I go to the gym three times a week and would like to know whether I can combine gym workouts and yoga.  Does one develop muscles with yoga practice?

It is a very good question and a common one indeed.  Personally, I believe Yoga is a complete workshop and it will offer most of the benefits of a gym workout.  In fact, yoga practice energizes the body and activates most body parts including different organs.  Certain sequence such as sun salutations combined with breathing in a sequential flow is a good cardio workout for all ages. 

Yoga practice will not only improve ones physical appearance but will also improve one¡¯s health by not only curing many ailments but by preventing them as well.  Regular yoga practice will improve one¡¯s strength and flexibility as well as one¡¯s body and mind.  With Yoga practice, the body works as an instrument and helps one to understand their body and mind better as they explore its limits.

With gym practice, only certain muscles are worked on at a time and trained according to isometric principles.  However, in Yoga it is both isometric and isotonic which increase fitness, strength and flexibility.  Yoga also helps one to perform better in other sports such as swimming, running, tennis, golf¡­with improved mental focus. 

Also, many people who only do lots of cardio and weight training are prone to stiff joints and tight muscles which may lead to aches and cramps during yoga practice.  The pain will reduce after the adjustment period when the different muscles relax and the body opens up.

Of course if you are a keen gym enthusiast, it might be good to alternate your gym workout with yoga practice on alternate days.

I am currently three months pregnant, can I practice yoga?

If you are a regular yoga practitioner, then you can continue to practice but be careful with certain postures and it is best to consult an experienced yoga teacher who will be able to tell you what is not appropriate during pregnancy.

However, if you are new to yoga, it is vital that the Yoga teacher knows you are pregnant and that you practice only under the supervision of an experienced yoga teacher.

Generally, for the first three months of pregnancy, it is best to do some simple warm up and anuloma viloma pranayama and asanas that do not give any pressure to the abdominal area.  

After the first three months, you can practice some basic asanas and postures which will help to improve the strength and flexibility of the pelvic and hip bones.  Breathing is also very important which helps to overcome emotional stress and to maintain normal body temperature, blood pressure, morning sickness and to overcome pregnancy induced hypertension.

The practice of yoga during pregnancy under expert guidance can really help improve the growth of the baby in the womb, together with simple breathing and a healthy nutritious diet. 

My sister who practiced yoga regularly still did headstands nine months into her pregnancy and days before giving birth.  She believes as she understands her body and mind well, she felt a deep inner connection with her baby which brought her much joy.

Most Yoga centers offer prenatal yoga which greatly increases the chance of a normal birth.


I have never done yoga before and have some problems in my neck and knee.  Can you please suggest how I should start my yoga practice. Can I just walk into a yoga class and do what I can or do I need to consult a doctor about what type of yoga i can practice?

As a beginner, I would suggest you first meet with a qualified Yoga teacher in person and let them know your condition/problems such as back pain, migraine headache, high blood pressure. Show them the reports or doctor's certificate that describes your problems.

Today, there are many Yoga studios with aggressive sales team who are more interested in selling yoga packages and just put beginners in whichever class with space availability instead of which class is suitable for them.  This is particularly risky for those with existing conditions, new to exercise in general or is slightly older.

As mentioned earlier, it is important the Yoga teacher is qualified and experienced.  If possible, it is actually beneficial to start with some private class first so a program (with certain yoga asana sequence) can be tailor made to suit particular conditions.  The teacher will also be able explain which asanas (postures) are appropriate and which asanas (postures) are to be avoided.  For example, people suffering from neck pain or high blood pressure should not perform the shoulder stand or plow pose in the initial stage.  It is necessary to do some basic foundation to strengthen the neck muscles first.  The teacher will be able to advise when the student is at a stage to move onto such postures which will in fact relieve neck pain and high blood pressure. 

After a few private classes when one is more familiar with what their body is able to do and should avoid, then it will be good to join some basic yoga classes. After a period of regular practice, it will be a good idea to periodically check with the Teacher to see when it is a good time to move onto the next level of practice. 

My Father is now 75 already, is it too late for him to start yoga now?

The positive and beauty with yoga is there is no age limit of when a person can start.  Yoga is more about one's flexibility than whether they are young or old, and what body shape and size they are.  Though not always, some young people can be stiff while some more senior in the fifties and sixties are surprising flexible for their age.

There are a total of 8.4 million yoga postures.  There are some very simple postures and breathing techniques to improve one's flexibility.  Suppleness is a sign of youth at any age.   My Father and Guru, Dr. Asana Andiappan is now eighty and still has the energy and enthusiasm of an eighteen year old.  He believes it is a result of his daily yoga practice and lifestyle.  ¡°It¡¯s never too late¡±.