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Yoga FAQ
Ananda Yoga: The Ananda Yoga focus is on gentle postures that are specifically designed to move energy up to the brain, thus preparing the body for the meditative experience. The other focus is on controlled breathing and proper body alignment. Ashtanga (Astanga) Yoga: Sri K. Pattabhi Jois teaches this popular style of Yoga. It is physically demanding and involves synchronized breathing with a progressive and continuous series of postures that produce intense heat with a profuse, and purifying sweat which detoxifies muscles and organs. Improved circulation, flexibility stamina, a strong body and a calm mind are benefits ascribed to this practice. Ashtanga Yoga, however, is not for beginners. Bikram Yoga: This style of yoga has everything to promote muscular strength, fitness, cardio vascular flexibility and even weight loss. This is the only style that uses a heated environment. A 95-105 degree temperature helps to detoxify and promote more flexibility and to prevent injuries. The founder, Bikram Choudhury, was a gold medal weight lifter in the year 1963 and is a disciple of Bishnu Ghosh, brother of Paramahansa Yogananda who wrote Autobiography of a Yogi. Hatha Yoga: Hatha Yoga is the foundation of all styles and includes Asanas,(postures), Pranayama (regulated breathing), Kundalini (Laya Yoga) and meditation (Dharana and Dhyana). It is the most popular Yoga in the West. It is a complete system to achieve enlightenment or self-realization. It is primarily used in the West to combat stress and as a source of exercise. Integral Yoga: This combines breathing exercises, selfless service, postures, prayer, meditation and chanting as well as self-inquiry. ISHTA: Mani Finger, a South African teacher, developed ISHTA Yoga, and his son Alan popularized it. ISHTA stands for Integral Science of Hatha and Tantric Art. Postures, visualizations, and meditation are used to open energy channels throughout the body. Iyengar Yoga: This type of Yoga promotes strength, endurance, flexibility, and balance through coordinated breathing and poses that require precise body alignment. It was developed by Yoga master B.K.S. Iyengar more than 60 years ago. The poses are generally held for a much longer time period than other Yoga styles. You move into a pose, hold it for a minute or so and then rest for a few breaths before stretching into another. Blocks, straps, cushions and blankets all help the less flexible to achieve various postures. The use of these props was a breakthrough in Yoga because it helped the elderly, sick and disabled to practice. Iyengar Yoga can be especially useful if you are recovering from an injury, because of the slow pace and attention to detail. Consequently, it is one of the most popular styles of Yoga taught today. Jivamukti Yoga: This is a vigorous and challenging Asana form which focuses on scriptural study, chanting, non-violence, vegetarianism, meditation and the role that music and listening play in Yoga. Sharon Gannon and David Life developed this style of Yoga in 1986. This form expresses the spiritual and ethical aspects of Yoga that have lost importance in modern times. Kali Ray Triyoga: Kali Ray runs the TriYoga centre in Santa Cruz California. This style involves Pranayama (breathing excercises) and meditation. Kali Ray developed this dance and flowing style of Yoga in 1980. Kripalu: This style encourages practitioners to explore and release spiritural blockages. It is called the Yoga of Consciousness. There are three stages in Kripalu Yoga: Stage one is the learning of postures and also exploring the body's abilities. Stage two involves holding the postures for an extended period of time and developing concentration and inner awareness. Stage three becomes a meditation in motion in which the movement from one posture to another comes about spontaneously. It should be noted that goal-centered striving is discouraged and precise alignment is not as important as in some other styles. Kundalini: Chanting, breathing, meditation and postures all work together in a class to awaken the energy at the base of the spine and draw it upward. However, this is a style where a trained teacher is highly recommended.In the classical literature of the Kashmir Shaivism Kundalini is described in three direct manifestations. Firstly, as the universal energy or para-kundalini. Secondly, as the energizing function of the body-mind complex or prana-kundalini. The third aspect is as consciousness or shakti-knudalini, which simultaneously subsumes and intermediates between these two. Power Yoga: This is the American version of Ashtanga Yoga which combines stretching, strength training and meditative breathing. Many of the postures look like toe touches, push-ups and headstands, but the real key to Power Yoga's muscle-building and sweat-producing power is the pace. An intense aerobic workout is achieved by moving without rest from one posture into the next. Sivananda Yoga: Lilias, the popular television Yoga instructor, got her start practicing Sivananda Yoga. As with Integral Yoga, this is a traditional style which combines chanting, scriptural study, breathing and postures. Svaroopa Yoga: This is an excellent starting Yoga for many. Chair poses are used and the gradient is always comfortable. Healing and transformation are thus promoted. Viniyoga: This gentle style takes into account each person's individual body type and needs as they develop ability. White Lotus Yoga: Ganga White developed this modified Ashtanga practice which combines breathwork and meditation.
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