Lindsay Krause is where she wants to be right now, playing outside hitter for the Nebraska volleyball team.

As a freshman last season, she was the best option as Nebraska's right-side hitter, so thats where she played. Nebraska didnt have a natural right-side hitter when lefty Jazz Sweet left, so the right-handed hitting Krause slid into the spot.

The Omaha Skutt graduate made it work, and was a key part of why Nebraska upset Texas in the NCAA Elite Eight. Texas didnt have an answer for Krause, who had 13 kills, hit .500 and had the match-winning kill on a shot that ricocheted off of the defense and into the crowd.

This season, Krause is playing her more natural position of outside hitter. Thats where she wants to be, and it's the position in which she hopes to be recognized as an All-American.

But regardless of the position she plays or even how much she plays Krause forces herself to keep a team-first attitude.

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I just want to be on a winning team, Krause said. If that means Im playing right side, cool. If that means Im playing outside, cool. If that means Im not in the lineup, that sucks for me, but cool. I want to be on a team thats going to win.

The Huskers are winning a lot again this year, with Nebraska taking an 11-1 record and No. 3 ranking into Sundays match at noon against Maryland (9-6, 0-3 Big Ten).

Krause is a goal-oriented person. Winning fuels her. Growth motives her.

My goal for this year is to stay on the left side and be a very effective outside hitter that needs to be respected by other teams, Krause said. But also going forward I want to be a six-rotation player, and I want to have my name on the wall in Devaney (as an All-American) by the time Im done with my career.

All-American status seemed to be a fitting goal watching Krause dominate throughout her high school career. When she hit the ball, it sounded different than anyone else in the gym.

Depending on the list, Krause was either the No. 1 or No. 2 national recruit for her recruiting class. Volleyball Magazine had Krause No. 1, while PrepVolleyball.com had her No. 2 (behind teammate Kennedi Orr).

The expectations only rise when youre playing for a team that is almost always expected to be a contender to reach the Final Four. Even so, Krause tries to maintain a joy in playing college volleyball.

So much joy comes from my team, and how we play together, Krause said. I think that was evident toward the end of the year last year, just how much we love each other. We kind of brought back the motto, With each other, for each other, just because of how much we love each other on this team and we want to succeed for one another.

As a freshman, Krause got to go to the Final Four something most players will never experience in their four of five years and then play in the national championship match. Nine months later, the thought of that still makes her say, Oh, wow.

It really was a surreal feeling, Krause said. It didnt finish how we hoped it would, and that really hurt a lot. But to be able to take in that environment and experience everything that goes along with the Final Four getting to travel there, the amount of fans there, the All-American banquet, the interviews and everything that goes along with the Final Four was great.

"Its such a crazy celebration of volleyball to get to be a part of.

This year, three from that group Krause, Lexi Rodriguez and Whitney Lauenstein are regular starters. Orr has played in a two-setter rotation and Ally Batenhorst was a starter before she was injured.

The sophomore class can lead more during its second season, both with how it plays and how it helps the five new players on the team.

Weve been here and we have experience so we know how things go, so were going to be held to a little bit of a higher standard, she said.

Krause ranks third on the team kills with 83 kills, behind Madi Kubik (140) and Lauenstein (131).

Krause was good Friday during a three-set win at Rutgers. She had five kills on just 11 attempts without a hitting error for a season-best .455 hitting percentage.

During one of Nebraskas best wins of the season in a three-set victory at No. 13 Kentucky, Krause had three kills down the stretch when Nebraska won the first set 27-25. When Nebraska beat Creighton she had a career-high 16 kills.

I feel like Ive been doing well on the left side, and I feel like its something that as long as I continue to stay aggressive and keep my good mindset on that side that I can be really effective on that side, Krause said.

Nebraska's Bekka Allick (5) and Michigan State's Julia Bishop battle for the ball on Friday at the Devaney Sports Center.

Nebraska head coach John Cook waves to the crowd after his 800th career win after defeating Michigan Stateon Friday at the Devaney Sports Center.

Nebraska head coach John Cook waves to the crowd after his 800th career winon Friday at the Devaney Sports Center.

Nebraska head coach John Cook (left) shakes hands with athletic director Trev Alberts after Alberts presented a commemorative belt buckle to Cook to commemorate his 800th career winon Friday at the Devaney Sports Center.

Nebraska's Lindsay Krause scores a kill against Michigan State's Emma Monks (left) and Maradith O'Gormanon Friday at the Devaney Sports Center.

Nebraska's Kenzie Knuckles celebrates a point against Michigan State in the first set, Friday, Sept. 23, 2022, at Devaney Sports Center.

Nebraska's Kenzie Knuckles passes the ball against Michigan Stateon Friday at the Devaney Sports Center.

Nebraska's Lindsay Krause hits the ball against Michigan Stateon Friday at the Devaney Sports Center.

