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There are several types of hatha yoga, many of these have specific characteristics which reflect a particular teacher's approach to asanas ; others reflect the characteristics or teachings of a particular organization. Like individuals, types or schools of hatha yoga have their own personalities and approaches to practicing asanas. What distinguishes the different type is what is emphasized, be it posture, breath, aerobics, dance, slow and rhythmic movements, philosophy or a combination of many factors. Although the basic yoga poses or asanas, and breathing exercises remain the same, how they are done, in what order, and where attention is focused while doing them constitute the main differences among the many schools. Regardless of your age or fitness level, you can find a type that will appeal to you and be most appropriate for your particular body or personality type. Our teachers incorporate various aspects of the "main stream" yoga types (listed to the right). Scroll down for some comparisons.
Vinyasa Yoga, (or Flow Yoga), describes any type of hatha yoga (listed to the right) when the practioner is changing poses while focusing on the breath. Sometimes a Vinyasa practice is fast (pose changes every breath) and sometimes slow (20 breaths or more). It is very popular in the busy western world because focusing on breathing helps to calm the mind. It is generally a fitness style of yoga where there are standing and balancing poses followed by relaxing floor poses. Vinyasa yoga strengthens and stretches your muscles, releases bound fascia, and increases energetic and fluid circulation.
Restorative Yoga restores and renews the body and mind. Poses are practiced while sitting or lying on the floor. For each pose there are many way to incorporate suppports and props like blankets, bolsters, blocks, chairs, and straps to help ease the body into the posture. It is generally a relaxation style of yoga that stretches your muscles, strengthens them a little, releases bound fascia, and increases energetic and fluid circulation. It has many benefits for both healthy and health challenged yogis. Restorative yoga was popularized in the West by B. K. S. Iyengar (Iyengar Yoga). Svaroopa yoga is very restorative in nature and it de-emphasizes some of the the perfect alignment focus that you often find in Iyengar yoga instruction so that the yogis go deeper into bliss. A Kriya is a sequence of yoga poses designed for a specific intent. Therefore our Restorative yoga DVDs contains many Kiryas and you would be practicing Kriya Yoga. The same can be said for our other yoga DVDs depending upon your intent.
Therapuetic Yoga is very easy beginner level yoga which includes Restorative Yoga, Gentle Flow Yoga, and other forms of Gentle Hatha Yoga. Yoga Therapy targets specific ailments, physical conditions and limitations. Yoga Therapy can be a short term treatment (headache) or long term treatment (arthritis).
Everyone should buy:
There is just so much value here for so many people (you, your friends, relatives etc.) and the sooner you all start learning and practicing Therapeutic and Restorative Yoga the better.
Keep in mind that Yoga Therapy Prescriptions is Therapeutic yoga. If you are healthy and want a more active style of yoga and if you want to become or stay fit, buy a couple of these:
This is a 45 minute class with a faster pace. There are no inversions (no head stand and no shoulder stand) and the balancing pose are not held very long. This class has a warm up rhythm to the beginning postures (up / down dog , warrior / reverse warrior).
This is a 60 minute class with a slow pace. There is one inversion pose (shoulder stand), and the balancing postures are held longer than in Simple and Sweet. This is a shortened and toned down Ashtanga class in style. This class has a warm up rhythm to the beginning postures (sun salutations).
This is a 65 minute class with a medium pace. There are no inversion poses (no head stand and no shoulder stand). There are advanced & challenging versions of many of the postures. Warm up is slow and non rhythmic. Instruction focuses on precise alignments and emphasizes an energetic inner awareness. Anusara class in both style and philosophy.
This is a 70 minute class with a medium pace. There is one inversion pose (shoulder stand). There are advanced & challenging postures. Kripalu class in both style and philosophy. This class has lots of rhythm to the beginning postures (side strenches, up / down dog , warrior / reverse warrior) and some rhythms in middle postures.
This is a 80 minute class with a medium pace. There are inversion poses (head stand and shoulder stand). There are advanced & challenging postures. Ashtanga, Iyengar and Anusara influences in style, pose alignments and philosophy. This class has lots of rhythm to the beginning postures (sun salutations).
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Ananda Yoga
This method combines the physical yoga postures and spiritual practices. The purpose of Ananda yoga is to clear and energize the system in preparation for meditation. Each posture is viewed as a way to expand, or heighten, self awareness. This process is enhanced through the use of affirmation, a distinctive feature of this system. Ananda yoga also teaches a series of poses called "energenization exercises". These exercises involve tensing and relaxing different parts of the body, coupled with breathing exercises to send energy to them. Another characteristic of this technique is the emphasis it places on deeply relaxing into poses, keeping in mind that hatha yoga is a preparation for meditation.
Anusara Yoga
Anusara (a-nu- sar -a), means “flowing with Grace,” “going with the flow,” “following your heart.” Founded by John Friend in 1997, Anusara Yoga is a hatha yoga posture system that unifies a Tantric philosophy of intrinsic Goodness with Universal Principles of Alignment™. Anusara incorporates a "celebration of the heart," philosophy that looks for the good in all people and all things, and uses precise physical alignments to open the heart physically (an open heart is part of all yoga traditions but in the western world this focus is often lost and John Friend has re-emphasized it).
