It's no question that yoga is a growing trend across the US. Thousands of Americans will try yoga for their first time this year. The question is, which class or type of yoga is best suited for a beginner? The term "yoga" can be used to describe a) the most relaxing experience you could possibly imagine...or b) the most intense, sweaty, challenging and seemingly unbearable workout. How does a beginner differentiate between all the types available?

It’s a Wednesday afternoon, and I pull open the door and smell the gym—the chalk, someone's coffee, the rubbery stink of climbing shoes. The staff members—as always—greet me by name as I drop my climbing bag in the corner, which is already stacked with the bright orange team bags belonging to my friends. Shoes and chalk in my hands, I enter the bouldering area to warm up. This place is like a second home to me. It's where I learned how to lose without losing my confidence; it's where I've won competitions and won the respect of my coaches; it's where I learned to throw myself into something with my whole heart. It's where I've learned to climb like a girl.

The art of developing balance best begins with a deep, healthy breath of fresh air. The breathing practice known as Yoga breathing, or more formally as Ujjayi breathing, is a time tested holistic alternative to achieving focus, rhythm, and positive thinking. In addition, the Ujjayi breathing technique brings a host of health benefits with every breath.

We were lucky enough to meet up with Rachelle Ballard for guided coaching on where to begin. Rachelle is the the passionate owner of Into the Woods Wellness and offers services dedicated to teaching health and mindful living. Rachelle has a master’s degree in Exercise Physiology: emphasis in Wellness Coaching and Nutrition, and is a 500 hr yoga certified instructor.

The goal in Ujjayi breathing is to develop mindfulness and health through a holistic control of the body’s nervous system. When the sympathetic nervous system is at play the body is typically on an extreme and seeking balance. Ujjayi breathing as a technique trains the body in achieving a homeostatic balance. Learning to feel this transition will come over time, and allow for feelings of relaxation and calm to flow as control over sympathetic responses in the body become more apparent. Mindfulness around such internal wellbeing will increase motivation and translate directly into physical feats not yet achieved.

Yoga is Healthy 

Every person gets that splitting headache at some point of their life.  In the world we live in our first instinct is to pop a couple of pills and lay down.  I like to think of headaches as my conscious telling me, “WOMAN!  Pull yourself together!!!” For example, did you know that most headaches are …