Nebraska's Maggie Mendelson hits the ball against Michigan Stateon Friday at the Devaney Sports Center.

Nebraska's Maggie Mendelson hits the ball against Michigan State's Aliyah Moore on Friday at the Devaney Sports Center.

Nebraska's Madi Kubik (left) scores a kill against Michigan State's Julia Bishop (center) and Nil Okur in the first set, Friday, Sept. 23, 2022, at Devaney Sports Center.

Nebraska athletic director Trev Alberts (right) embraces head coach John Cook after the Huskers defeated Michigan State on Friday at the Devaney Sports Center, marking Cook's 800th career win.

Nebraska's Lexi Rodriguez (8), Madi Kubik (10) and others celebrate a point against Michigan State on Friday at the Devaney Sports Center.

Nebraska's Anni Evans (center) and others celebrate a point against Michigan Stateon Friday at the Devaney Sports Center.

Nebraska head coach John Cook talks with his team during the Huskers' match against Michigan Stateon Friday at the Devaney Sports Center.

Nebraska's Kaitlyn Hord (top) scores a kill against Michigan State's Emma Monks in the second setFriday at the Devaney Sports Center.

Nebraska's Kaitlyn Hord (top) scores a kill against Michigan State's Emma Monks in the second seton Friday at the Devaney Sports Center.

Nebraska's Madi Kubik hits the ball against Michigan State's Emma Monks (left) and Maradith O'Gorman in the second seton Friday at the Devaney Sports Center.

Nebraska's Lindsay Krause (left) battles for the ball with Michigan State's Julia Bishop in the second seton Friday at the Devaney Sports Center.

Nebraska fans cheer for the team during the match against Michigan Stateon Friday at the Devaney Sports Center.

Nebraska's Kaitlyn Hord (left) celebrates her kill in front of Michigan State's Julia Bishopon Friday at the Devaney Sports Center.

Nebraska's Lexi Rodriguez throws a commemorative game ball to the crowd during player introductions before the match against Michigan Stateon Friday at the Devaney Sports Center.

Reach the writer at 402-473-7435 or bwagner@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSSportsWagner.

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How Lindsay Krause stays motivated to keep NU volleyball among the nation's best - Lincoln Journal Star

Just 19 years old and incredibly quick off the mark, Adeyemi Talabi has spent the last year beating her own personal bests at the University of Texas at Arlington where she competes in the 100m, 200m and long jump.

Since moving to Texas from Longford, Yemi has made her senior debut at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon running the 4x100m relay alongside Sarah Leahy, Lauren Roy and Joan Healy last July.

With eyes on competing at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Yemi Talabi is going far and shes doing it fast.

Name: Adeyemi Talabi but I usually go by Yemi.

Profession: Im a D1 student-athlete at UT Arlington.

Earliest sporting memory?

Played on the schoolgirl and schoolboy football teams in primary school. I played about six different sports growing up but football was the first.

How did you become involved in your sport?

Someone had told my mum about Longford AC when I was about six after one of the schools sports days. Ive been part of the club ever since.

What message would you like to share with young women and girls interested in pursuing a career as an athlete?

Believe in yourself and trust the people who are helping you get to where you want to be.

Proudest moment so far

Making it to the NCAA National Championships and World Championships in the same year.

My favourite sporting memory is

When I broke the national record in the Inter Girls Long Jump at the All Ireland Schools Outdoor Championships. If I hadnt done that, I probably wouldnt be where I am right now.

Do you think there is still a stigma around women in sports?

I dont think there is as much of a stigma around women in sports, but I do wish more girls would keep on playing sports into adulthood.

What is the biggest barrier to driving visibility in womens sports?

Misogyny. I feel like its too common for people to say that they wont watch womens sports because its not as exciting. That doesnt make sense to me considering women are playing the same sports that men do.

The biggest stigma/pre-conception that exists in womens sport is

This doesnt seem to be discussed as much but the whole idea that women in sports are seen as more masculine than women who arent. I think this is a reason why girls quit sports in their teens.

If I wasnt an athlete I would be

A photographer. I love taking pictures of other people, but when it comes to myself? Thats a whole different story.

My favourite pre-competition meal is

Before coming to the States I swore by pasta and Nigerian red stew. I wasnt able to cook Nigerian food when I first got here, but I will be going back to my roots.

My pre-competition playlist includes

Oh my God, if I could I would put all the songs on that playlist but my top 5 for this season were:

My daily routine is

It depends on what day it is but most days include me being up by 5am and heading to training by 6am. After that, Ill have three classes between 9:30am and 4:50pm. From there Ill either hang out with my friends and do some assignments or go home and cook. I try to be home before 9pm so I have an hour to get ready for bed. I try to be in bed by 10pm.

My biggest sporting goal is

Competing in Paris 2024 is my biggest goal. I live for experiences and being able to say that I made it there would be incredible.

