves cardiovascular efficiency, decreases systolic blood pressure, improves peripheral blood flow, strengthens the endocrine system, helps with weight control, breast health, and asthma, and heightens overall fitness.

	Rodney Yee is one of over 40 master teachers and presenters at the Yoga Journal Conference, a world class opportunity for both beginners and yoga pros to make new friends and update their knowledge. Enter PROMO CODE SF18 to receive a special discount on the main conference admission.

BB: How have modern Westerners adapted yoga to their busy lifestyles?

EM: It's possible to get a great yoga workout in as little as 20 minutes. Some practitioners do brief practices while still getting lots of benefits.

BB: How has the practice of yoga changed as a result of its growing popularity in the West?

EM: We've seen lots of cross-over between disciplines: yoga and pilates, yoga and music, yoga and dance. Eastern and Western culture influence each other and we see the results in the blending of styles.

BB: Different yoga disciplines emphasize posture, or breath, or meditation. How does a person decide which kind of yoga is best for her?

EM: A lot depends on age and physical condition, as well as your personality! If you like to get hot and sweaty, try Ashtanga or Bikram. If you want to learn precision in poses, try Iyengar. If you're one stressed out person, try Yin. And remember, always tell your teacher if you have any conditions he or she should know about.

BB: What's new or different about the upcoming Yoga Journal Conference in SF?

At this year's conference, our closing event is something new. Ashtanga teacher David Swenson will be offering a 30 minute guided meditation and avasanaaaah where you'll be guided through a simple inward journey designed to show you how to relax, release, and unwind while drinking deep from the internal glow of prana after a weekend of yoga immersion. Also, our keynote speaker is Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, spiritual head of the Himalayan Institute, on "Tantra: The Opening of a New Frontier of Yoga." This will be on Saturday afternoon, January 30 from 1:30-2:30pm. It is free and open to the public. Also, for the first time, we are offering a beginners track as part of our main weekend conference, as opposed to a separate beginners conference. This is a wonderful opportunity for yogis interested in mixing and matching different levels of classes within the smorgasbord of offerings that the conference has.

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