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| | There are several major styles of Hatha (physical) yoga. Here is a
brief description of a few of the styles:
 | Hatha Yoga: Hatha yoga is just a "catch-all" term for the
many physical styles of yoga. If a yoga instructor says he/she teaches
"hatha" yoga, generally, that instructor has learned techniques
from more than one style of yoga, and does not strictly adhere to one style
of yoga. If you say you teach "Ashtanga Yoga" and teach a
gentle, meditative class, then the students who sign up for your class
expecting the classic rigorous posture flow of Ashtanga will be
disappointed. Hence, when an instructor borrows from several styles,
they often refer to their class as Hatha Yoga, which can mean ANY blend of
the many teachings and styles of yoga. If you see a "Hatha
Yoga" class advertised, ask two questions 1) What is the instructor's
training to teach yoga and if so, in what style? 2) What is the flow
of the class? Rigorous? or Gentle? |
| Kripalu - A gentle to moderate intensity of yoga practice, and a
highly spiritual style of yoga, incorporating pranayama (breathing
techniques), meditation, and increased awareness, in addition to the Asanas
(yoga postures). Students are encouraged to "listen to the wisdom
of your own body," to modify postures to suit your body (no static
"perfect" poses), to move into and out of postures slowly, and to
breath deeply throughout. As one becomes more advanced, the focus is
on longer holdings of the postures. In Stage 2 Kripalu Yoga, students
hold the individual asanas (such as bridge, camel, goddess, and others) for
extended periods of time, to "move beyond the physical" and
connect with one's inner strength and source. Stage 3 Kripalu Yoga -
so much Kundalini (life energy) is channeled and released in the body that
one begins to let the energy move the body - adepts move into a spontaneous
posture flow, letting the body guide them. Style begins building
postures from the "ground up" beginning from proper placement of
feet and working up to the head. Kripalu has roots in Tantric Yoga, so
the body/mind/spirit are linked - the body is considered a spiritual vessel
as much as the mind. Stage 3 Kripalu Yoga is called "Meditation
in Motion" or "a state of prayer, expressed in movement." |
| Iyengar - Moderate intensity yoga practice. There is very
little focus on pranayama and meditation for beginning levels. The
emphasis is on proper alignment - particularly for the spine and core of the
body. Once the body is aligned correctly in a posture, the healing
benefits and energy of the posture are effective. Beginners use props
such as blocks, yoga ties, and walls to achieve proper alignment in each
individual posture. Strong emphasis on achieving the
"correct" alignment, and on holding postures for longer periods of
time. Instructors often have a thorough
knowledge of anatomy and physiology. |
| Kundalini - a Highly Spiritual form of yoga to channel and release
the Kundalini Energy (thought to be coiled at the base of the spine) through
chanting and intense pranayama (breathing/life energy) exercises.
Alters the state of consciousness to connect you with a realm of spiritual
energy. Deeply spiritual, mystical style of yoga. |
| Ashtanga - a Vigorous, intense, physical yoga "work-out"
- it can be physically challenging, although I feel that you are ideally
working to a point of softening in the poses. You will probably sweat. Ujjayi breathing used throughout
as
well as prescribed driste (focal points) to concentrate and focus the
mind. Ujjayyi breathing is from the naval up through the throat, and
the style of yoga focuses on the vinyasa (coordinating movement with the
breath, to drop into pure sensation and let go of the chattering mind - all
that remains is you, your breath and the movement). The "bhanda's" (energy locks) used to increase
core energy and strength in the body. Bhanda's are locks - such as
Mulabhanda (A.K.A. "Core Lift," "the Squeeze,"
"Root Lock") which is
a controlled lift of the pelvic floor (perineum). K. Pattabhi Jois is the
"father" of Ashtanga yoga. True Ashtanga classes follow a
warm-up sequence of 5 Sun Salutation A followed by 5 Sun Salutation B, then the proscribed flow of postures known as "the primary
series." It is a rigorous workout, generally taught in a warm
room (cold air makes muscles contract) although the temperature varies.
I feel it should be at least 72 degrees to
keep the muscles warm and limber throughout the flow. After the
primary series is practiced regularly, and you have a sense of familiarity
with it, you move on to the secondary series, third, and
up to a 6th series. (Classically, the series are 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and
then some variations). Ideal practice is 6 days per week, taking off
Saturdays and days of the new moon and full moon,
when the ashtangi has a well-earned day of rest. This is due to Vedic
Astrology, and the idea that the Shiva and Shakti energy are dancing on
those days to make the energies fluctuate in an unpredictable manner.