Sports brands I love (Irish or otherwise)

Im going to sound like everyone else but Nike really does it for me.

Biggest splurge to celebrate a win

I either get the biggest doner kebab I can or Chinese takeout. Im a very easy person to please.

How do you mind your mental health?

Have a journal where I write any and everything. I also see a sports psychologist to try to keep on top of things.

My three desert island beauty products are:

Brown lip liner, lipgloss and eyeliner. No questions asked.

I need 10 hours of sleep a night because. sleeping is one of my favourite pastimes

Confidence, to me, is

Being able to do what makes you happy without worrying about others opinions.

How do you get over a bad performance?

Depends on how bad it was. Most of the time, I say charge it, try to learn from it, and move on. On some occasions, I cry. Sometimes you have to let it out.

Lastly, why is sports such an integral part of a community, on local, national, and personal level?

Sports is an amazing way to bring people together, whether youre the one playing or supporting from the crowd. This can be applied on a local, national, or international level. You dont have to play to feel a part of something bigger.

Imagery courtesy of Yemi Talabi

Excerpt from:
Women in Sport: Longford athletics star Yemi Talabi on motivation, misogyny, and mindfulness - image.ie

British athlete gunning for personal best on home turf at 42nd TCS London Marathon

Charlotte Purdues recent journey in athletics has not been straightforward.

Before the Tokyo Olympics, the 31-year-old was refused a discretionary place in the marathon even though she had a medical exemption to miss the Olympic trials a few months earlier.

Then, earlier this summer, at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon, Purdue pulled out of the race at 19km due to breathing difficulties. A day later she tested positive for Covid-19.

Its been tough for Purdue but at last years London Marathon, she proved a point after clocking a stunning personal best of 2:23:26 to go what was then third on the UK all-time marathon list behind Paula Radcliffe and Mara Yamauchi.

It was the fastest marathon by a female Brit since Yamauchis 2:23:12 in 2009. Since then, Jess Piasecki has gone ahead of Purdue after running 2:22:27 in Seville back in February.

Charlotte Purdue at the London Marathon (Getty)

Even though Purdue dropped out of the marathon in Oregon, she ran 2:25:26 at the Boston Marathon and definitely isnt short of mileage going into her fourth London Marathon.

I feel pretty good, Purdue says. I still did the training for the worlds so I still had all that work in my legs. It has been a busy year for me and Boston was pretty busy for me.

Last year, I had a few niggles earlier in the year. London was my first marathon build-up and Ive now had three marathons in the space of less than a year. Although Ive had illnesses this year I havent had any injuries so I feel a lot stronger with London, Boston and the build-up to the world championships.I feel like I havent had any time off so Im definitely not unfit!

Every time I come here [London] I try to run faster but its hard to get a two minute personal best every year.

Purdue wants to use the experience of a heartbreaking time in Oregon as motivation to run even faster in London than she did last year.

She lines-up against a strong elite field, which even without world record-holder Brigid Kosgei and Eilish McColgan, hosts defending champion Joyciline Jepkosgei and the fastest-ever female marathon debutante Yalemzerf Yehualaw.

Joyciline Jepkosgei (Getty)

At the last London Marathon, Purdue recorded a personal best even after running 12 miles by herself. If she can stick in a pack for a longer period, who knows what she might clock?

My chest was so tight [at the world championships] and I couldnt breathe, Purdue reflects. At least I had a reason why I felt so terrible at 5km.

I didnt even know I had Covid-19. Sometimes in a race you start off and dont feel great but its just a bad patch and you improve. At 19km I just made the decision that I was getting slower and made the decision.

Obviously Paula [Radcliffe] has set that massive mark which is going to be very hard to beat! If I can come to London every year and run a personal best then thats good for me.

I hopefully dont have to do that [run alone]. If I do, given I did it last year in London and then in Boston, Im ready for it. Ive got a lot of practice.

This will be the first major sports event down The Mall since the Queens funeral a fortnight ago and Purdue thinks it will be strange looking back but is hopeful of crowds lining the streets all the way across the route.

Purdue first experienced the taste of the London Marathon when she was a teenager and won the traditional pre-cursor, the mini marathon, back in 2006.

This past weekend saw theclass of 2022 of strut their stuff and double Olympic marathon champion and world record-holder Eliud Kipchoge presented the medals at the end.

One of his aims within the sport is to complete all six Abbott World Marathon Majors he has Boston and New York to go and Purdue wants to complete that goal in her life as well.

I would love to run Berlin and all the majors but I just cant turn down London this year as I love the race so much, she adds.

Paula Radcliffe was so inspiring to me and when I was younger I said to my mum and dad that I wanted to run the London Marathon one day. For me it [the mini marathon] was great that they have that, especially to finish it on the actual course.

Id say just to any young runner to continue to enjoy it and what you do. Its basically all you can ask for. Dont put too much pressure on yourself and hopefully you can improve year on year. Just enjoy the process!

