Forms of Yoga
What I teach: I teach a blended Hatha Yoga class. I truly feel that each form has merit and a student should find an instructor that works best for them regardless of the "name" of the class. The chemistry between instructor and student is a very very important component to the study & practice of Yoga. If you choose to read through the below forms, you will see that I take pieces from several different forms. The type of class I teach depends on the student(s) in attendance. For example if most of the students are desiring a "work-out" I will move into more of an Ashtanga Yoga class. If the student(s) are not looking for that strenuous of a "work-out" I will blend some Ashtanga with Viniyoga and Iyengar forms. It truly depends on the need/wants of the student. After all, my goal is to give you the most fulfilling personal experience you can have with your Yoga practice.
HATHA YOGA: Hatha Yoga is simply a generic brand or name for the practice of Yoga including the physical form. Basically, any Yoga that include the Asana (physical postures) is a type of Hatha Yoga. All of the forms below are considered Hatha. Some of the things that most of these classes include are the Asana (physical postures), Pranayama (breathing exercises), Centering/Focus and Meditation. You may find an instructor that does not include one or more of the final three items, but you will always do the Asana (postures) if you are in a Hatha Yoga Class.
Ashtanga Yoga: This is often considered the Yoga of the movie stars and professional athletes. It is a Yoga of discipline and endurance and in the United States is often called Power Yoga. It's intent is to build flexibility, strength and inner freedom. It began in the early 1900's and was taught by K. Pattabhi Jois. This form focuses on a Yoga technique called Vinyasa, a method of synchronizing progressive series of postures with a specific breathing technique. This process is intended to produce intense internal heat and purifying sweat that detoxifies the muscles and organs. The result intended is improved circulation, a light and strong body and a calm mind. Ashtanga Yoga follows some well defined guidelines: 1. heating the room to between 70 and 75 degrees F, 2. creating internal heat to keep the "internal fire" stoked, 3. breath and movement link and breathing patterns are very specific, 4. subtle muscle contractions, called body locks, are applied during the movement 5. the student gradually learns to jump into and out of postures. In an Ashtanga class you will move through Sun Salutation then into the Primary Series of postures. After much practice a student may move into the Secondary Series. Within the class you will practice the Ujjayi breathing technique and typically end class with some sort of final relaxation/meditation.
Bikram Yoga: Founded by Bikram Choudhury, this form of Yoga is practiced in a room heated to 80 to 100 degrees F. This is done in order to facilitate a deeper stretch to the muscles, detoxify the body and increase the heart rate for a better cardiovascular work out. Bikram came to Hollywood in the 1970's and taught yoga to the stars. The same sequence of 26 postures and two pranayama (breathing) techniques are followed in each Bikram Yoga class. The heat created is intended to detoxify the organs and tissues and revitalizes the whole system.
Hot Yoga: Hot Yoga is very similar to Bikram Yoga. The difference lies within the Asana (postures). As Bikram Yoga follows a specific 26 postures, Hot Yoga takes advantage of all of the Yoga Asana offered in other forms. The room is also heated to between 80 and 100 degrees F and the intent is on detoxification as well as strength building and flexibility.
Sivananda Yoga: Sivananda Yoga is considered a Classical Form. It is one of the largest schools of Yoga and follows a set structure of Pranayama (breathing), Asana (postures), Meditation and guidelines for Healthy Living. This form was created by Swami Sivananda, a former physician who became a healer of the soul. The motto of Sivananda Yoga is Simple living, High thinking and the body is considered a vehicle for the soul.
Integral Yoga: The founder of Integral Yoga, Swami Satchidananda is often times referred to as the "Woodstock Guru" because he was one of the original Eastern masters to teach yoga and chanting to a whole generation at the Woodstock Festival in 1969. Integral Yoga relates to the word "integrity", which means mortal excellence. The goal is to live a life that is equally based on yoga and healthy diet, meditation and devotion and service to humanity. This form follows a specific pattern. These classes begin with Sun Salutation, some eye exercises and physical postures to practice the minimum number of postures with the maximum benefit.
Iyengar Yoga: B.K.S. Iyengar, who created this form, came to the United States in 1974. The focus in an Iyengar class is on precise alignment and on meeting individual needs through use of props. It also stresses the science of understanding the body and how it works. In an Iyengar class less is more. You may do only a few posture, but you delve into them deeply. There is a great deal of instruction and students asking question within the classroom environment.
Anusura Yoga: John Friend founded Anusura Yoga in 1997. His intent in developing this form was to develop a style that would help students connect to the spiritual purpose behind the practice of Hatha Yoga. He came up with the three "A's" of Anusara Yoga: 1. Attitude, for inner transformation, 2. Alignment, for each posture is performed with an integrated awareness between the different parts of the body, and 3. Action, to create balanced action in which every posture requires both muscular energy and organic energy.
Kripalu Yoga: The word Kripalu come from the Sanskrit word "kripal" which means compassion. This is the focus of Kripalu Yoga. In this type of class what you are feeling is just as important as how your body feels. A Kripalu class will consist of Pranayama (breathing), Stretching, Asana (postures) and deep relaxation.
Viniyoga: Vini means that it meets the needs of the individual. The emphasis in Viniyoga has two parts. 1. It recognizes the uniqueness of each person by creating an individual approach and 2. It teaches you how to apply these tools in creating an individual practice. The "tools" used in Viniyoga are Asana (postures), Manrta (chanting), Pranayama (breathing) and meditation. A class is gentle and relaxed. Asana are adjusted so that the function for the individual student which is more important than sticking with a form that isn't working for your body.
Kundalini Yoga: Kundalini Yoga acknowledges that there is a Universal Spirit sometimes referred to as God and the thought that God uncoils him/her/itself. This uncoiling process is known as Kundalini. What is uncoiling and awakening is you, nothing more and nothing less. Where Yoga is the science of self, Kundalini is the science of awakening the self. It is sometimes called the "mother yoga" as it encompasses elements that are found in all other forms of yoga. It is believed that in the physical body the kundalini resides in the spine. This is a super-refined energy. There are two nerve channels that intertwine around the central nerve of the spinal column which are called the Ida and Pingala. Each spiral upward from the base of the spine and spirals upward toward the crown of the head. These channels spiral around the Shushmana, which originates at the base of the spine and ends at the crown of the head. As the Ida and Pingala spiral around the Shushamana they pass through each chakra and are the conductors of the kundalini energy, feeding the entire nervous system. One of the main aims of Hatha Yoga is to bring about a balanced flow of Prana (energy) in the Ida and Pingala nadis (channels). Throughout Kundalini Yoga untapped energy is stimulated and allowed to rise up the spine until it reaches the top of the skull, activating the secretion of the pineal gland, which in yogic science is considered the very key to life, both physical and spiritual. Practicing Kundalini Yoga stimulates and balances the glandular system.
* The above definitions have been taken from the book KISS Guide to Yoga *