Those days off can be used for meditation and self-reflection. |
| Sivananda - A Moderate Intensity but challenging style of yoga (due
to the mental challenge of postures such as Headstand). Sivananda Yoga
is a style designed to work through the Chakras (energy points) in your
body. Begins with 12 sun salutations. Focus of this
style is to begin with the crown Chakra and work
your way down the body to the root chakra. Classic series of 12 postures, as
well as Sun Salutation, pranayama, and chanting of Mantras.
As you increase the health of the body, increasing prana, you connect with
the greater life energy of the universe and eventually transcend the body
altogether. One is to transcend the needs of the body to move into a
realm of pure spirit and enlightenment. Developed by Swami
Vishnudevananda, a disciple of Swami Sivananda. |
| Bikram's - a vigorous physical style of yoga created by Bikram
Choudhoury, "yogi to the stars" in his Beverly Hills Yoga College
of India. Bikram's classes are taught in a carpeted, mirrored room
heated from 95 to 105 degrees (to take fascia, muscles, ligaments and
soften/limber them "like taffy"). The posture flow is 26
"infamous" postures done twice within 90 to 100 minutes.
This is a vigorous, athletic style of yoga, designed to bring the body to
maximum health and fitness. The style of teaching is not nurturing -
it is more like your high school athletic coach shouting at you to push you to do your best,
and bring your body to its maximum potential. Spirituality is not
discussed in most Bikram's classes - the physical practice and breathing
practices are the focus. |
| Viniyoga - A Gentle/Moderate style of yoga, developed by Krishnamacharya and
his son, T. K. V. Deskichar. This style is designed to be unique to
each individual practitioner. There is no "perfect form",
but to follow the movement that is right for one's own body. Emphasis
on the coordination of breath and movement, drawing the awareness inward.
ViniYoga is classically "yoga by prescription" when an individual
would seek a guru to guide him towards maximum health. Yoga asanas
prescribed varied between individuals. It is therapeutic yoga.
It is ideally taught in private yoga sessions, but several instructors have
recently begun teaching it in classroom settings - most notably, Gary
Kraftsow. |
| Integral - A gentle style of yoga. Developed by
Swami Satchidananda, the focus of this style is to integrate
body/mind/spirit through the combination of Asanas, pranayama and
Meditation. There is not perfect "form" here - the student
is encouraged to receive the maximum benefit from the postures in a way that
suits the individual. This style of yoga is also designed to draw upon
the knowledge of anatomy and physiology, to help students attain greater
health. Considered a Therapeutic Style. |
| Ananda - Gentle Yoga style, designed to prepare the student for
meditation with a series of postures and affirmations. Includes energy
exercises designed to direct prana (life energy) to certain areas of the
body. Developed by Swami Kriyananda, a disciple of Paramahansa
Yogananda. |
| Svaroopa - developed by Rama Birch, this is a very gentle style of
yoga designed to release tension in the back, gently stretch the body and
relax the muscles. Movement originates in the Pelvis (especially the
sacrum"), considered to be
the main area where misalignment and tightness begin. Opening the
pelvis allows better alignment and movement of the spine and body.
Great help for people with back and muscle spasms. It is strongly
reminiscent of Feldenkrais Movement Therapy combined with Yoga. |
| Anusara Yoga - taught by John Friend - Iyengar based, adding elements of
Ayurveda and spirituality. More info on this soon. |
| Yogassage - developed by Don and Amma Stapleton (who have a lovely retreat
in Costa Rica) - a form of therapeutic and supportive partner yoga. |
| Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy - see the phoenix rising web site - developed
by Michael Lee. |
| Contact Yoga - developed by "Tesh" (Nateshvar Ken Scott),
formerly a very popular Kripalu Instructor - Contact Yoga is Partner Yoga
doing 2 poses that are complementary to each other but not the same
pose. These partner poses used to help each other go more deeply into
the poses. |
| Partner Yoga - yoga for 2, generally referring to partners doing the same
poses in conjunction with one another. |
There are more "styles" of yoga cropping up every day. It is
ALL yoga - a bit of awareness of these main styles just helps you determine
whether you want a vigorous or gentle style, a spiritual of physical
practice.
For the styles that are cropping up
- some instructors come up with their own name to
distinguish their style from other Hatha Yoga styles, and because some
practitioners want to continue that exact unique blend of practice - hence it
gets its own name, the concepts and distinguishing points are clarified, and the
style can be reproduced by other instructors.
Some practitioners see the opportunity to make some $ by coming up with their
own unique style of yoga - hence their own teacher training program, books,
videos, etc. Yoga practitioners need to be able to support themselves, and
this is one path some have followed in order to do so. As I said, it is
all YOGA - just ask the basic questions (suggested above under HATHA YOGA) to
find out more about the style, and find what appeals to you and is best for your
constitution.
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