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Charlotte Purdue motivated after catching Covid-19 in Oregon - AW - Athletics Weekly

The Center for Leadership and Media Studies at the University of Mary Washington recently polled 1,000 Virginia adults to learn whats on their minds during the midterm elections. Inflation, economy and jobs, threats to democracy, the Biden presidency, and abortion rose to the top of the results in the annual survey conducted for the center by Research America Inc. Sept. 6-12.

Normally the party that controls the White House faces a tough midterm election, said Stephen J. Farnsworth, professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington and director of UMWs Center for Leadership and Media Studies. The Supreme Court ruling has given the Democratic Party something that works as a powerful motivation for their voters. If the political conversation were focused on inflation and economic uncertainty, as it was before the Courts ruling earlier this year, Republicans would have had a great midterm election.

The survey shows that the U.S. Supreme Courts landmark abortion ruling that reversed Roe v. Wade earlier this year remains a major factor in the upcoming midterm elections for nearly half (46 percent) of Virginians. Another 18 percent of respondents in the poll said that the abortion decision would be a minor factor for them, while 29 percent said the ruling would not be a factor for them in the midterm elections.

Similar to the first set of data from the annual survey, in which voters graded public schools, the results indicated partisan differences.

Among those respondents who identified as Democratic, 71 percent considered the abortion ruling a major factor in this falls elections, as compared to 23 percent of Republicans who said the abortion ruling was a major factor for them. Among those who view themselves as political independents, 39 percent viewed the abortion ruling as a major factor for them.

In the survey, 26 percent of respondents said abortion should be legal in all cases and 34 percent said it should be legal in most cases. Opposition to abortion is less common: 24 percent of the survey respondents said abortion should be illegal in most cases and 9 percent said it should be illegal in all cases.

When asked what the nations most important problem is, 22 percent of Virginians identified inflation, 19 percent said the economy and jobs, 15 percent said threats to democracy, 7 percent said immigration and 6 percent said health care and COVID-19.

The economy and jobs and the inflation options were the top two concerns of Republicans, and those topics ranked second and third for Democrats in the survey. Threats to democracy were the top concern of Democrats, with 23 percent of party identifiers listing it as the nations top problem. Among Republicans, 10 percent listed it as their top national concern. For them, the topic ranked fourth, behind the two economic matters and immigration. For independents, inflation and the economy and jobs ranked first and second, with threats to democracy ranking third as areas of greatest concern.

The 2022 midterms are shaping up to be a contest between two partisan narratives, said Farnsworth. Will voters economic concerns outweigh voter worries over abortion and threats to democracy? The very close divisions among voter preferences in the Mary Washington survey demonstrate that neither side has provided a more compelling argument than the other so far.

Virginians are nearly evenly divided in their plans for voting in the upcoming midterm congressional elections, with 39 percent saying they plan to vote for a Democratic congressional candidate and 37 percent saying they plan to vote for a Republican candidate. Among the subset of likely voters, 44 percent of those surveyed said they intend to vote for a Republican candidate for Congress and 43 percent plan to vote for a Democratic one.

Midterm elections are often a referendum on a president, and for some voters polled that remains an important part of their political calculations. President Biden is a major factor in the midterm elections for 44 percent of respondents, and a minor factor for 24 percent, percentages roughly comparable to the role abortion seems likely to play in the midterm elections.

As is usually the case, there are clear partisan differences that favor voters from the party opposed to the president: 64 percent of Republicans and 35 percent of Democrats identified Biden as a major factor in their upcoming vote choice.

The Virginia statewide survey did not ask about specific congressional races, because the small size of the subsample in each of the states 11 congressional districts would not provide reliable estimates of voter preferences in individual districts.

Survey Information:

The University of Mary Washingtons Virginia Survey Fall 2022 was conducted by Research America Inc. from September 6 to 12, 2022. The total sample included 1,000 Virginia residents, including 819 registered voters and 705 likely voters. Part of the sample (630) was contacted by phone (72 percent cell, 28 percent landline), and part of the sample (370) was contacted online. All interviews were in English. Statistical results are weighted to correct known demographic discrepancies, including age, gender and race/ethnicity. The margin of error on the total sample is +/- 3.1%. The margin of error on the Likely Voters portion of the sample is +/- 4.1%.

For a more in-depth look at survey results, seeToplineand theMidterm Cross Tabs report.

For further information, contact Professor Farnsworth atsfarnswo@umw.edu.

Related

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Voters Motivated in Midterm Elections According to New Statewide Survey - University of Mary Washington

Sports / Basketball / Chooks 33 teams inspired and motivated to shock worlds bests in Cebu Masters

CEBU CITY The Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 33 teams are not running short of inspiration and motivation as they try to pull off a shocker against the best teams in the FIBA 33 World Tour Cebu Masters at the SM City Seaside here.

