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Yoga Styles

 
WHAT IS YOGA?
Yoga is an ancient tradition from India documented to be over 4,000 years old and commonly thought to be a 10,000 year old tradition. Yoga is relatively new to the west and came to the United States about 100 years ago. Yoga is about disciplining the opposing forces of nature in one’s body in order to bring balance. When the physical body is in balance, internal organs and glands begin to function better and overall health improves. Yoga has many physical benefits because it improves the immune system and also helps balance the emotions leading to reduced stress. Yoga is widely recognized for its ability to increase flexibility, yet it also increases strength and improves posture and alignment.  The style of yoga most often taught in the U.S. is Hatha Yoga. “Ha” means sun and “Tha” means moon. Hatha is a very general term that can encompass many of the physical types of yoga and does not describe a specific style, but rather it denotes the physical yoga asana (posture) practice. Hatha classes are usually slow-paced and gentle. Hatha classes can provide a good introduction to the basic yoga poses. Compared to Vinyasa, Hatha yoga tends to be a slower practice where postures are detailed and held for longer periods of time.


VINYASA
Flowing Breath-----Vinyasa, which means “collection” or “arrangement,” links poses together to create an active class similar to Ashtanga. In terms of yoga practice, Vinyasa means breath-synchronized movement. Compared to Hatha classes, Vinyasa tends to be a more vigorous style based on the performance of a series of Sun Salutations in which movement is linked to the breath. Most Vinyasa classes start with a repetition of Sun Salutations to warm up the body for more intense stretching which is usually done at the end of class. Unlike the standardized series of postures in Ashtanga, Vinyasa it is free-flowing.
HATHA
The True Asanas----The style of yoga most often taught in the U.S. is Hatha Yoga. Despite common perception, hatha isn’t a specific style of yoga; it’s an umbrella term for any type of physical yoga, as opposed to devotional yoga. Hatha classes are usually slow-paced and gentle. Hatha classes can provide a good introduction to the basic yoga poses. Hatha yoga tends to be a slower practice where postures are detailed and held for longer periods of time.
ASHTANGA 
The Power of Yoga----For those who want a serious workout, ashtanga yoga offers a fast-paced series of sequential poses beginning with 10 sun salutations. This athletic practice is divided into six levels, but most people stick with the first set of poses call the Primary Series. A sequence of postures connects one pose to the next and the series of poses is the same in every class. Students move from one posture to another in a continual flow and link movements to breath. This physically demanding yoga was developed by K. Pattabhi Jois to build strength, flexibility, and stamina. Ashtanga places equal emphasis on strength, flexibility and stamina. This style is often called "Power Yoga".
ANUSARA
Heat-oriented----Founded by John Friend in 1997, anusara yoga is a relatively new form of yoga which pairs strict principles of alignment with a playful spirit. Anusara (pronounced ah-new-SAR-ah) means “following your heart.” Expect to hear phrases like “engage the shoulder loop” over and over until they start to make sense.
BIKRAM 
Turn up the heat-----Be prepared to sweat in this one. Bikram Choudhury, known as the yoga teacher to the stars, developed this hot yoga practice. This style, done in a room heated to a sweltering 105 degrees, is the only copyrighted yoga class, which means that each 26-pose class is consistent down to every instruction to cross the teacher’s lips. Each posture is done twice and held for 10 seconds. There is no meditation or chanting, but you will enjoy a brief period of relaxation at the end. This is a vigorous workout designed to cleanse the body from the inside out.
IYENGAR 
Symmetry and Alignment----B.K.S. Iyengar developed this yoga style, which stresses understanding the body and how it works. It is regarded mostly for its rigorous scientific and therapeutic approach, concentrating on correcting structural imbalances in the physical body. Students focus on symmetry and alignment, using props —such as wood blocks, benches, sandbags, blankets, bolster and straps as a support system to achieve greater symmetry and extension in the posture. 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. 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.
KRIPALU 
The Yoga of Consciousness-----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. Developed by Yogi Amrit Desai, kripalu takes the student through three stages beginning with the steady practice of postures (stage one), then holding the postures longer and developing concentration and inner awareness (stage two), and finally surrendering to the body’s own wisdom (stage three). 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.relaxation at the end. This is a vigorous workout designed to cleanse the body from the inside out.
KUNDALINI 
Awakening energy----Once a guarded secret in India, kundalini yoga arrived in the West in 1969, when Sikh Yogi Bhajan challenged tradition and began to teach it publicly. 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. The emphasis is not on asana, but rather on chanting and breathing. Kundalini should always be taught by a teacher who practices and understands this powerful yoga.