Extracts appear with thanks from
" Yoga for Life " written by inspirational
yoga practitioner and tutor Liz Lark . Liz’s
phenomenal books are available on our recommended
reading and listening page
.
Yoga - Popular Styles and Methods
“It is not useful
to think of different styles of yoga: yoga
is simply yoga, which comes from a vast and
ancient source. The only authentic yoga is
one which works for each person according
to circumstances and needs, and there are
many possibilities” – Desikachar,
The Heart of Yoga
Importantly no one
method of Yoga is better than another. They
are equal when taught at a masterful level
by masterful technicians who adapt their knowledge
to your body.
Hatha
- means literally ‘force’ and
symbolically the union of the sun and the
moon. Hatha yoga is an umbrella term for all
yoga’s that employ physical and breathing
exercises to still the mind. Hatha methods
practiced in the west include Viniyoga, Iyengar,
Astanga Vinyasa and Sivananda.
Astanga
Vinyasa Yoga -is a dynamic and fluid
sequence of postures threaded on to a deep
snoring and powerful breath created at the
rear of the throat. This technique is known
as ‘Ujjayi’ breathing and is used
to miraculously create a ‘power’
source within, then utilised by the body to
achieve the more intensive postures performed
in Astanga Vinyasa Yoga. The most physically
challenging of all current Yoga methods, Astanga
Yoga requires skill and endurance, it is strenuous
and does require a certain degree of fitness.
Deciphered from ancient Sanskrit texts and
collated by Pattabhi Jois and Professor Krishnamacharya
this variation of yoga was first published
in 1958.
Viniyoga
- said to have profoundly therapeutic
powers this is a personal progressive approach
to Yoga. There is always a focus in each class
with an emphasis on building towards a particular
posture, rather than a mixture of many postures.
Like a symphony the session sets a theme and
develops it, building towards a crescendo,
and then softening with quiet poses and seated
breathing towards the end of the class.
Iyengar
Yoga -Named after BKS Iyengar, an
“architect of the body” born in
1918 in Bangalore India, this method of Yoga
involves precise alignments and postures.
Many of these postures are achieved by making
use of props such as belts, blocks and wall
ropes. Gentle, it is suitable for the middle-
aged. It can also be tailored to suit particular
needs and abilities.
Sivananda
Yoga – Founded in India in
1924 by Swami Sivananda (a medical Doctor
and Karma Yogi), postures are practiced slowly
to reduce production of lactic acid in the
joints and classes commence with two types
of ‘pranayama’ (breathing exercises)
and a series of sun salutations to warm the
joints, known as ‘Suryanamaskars’.
These develop an awareness of breath and mind
before the postures are introduced. The Sivananda
system is an integral system which involves
a holistic approach consisting of five main
principles: proper exercise
(asana) proper breathing (pranayama) proper
relaxation (savasana – spiritual mental
and physical) proper diet (sattvic-vegetarian
food), positive thinking ad meditation (dhyana)
Sivananda Yoga advocates intuitive knowledge
meditation based upon receiving intuition
from the heart as opposed to the intellect.
Bikram
or Hot Box Yoga - was created by
Bikram Choudhury and its principles are based
on yoga being practiced in a room heated to
105 degrees with 60% humidity. The room is
kept at this temperature to keep the body
from overheating (contrary to popular belief),
protect muscles to allow for deeper stretching,
detoxify the body (open pores to let toxins
out), thin the blood to clear the circulatory
system, increase heart rate for better cardiovascular
workout, improve strength by putting muscle
tissue in optimal state for reorganization,
and reorganize lipids (fat) in the muscular
structure. Bikram postures vary slightly from
those of Hatha yoga using the tourniquet effect:
stretching, balancing (using gravity), and
creating pressure all at the same time. The
blood supply in arteries and veins is being
cut off, creating pressure. When released,
a lock gate effect is created, causing blood
to rush through veins and arteries, flushing
them out. Also, pressure is applied to the
heart by its relative position to the rest
of the body.
Note
: It is best to practice all forms of yoga
and physical exercise in a warmer room rather
than a colder one for obvious reasons. Muscles
lengthen more easily and the risk of injury
is reduced.
* We have yohm yoga
technicians specialising in the teaching of
the Bikram method of yoga. A specialist-humidifying
heater is bought with and a room in your home
heated before practice. The heater is large
and there is an additional £40 charged
for this service.
The following
forms of yoga involve no physical movement
of the body.
Raja
Yoga - shares the path of mastering
one’s self –very few postures-
mostly meditation.
Bhakti
Yoga - yoga of the heart or devotional
Yoga toward a worshiped deity.
Karma
Yoga - karma meaning ‘action’
this is the yoga of unconditional service/charitable
works.
Tantra
Yoga - the science of expanding and
liberating consciousness to gain knowledge.
The word itself is made up of two parts: “tanoti”
meaning to expand, stretch or extend, and
“trayati” to liberate or to be
free. It is primarily concerned with the marriage
of masculine and feminine energy, synthesizing
the material and spiritual realms, to attain
ecstasy or bliss. It worships the feminine
psychic principle, represented by the Goddess
Shakti. Yoga and tantric practice train us
to open up the inner world. Tantric sexual
practices are just one facet of a vast system
and are enacted in only one school.
Kundalini
Yoga - this form of yoga places a
huge focus on moving and retaining breath
within and around the body. A figurative serpent
power known as the ‘Kundalini’
(psychic power) is released from the base
Chakra, using these breathing techniques and
a holding of the bandahs. The objective is
for this serpent to coil its way up the spine,
interacting and opening the body’s psychic
nerve endings along the way, before finally
reaching the upper most Chakra at the top
of the skull. The Goddess Shakti is said to
reside in the base chakra and the God Shiva
in the uppermost chakra. A state of enlightenment
and higher knowledge is said to be achieved
when Shakti rises via the serpent power to
meet Siva. A highly spiritualised ideal of
yoga and not for everybody.
*For more information on Bandahs, Chakras
and other definitions become a yohm
Member and look forward to regular yoga
insights, updates and news..
Extracts appear with
thanks from – Yoga for Life –
written by inspirational yoga practitioner
and tutor Liz Lark . Liz’s phenomenal
book is available on our recommended
reading and listening page.