Having been through a lot when it comes to their preparations, Cebu Chooks stars Brandon Ramirez and Mac Tallo vowed to give everything that they got as they take on No.1 seed Antwerp of Belgium and Omaha of USA for the top two spots in the group and quarterfinals spot.

Ive been ready since nung nalaman ko na may Cebu Masters lalot ngayon alam ko na kung sino makakalaban namin gusto ko talaga ibuhos ko lahat ng makakaya ko kahit mag cramps na ako sa first game matalo lang namin yung unang kalaban namin, said hometown hero Tallo as he hopes to open the tournament with fireworks and pull the rug from under the top seed team.

Also an added inspiration for the entire crew was when they experienced the love and support from the children of the Sisters of Mary Girlstown and Boystown when the team visited them last Thursday and Friday.

For me being here for six months now and having that awareness that Im playing for the country, I think for the past 48 hours now I truly know who I am fighting for seeing all of this kids seeing their smiles, seeing everyone come see us and being happy thats what were fighting for, added Ramirez.

Joining Tallo and Ramirez in the Cebu Chooks are Zach Huang and Harry Nzeusseu. Manila Chooks meanwhile will be led by Chooks head trainer Chico Lanete and will be joined by Henry Iloka, Dennis Santos, and Dave Ando.

Unlike Cebu though, Manila will have to go through the eye of the needle if they wish to advance to the main draw. Manila must win against Doha and Ludhiana in the qualifying draw to advance to the next round.

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Chooks 33 teams inspired and motivated to shock worlds bests in Cebu Masters - Manila Bulletin

Yoga is a mind and body practice. Various styles of yoga combine physical postures, breathing techniques, and meditation or relaxation.

Yoga is an ancient practice that may have originated in India. It involves movement, meditation, and breathing techniques to promote mental and physical well-being.

There are several types of yoga and many disciplines within the practice.

This article explores the history, philosophy, health and wellness benefits, and various branches of yoga.

Yoga is an ancient practice that involves physical poses, concentration, and deep breathing.

A regular yoga practice can promote endurance, strength, calmness, flexibility, and well-being.

Yoga is now a popular form of exercise around the world. According to a 2017 national survey, one in seven adults in the United States practiced yoga in the past 12 months.

The first mention of the word yoga appears in Rig Veda, a collection of ancient texts. Yoga comes from the Sanskrit word yuj, which means union or to join.

Yoga can be traced back to northern India over 5,000 years ago.

Indian monks spread their knowledge of yoga in the West during the late 1890s. Modern yoga teachings became widely popular in Western countries by the 1970s.

The overall philosophy of yoga is about connecting the mind, body, and spirit.

There are six branches of yoga. Each branch represents a different focus and set of characteristics.

The six branches are:

The word chakra means spinning wheel.

Yoga maintains that chakras are center points of energy, thoughts, feelings, and the physical body. According to yogic teachers, chakras determine how people experience reality through emotional reactions, desires or aversions, levels of confidence or fear, and even physical symptoms and effects.

When energy becomes blocked in a chakra, it triggers physical, mental, or emotional imbalances that manifest in symptoms such as anxiety, lethargy, or poor digestion.

Asanas are the many physical poses in Hatha yoga. People who practice yoga use asanas to free energy and stimulate an imbalanced chakra.

There are seven major chakras, each with its own focus:

Modern yoga focuses on exercise, strength, agility, and breathing. It can help boost physical and mental well-being.

There are many styles of yoga. A person should choose a style based on their goals and fitness level.

Types and styles of yoga include:

This type of yoga practice uses ancient yoga teachings. However, it became popular during the 1970s.

Ashtanga applies the same poses and sequences that rapidly link every movement to breath.

People practice Bikram yoga, also known as hot yoga, in artificially heated rooms at a temperature of nearly 105oF and 40% humidity. It consists of 26 poses and a sequence of two breathing exercises.

This is a generic term for any type of yoga that teaches physical poses. Hatha classes usually serve as a gentle introduction to the basic poses of yoga.

This type of yoga practice focuses on finding the correct alignment in each pose with the help of a range of props, such as blocks, blankets, straps, chairs, and bolsters.

This type teaches practitioners to know, accept, and learn from the body. A student of Kripalu yoga learns to find their own level of practice by looking inward.

The classes usually begin with breathing exercises and gentle stretches, followed by a series of individual poses and final relaxation.

Kundalini yoga is a system of meditation that aims to release pent-up energy.

A Kundalini yoga class typically begins with chanting and ends with singing. In between, it features asana, pranayama, and meditation that aim to create a specific outcome.

In the late 1980s, practitioners developed this active and athletic type of yoga based on the traditional Ashtanga system.

This system uses a five point philosophy as its foundation.

This philosophy maintains that proper breathing, relaxation, diet, exercise, and positive thinking work together to create a healthy yogic lifestyle.

