Pre-Wedding Yoga

Every bride hopes to make it through the wedding planning process with a smile on her face and peace in her heart. For many women though, the reality ends up being more like new wrinkles on her forehead and a raging migraine! To help you glide into your wedding with a more Zen attitude, try practicing some pre-wedding yoga.

Even if you have never tried it before, you might be surprised at how much adding a little yoga to your life can do for you. Many women think that it is only for earthy crunchy types, but if you drop into any yoga studio, you will quickly see that this is not the case. A lot of people are also afraid to try yoga because they think that it requires the ability to bend yourself into crazy pretzel-like formations. This is also not true; practicing yoga will help you become flexible - you don't have to start out that way.

There are many different styles of yoga offered in studios around the country, which means that there is one that will be right for every bride. All forms of yoga will help you to relieve stress and tone up your muscles, two things that every bride wants. Beyond that, there are choices that you can make to find a class that will suit your fitness level.

For the bride who is looking for a very vigorous workout, check out a Bikram or Ashtanga class. Both of these styles are very challenging, which makes them a great choice for a bride who is either already very athletic, or conversely, the one who really wants to lose weight and get into shape before the wedding. Because you work so hard at either of these types of classes, you will get the most immediate results to your physique.

If you are looking for a class that is a little less challenging (or more correctly, a class in which you can control that level of difficulty more), try out flow, Hatha, or Vinyasa yoga classes. These classes are among the most widespread, and will have varying degrees of difficulty, ranging from beginner to intermediate to advanced. If you are unsure about where to begin, most yoga studios have websites that can direct you to an appropriate class.

For brides looking to focus on the spiritual or mental benefits of yoga, look for classes in the Kundalini or Anusara traditions. The Anusara form of yoga is about embracing the joy of an open heart through the movement of the asanas (postures). That said, Anusara still uses many of the same postures as Vinyasa or Hatha yoga, so don't be afraid to try it, even if you are not sure about the heart opening part of it. Kundalini yoga focuses more on chanting done in conjunction with movement, so it would be best for those looking for a more spiritual yoga experience. You might find that an hour of chanting is just the thing to take your mind off of wedding planning!

One of the nicest yoga classes that I ever attended was a private session held right before my best friend's wedding. One of her close friends was a yoga instructor, and she taught a class for the bride and her friends on the morning of the wedding. It was a perfect opportunity for the bride to relax before heading off to get dressed in her bridal gown and wedding jewelry. Relaxed and serene from the pre-wedding yoga, the bride floated off to slip into her wedding gown and jewelry with a peaceful smile on her face. Talk about a glowing bride!

The best thing about adding yoga to your pre-wedding life is that it gives you the chance to slow down and let go of tension. In the process, you will also end up more flexible and toned, which is certainly a great side benefit. Even women who have never tried yoga before may find that it is just the thing to get them through the hectic time of planning their wedding.