The Ashtanga yoga system is a rigorous practice. Consisting of 240 postures done in six successive series (vinyasa) linked by the breath, Ashtanga yoga represents the most intensive form of hatha yoga postures. The purpose of this continual flow of action is to create heat which produces a cleansing or detoxifying effect on the body. Ashtanga places equal emphasis on strength, flexibility and stamina. Many fitness enthusiasts who thrive on intense workouts like this style. This style is often called "Power Yoga".
A two-part series of 26 repeating yoga postures with 2 pranayama exercises that are designed to stretch and tone the whole body. Most poses are done twice and held for a minimum of 10 seconds in a room with temperatures of 80 degrees or higher, often supplemented by moist air from a humidifier. Class concludes with a brief period of relaxation. An excellent routine for those already fit; it is not so easy for the beginner.
Integral yoga combines all the paths of yoga - asana (postures), pranayama (controlled breathing), selfless service, prayer, chanting, meditation and self-inquiry - into one approach. It emphasizes a more meditative rather than anatomical approach. Practicers of this style of yoga are encouraged to be "easeful in body, peaceful in mind and useful in life". Integral yoga classes follow a set pattern and are 75 minutes in length. This includes 45 minutes of asanas, a deep relaxation, a breathing sequence and ends with a meditation. Although challenging, the feeling of the class is gentle and meditative and reflects a traditional approach that benefits all aspects of the individual.
Iyengar yoga is probably the most widely recognized hatha yoga technique in the Western world. Iyengar yoga postures are practiced in a manner prescribed by yoga master B. K. S. Iyengar. It is regarded mostly for its rigorous scientific and therapeutic approach, concentrating on correcting structural imbalances in the physical body. Iyengar teachers pay particularly close attention to the placement of the feet, hands and pelvis, as well as to the alignment of the spine, arms and legs. Because of this attention to detail, the pace of an Iyengar class tends to be slow to moderate. Classes typically focus in great detail on only a few asanas so as to refine movements. Standing postures are emphasized and, although you will be reminded to breathe, specific breathing techniques are not emphasized as much in this style of yoga as in some of the other styles. Iyengar-style yoga also relies a lot on props - wood blocks, benches, sandbags, blankets, bolsters and straps as a support system to achieve greater symmetry and extension in the posture.
Less concerned with the structural detail of the postures, Kripalu yoga has been described as "meditation in motion." It emphasizes the student's mental and emotional states as the poses are held, while encouraging a gentle, compassionate and introspective approach. Postures are held for a long time so as to explore and release emotional and spiritual blocks. This inner-directed form of hatha yoga consists of 3 stages: willful practice, will and surrender, and finally, surrendering to the body's wisdom. Within each of the 3 stages, poses are offered in different intensities: gentle, moderate, and vigorous. In addition, spontaneous postures and sequences of postures are encouraged, guided by the body's internal awareness.
Kundalini yoga is an ancient practice designed to bring forth the "Kundalini", or reservoir of energy, stored at the base of the spine. Through the use of breath, posture, chanting and meditation, this energy is stimulated and consciously directed through the chakras or energy centers along the spine. Several breathing techniques are emphasized - alternate nostril breathing; slow, diaphragmatic breathing and a dynamic technique called breath of fire.
Sivananda yoga incorporates a five-point method of practice, which includes proper exercise, breathing, deep relaxation, vegetarian diet, positive thinking and meditation. Following a standard format, Sivananda hatha yoga classes are based on a routine of breathing exercises, sun salutations, a series of 12 classic yoga postures and relaxation. A short mantra chant and prayers begin and end each class.
Svaroopa Yoga is a compassionate and gentle approach. Svaroopa Yoga uses classical yoga poses to create a deep opening in the muscles around the spine, helping the whole body to relax and move more freely. Your body is often in reclining poses and supported by props (bolsters, blocks, and blankets) that carefully and gradually release the deepest layers of tension in the body. The emphasis is on core opening, resulting in an overall feeling of well being, a reduction in muscular tension, and an openness and ease that permeates the whole body. By using prop supported alignments you experience calmness in your body and openness in your heart.
The method of Viniyoga represents a kind of middle path between the exactness of Iyengar yoga and the physically demanding Ashtanga yoga. It is based on the principle of vinyasa krama , which means "an organized course of yoga study," and combines asana, pranayama, meditation, text study, counseling, imagery, prayer, chanting, and ritual. Yoga postures are tailored to the physical needs and limitations of each student, taking into account body type, emotional needs, cultural heritage, and interest. Emphasis is on the spine, and breath is considered more important than how the posture is done. Breath and movement are consciously coordinated and the inhalations and exhalations are articulated in varying lengths and ratios. Typically, classes are private one-on-one sessions.
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