People practicing Sivananda use 12 basic asanas, which they precede with Sun Salutations and follow with Savasana.

Viniyoga focuses on form over function, breath and adaptation, repetition and holding, and the art and science of sequencing.

Yin yoga places its focus on holding passive poses for long periods of time. This style of yoga targets deep tissues, ligaments, joints, bones, and fascia.

Prenatal yoga uses poses that practitioners have created with pregnant people in mind. This yoga style can help people get back into shape after giving birth, and support health during pregnancy.

This is a relaxing method of yoga. A person spends a restorative yoga class in four or five simple poses, using props such as blankets and bolsters to sink into deep relaxation without exerting any effort when holding the pose.

According to a 2012 survey, 94% of adults who practice yoga do so for wellness reasons.

Yoga has many physical and mental benefits, including:

It is advisable to consult a medical professional, if possible, before starting a yoga practice.

Many types of yoga are relatively mild and therefore safe for people when a well-trained instructor is guiding the practice.

It is rare to incur a serious injury when doing yoga. The most common injuries among people practicing yoga are sprains and strains.

However, people may wish to consider a few risk factors before starting a yoga practice.

A person who is pregnant or has an ongoing medical condition, such as bone loss, glaucoma, or sciatica, should consult a healthcare professional, if possible, before taking up yoga.

Some people may need to modify or avoid some yoga poses that could be risky given their specific condition.

Beginners should avoid advanced poses and difficult techniques, such as Headstand, Lotus Pose, and forceful breathing.

When managing a condition, people should not replace conventional medical care with yoga or postpone seeing a healthcare professional about pain or any other medical problem.

Yoga is an ancient practice that has changed over time.

Modern yoga focuses on poses designed to stimulate inner peace and physical energy. Ancient yoga did not place as much emphasis on fitness. Instead, it revolved around cultivating mental focus and expanding spiritual energy.

There are many different types of yoga available. The style a person chooses will depend on their expectations and level of physical agility.

People with certain health conditions, such as sciatica, should approach yoga slowly and with caution.

Yoga can help support a balanced, active lifestyle.

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Yoga: Methods, types, philosophy, and risks - Medical News Today

Welcome Beginners!

When youre brand new to yoga, it can feel intimidating and be difficult to know exactly where and how to get started. Our Yoga for Beginners guide was created specifically for youto give you all the tips, guidelines, and recommendations you will need to start a successful yoga practice. To ensure your success, we highly recommend you read this entire page before attempting any yoga.

Yoga is a vast collection of spiritual techniques and practices aimed at integrating mind, body, and spirit to achieve a state of enlightenment or oneness with the universe. What is normally thought of as yoga in the West is really Hatha Yoga, one of the many paths of yoga. The different paths of yoga emphasize different approaches and techniques but ultimately lead to the same goal of unification and enlightenment.

Hatha Yoga attains the union of mind-body-spirit through a practice of asanas (yoga postures), pranayama (yoga breathing), mudra (body gestures), and shatkarma (internal cleansing). These physical practices are used to purify the body and cultivate prana (life-force energy). Modern Hatha Yoga does not emphasize many of these esoteric practices and instead focuses more on the physical yoga postures.

Regardless of what your goals or intentions are for starting, just the yoga poses themselves is a fantastic form of mental and physical exercise.

If you have a medical condition or a recent injury, it can be challenging or dangerous to do certain types of yoga, specific poses, or breathing techniques. Usually, there are alternatives or modifications that can allow you to practice safely, and many common complaints have specific yoga therapy remedies. If you are recovering from an injury or are in poor health, we recommended consulting with a physician or other qualified health care professional before beginning yoga.

While you may feel some intensity in the belly of your muscles while in a yoga pose, you should never feel pain, especially in the joints. Asharpor intense pain is your bodys signal to tell you to stop, back off, and take it easy.

If you are out of shape or extremely inflexible, we recommend you begin with a gentle practice until you have built up the strength and flexibility for more challenging sequences. If you are a relatively fit and flexible person, you should be able to jump right into a regular hatha yoga class. Once you are familiar with the basic postures, you can explore a vinyasa or flow class. We recommend you avoid Ashtanga, Bikram, or hot yoga until you have built up some physical strength and endurance. It is always best to error on the side of caution and safety and approach yoga slowly and carefully.The best way to know if yoga is for you is to give it a try!

Yoga is typically performed in bare feet on a sticky yoga mat with optional yoga props. The yoga movements and poses require clothes that can stretch and move freely with your body. You can purchase clothing specifically designed for yoga practice, but you can probably put together a comfortable outfit from your existing wardrobe to get started.

Yoga classes may use additional props, the most common being straps, blocks, blankets, and bolsters. You dont need to purchase these right away as you can easily substitute these items with scarves or neckties, a stack of books, and pillows. If you take classes at a yoga studio, they will provide everything that you need.

We recommend that you start with a short and straightforward yoga session and slowly build up from there. Once you feel comfortable with a few basic beginner yoga postures, you can incorporate them into a sequence and continue to add more challenging poses. Make sure you learn and follow the essential components of a yoga practice: breathing, meditation, intention, asanas, and relaxation.

If you can practice yoga 3 or moretimes per week, you will see significant improvements in your flexibility, range of motion, strength, balance, inner peace, and overall well being. Ideally, we recommend shorter and more frequent sessions, 20-45 minutes long, and for a total of 3-4 hours spread over several days. Practicing yoga less than this amount will still be beneficial, but you will see smaller improvements over a longer period of time. Like most things, the more time you can dedicate towards it, the more benefits you will receive.

The benefits of yoga are almost endless! Practicing yoga helps build healthy virtues and good values, such as discipline, honesty, devotion, self-inquiry, mindfulness, and non-attachment. Yoga empowers you to make conscious choices toward living a more healthy and fulfilling life. Yoga also helps you:

Patience, commitment, repetition, and consistency are the keys to developing and progressing in the practice of yoga. After youve found a style, teacher, and yoga studio that works for you, try these tips:

Check out the below list of articles to further instruct and prepare you for getting started with yoga.

Read more from the original source:
Yoga for Beginners: A Complete Guide to get Started - Yoga Basics

If youve done your downward dog yoga pose today, youre probably feeling more relaxed. Regardless of your level of yoga expertise, if youre practicing regularly, you can feel better from head to toe.

Yoga offers physical and mental health benefits for people of all ages. And, if youre going through an illness, recovering from surgery or living with a chronic condition, yoga can become an integral part of your treatment and potentially hasten healing.

A yoga therapist can work with patients and put together individualized plans that work together with their medical and surgical therapies. That way, yoga can support the healing process and help the person experience symptoms with more centeredness and less distress.

Slow movements and deep breathing increase blood flow and warm up muscles, while holding a pose can build strength.

Try it:Tree PoseBalance on one foot, while holding the other foot to your calf or above the knee (but never on the knee) at a right angle. Try to focus on one spot in front of you, while you balance for one minute.

Yoga is as good as basic stretching for easing pain and improving mobility in people with lower back pain. The American College of Physicians recommends yoga as a first-line treatment for chronic low back pain.

Try it:Cat-Cow PoseGet on all fours, placing your palms underneath your shoulders and your knees underneath your hips. First, inhale, as you let your stomach drop down toward the floor. Then, exhale, as you draw your navel toward your spine, arching your spine like a cat stretching.

Gentle yoga has been shown to ease some of the discomfort of tender, swollen joints for people with arthritis, according toa Johns Hopkins review of 11 recent studies.

Regular yoga practice may reduce levels of stress and body-wide inflammation, contributing tohealthier hearts.Several of the factors contributing to heart disease, including high blood pressure and excess weight, can also be addressed through yoga.

Try it:Downward Dog PoseGet on all fours, then tuck your toes under and bring your sitting bones up, so that you make a triangle shape. Keep a slight bend in your knees, while lengthening your spine and tailbone.

Research showsthat a consistent bedtime yoga routine can help you get in the right mindset and prepare your body to fall asleep and stay asleep.

Try It:Legs-Up-the-Wall PoseSit with your left side against a wall, then gently turn right and lift your legs up to rest against the wall, keeping your back on the floor and your sitting bones close to the wall. You can remain in this position for 5 to 15 minutes.

You may feel increased mental and physical energy, a boost in alertness and enthusiasm, and fewer negative feelings after getting into a routine of practicing yoga.

According to the National Institutes of Health, scientific evidence shows that yoga supports stress management, mental health, mindfulness, healthy eating, weight loss and quality sleep.

Try It:Corpse Pose (Savasana)Lie down with your limbs gently stretched out, away from the body, with your palms facing up. Try to clear your mind while breathing deeply. You can hold this pose for 5 to 15 minutes.

Participating in yoga classes can ease loneliness and provide an environment for group healing and support. Even during one-on-one sessions loneliness is reduced as one is acknowledged as a unique individual, being listened to and participating in the creation of a personalized yoga plan.

The U.S. military, the National Institutes of Health and other large organizations are listening to and incorporating scientific validation of yogas value in health care.

Numerous studies show yogas benefits in arthritis, osteopenia, balance issues, oncology, womens health, chronic pain and other specialties.

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9 Benefits of Yoga | Johns Hopkins Medicine

About 35 participants found out for themselves Sunday in Schon Park in Glen Carbon. A section of grass in the park's north end was cordoned off with an electric fence, and the goats were placed within while participants registered.

Anna Evans, of Alhambra, owns the goats with her husband. She registered participants and explained the rules to them, telling them that, for the next hour, to focus on themselves and consider the goats a form of "animal therapy."

After a quick prayer and a pep talk, she had advice for the group: put their hair up and leave their purses, jackets and shoes outside of the fence. She also asked if anyone had expensive yoga mats, because the goats may void themselves on the mats. A couple of people raised their hands, so she let them borrow cheaper substitutes. She also mentioned the goats like to snatch straws, sunglasses and earrings.

Before entering the pen, Evans told the group the goats' collective mood varies. They may be excited; they may be blas. On Sunday, the general goat mood appeared to be famished, as grazing and dining on pellet food were highlights.

Evans said she got the idea for goat yoga after attending a Columbia, Missouri, session in April 2021. On her way home, she texted her husband about it, telling him that was the first time in her life she was actually calm and composed for an hour.

She wanted to set up her own goat yoga class; he told her she was crazy. However, he secretly began researching it. Three months later, Goat Yoga of Southern Illinois kicked off (pun intended).

The couple own 29 Nigerian Dwarf Goats and brought 17 of them to Sunday's classes, one at 10 a.m. and the other at 11:45 a.m. She advised the group that two of 17 are "fainters," and she identified them by their colors and markings.

"They usually don't faint in a class but sometimes when someone pops out a mat, they'll faint," Evans said. "They come back, I promise."

The goats are not pets and, as such, are not subtle. They cough, belch, burp, urinate and defecate with no regard for what their temporary human companions think.

"They will pee and poop but pray for poop," Evans advised. "[Goat] pee is much more obnoxious."

She thanked the group for coming and ask if anyone had done goat yoga before; a few people raised their hands. Evans said this hour-long class is a no-judgement zone and if they felt like moving beyond a beginners' class or not doing any yoga moves, that's fine.

Surprisingly, Evans does not lead the classes. That task is handled by Simone de Villiers Meszaros who reiterated that the class was a beginners' class and, unlike one inside a building, is fairly unstructured and moves at a slower pace.

She said the feedback has been amazing over the past 15 months.

"Most of our classes have sold out," she said. "We've had nurses and military members that have had a hell of a time since COVID and they just need a break; they come in and let it all go."

She has a few more outdoor sessions scheduled through the end of this month, with possibly one planned in early November for Maryville, weather-permitting, but that will end the outdoor season for 2022. The next outdoor yoga sessions will not take place until at least mid-March 2023, again weather-permitting. Sometimes, there are winter classes indoors at the barn at Willoughby Farm in Collinsville or at the Hidden Lake Winery in Aviston, she said.

For more information on classes, visit Goat Yoga of Southern Illinois on Facebook.

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Couple from Alhambra provides goats to enhance outdoor yoga classes at Schon Park in Glen Carbon - The Edwardsville Intelligencer

Recently, I found myself on the floor of a well-appointed outdoor yoga studio in a trendy neighborhood of Los Angeles, panting as I contorted myself into what seemed like the hundredth in a series of chaturangas that wouldnt end. Everything ached, my face was bright red, and sweat dripped off my forehead onto the spare mat Id borrowed from my friend. Instead of losing myself in the act of physical movement, I was sharply aware of the seconds ticking by, wondering how many minutes it would take before the classand my distinct sensation of failurewould be over.

Theres nothing inherently wrong with sweating in a yoga class, although Ive chosen to move on from the timeworn if you dont sweat, its not exercise maxim. (Low-impact workouts are good for you!) The thing was, I was caught off-guard. That yoga class was my first in-person class since roughly November of 2019; Id gone to in-person yoga classes around Brooklyn fairly regularly in the Before Times, but the pandemic put an end to that. When the idea of in-person group exercise became feasible again, I still didnt want to do itby then, I was living in Austin, Texas, where cases were still frequently rising, and it never really seemed like a good time for me to begin sweating indoors with a bunch of other people again.

Over the past three years, Ive gotten used to doing yoga at home my own way, which tends to mean I strip down (why bother with a pinch-y sports bra or constricting yoga pants when its just me?), throw on a video (always the same one: Beginners Yoga with Adriene), shake out my mat (or, in a pinch, a towel) and work my way through the twenty-minute sequence with relative ease. My arms still tend to shake in downward dog, and I cant always stretch as fluidly as I want to, but even someone as physically self-critical as I am can see how much more comfortable Ive gotten with this yoga routine over the years.

Doing the at-home Yoga with Adriene video once or twice a week for so longat home, naked, often a little stoned, in hotel rooms and Airbnbs, alone and on trips with friends, to stretch after a long hike or to inject a little movement into an otherwise still dayhas, without my noticing, caused me to completely rewrite my relationship with yoga. When I went to classes before the pandemic, I was turned outward, constantly comparing my own form to those of the people around me; now, I think of yoga as something more personal, something I do to stretch the muscles in my legs and breathe a little deeper and remind myself that I have a body (which, as someone who lives with binge eating disorder, is something I tend to need reminding of now and again).

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My First In-Person Yoga Class Since 2019 Was AwfulAnd Maybe Thats Okay - Vogue