The word Yoga means Union. It comes from the Sanskrit, meaning to bring together. When done with mindfulness, this is exactly what Yoga does; unites body and mind with breath. However, not all Yoga is created equal. So how can we navigate the vast sea of styles that have sprouted from this honored tradition?
Bikram Yoga, a.k.a. Hot Yoga is served up in a 108 degree heat which makes it ideal for rapid detoxification & flexibility training. It is a very powerful, and in many ways, very mindful sequence full of wisdom, but it can be too militant, and is not really appropriate for most beginners or the unfit, as it has little focus on spinal alignment, and keeping the body safe. Sadly, this is a staggeringly common failure of the fitness and health industry today, including most yoga. Bikram also discourages modifications and props, which nearly every beginner needs for some pose or another.
Vinyasa Flow, is one of my personal favorites as well as one of the most popular, but it can be demanding at times, and its offshoot Power Yoga is for the advanced. Ashtanga Yoga (the "Father of Vinyasa") is one of the most physically challenging practices and, along with Power and Vinyasa, offers a faster-paced sequence that often keeps the body moving, which is great for your typical type-A with a busy mind that just won't sit still. They are very popular styles in NYC--no wonder! These styles use a fluid sequence of interconnected poses creating a sort of "moving meditation experience," and are often challenging workouts, potentially leaving the practitioner with an "exercise glow," or "Yoga high," by the end of class.
Iyengar Yoga is ideal for beginners, and those in need of alignment training (which is nearly everyone). Alignment awareness is vital for a base knowledge of how to use the body effectively and most important: safely. Alignment's importance cannot be overstated, however, the time and detail given to each posture in this style can sometimes be drawn out and may endanger the practice in becoming too cerebral. It characteristically has fewer poses with longer holds to refine the alignment of each.
Chair Yoga/Senior Yoga is a nice, low-impact practice that emphasizes breathing, body-awareness, stretching, meditation (quieting of the mind) and increasing circulation and range of movement in the joints. So many people see all these fit bodies in the media and think that if they aren't flexible or fit that yoga isn't for them. Yoga is for EVERY body, and this practice proves it :)
Hatha Yoga is
essentially the source of Modern Yoga as the originator of all its
subsequent schools, and these days generally refers to a class with deep
stretching of individual postures held long enough to bring mindfulness
to the breath and posture itself.
Acro/Partnered Yoga completely rocks. This kind of Yoga happens usually after you've done at least a few Yoga classes, you love it, and you wanna let your inner child-monkey out for a good time and play. Here, Yoga moves from a solo practice out into the world, communicating, with a partner, building trust and with the community it becomes more fun!
Kundalini Yoga is for Masters: those who are interested in mastery and those who are ready for it. It is the most energetically cleansing and spiritually transformational approach to Yoga, and is to be taken with a bit of discipline, especially given the intense power in it's nature; Kundalini energy is said to be the evolutionary energy of consciousness. Jung would have called it the "unconscious." Working with it is no trifling matter. . . but it can also bring lots of joy! Like so much of life: Challenge helps us grow. Characterized by dynamic movements in place of static postures, often coupled with a rapid breath control technique, this style can also be one of the most meditative and draws as much energy inward as it expends, sometimes even more. Both this style and the next discussed deal overtly with the major energy centers of the body, a.k.a. the "Chakras"
Tantra Yoga is one of the most neglected branches, despite its relative wealth of information. The word "tantra" comes from two words: "tattva," meaning the science of cosmic principles and "mantra," meaning the science of mystic sounds and vibrations. It is a practical blueprint to navigate through the earthly realms of the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual, toward the realization of the Divine.
Its physical practice is somewhere between Hatha and Kundalini in its nature, and yes, the rumors are true; it can include certain sexual education techniques, which may also bring one to enlightenment. . . if you're into/looking for that sort of thing. The Tantric Path encourages us to be fully our selves to reach enlightenment, and that our desire is the key to such a state, which is a radical opposition to most traditions.
We've discussed styles & disciplines, mindfulness, even the essential nature of alignment. But what is the essence of Yoga? What is the experience, the purpose?? You can practice for personal, physical, professional or any other kind of development. You can practice to be happier, or to get better sleep, to be a more compassionate person. All of these are noble pursuits, and common benefits, but they only mere expressions of the one purpose of Yoga: Oneness.
That is, Complete Union within self, and the entirety of experience.
This happens through the grace of the breath. It may sound like a bold claim, or un-satisfyingly simple to the ego/mind, which loves complications. There is great power in Yoga's simplicity. The breath, simply, generates awareness. True conscious awareness, free from the filters of the ego/mind, is that very same Oneness. It is the base expression of it, and from it, all benefit from Yoga flows. When we come into the place where we finally let go of the thinking mind, and sink into the being mind, the mind of awareness, all matter of transformation may happen.
Do Vinyasas, do Kundalini, do Bikram or whatever styles and postures you like. Practice with another, or even whilst you're by yourself. When sitting, driving, walking, or dancing. . . if the mind is present and awake to the breath in each moment, THAT is Yoga.
Acro/Partnered Yoga completely rocks. This kind of Yoga happens usually after you've done at least a few Yoga classes, you love it, and you wanna let your inner child-monkey out for a good time and play. Here, Yoga moves from a solo practice out into the world, communicating, with a partner, building trust and with the community it becomes more fun!
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| "Bird Pose"-One of the Basic Partnered/Acro Yoga Poses |
Kundalini Yoga is for Masters: those who are interested in mastery and those who are ready for it. It is the most energetically cleansing and spiritually transformational approach to Yoga, and is to be taken with a bit of discipline, especially given the intense power in it's nature; Kundalini energy is said to be the evolutionary energy of consciousness. Jung would have called it the "unconscious." Working with it is no trifling matter. . . but it can also bring lots of joy! Like so much of life: Challenge helps us grow. Characterized by dynamic movements in place of static postures, often coupled with a rapid breath control technique, this style can also be one of the most meditative and draws as much energy inward as it expends, sometimes even more. Both this style and the next discussed deal overtly with the major energy centers of the body, a.k.a. the "Chakras"
Tantra Yoga is one of the most neglected branches, despite its relative wealth of information. The word "tantra" comes from two words: "tattva," meaning the science of cosmic principles and "mantra," meaning the science of mystic sounds and vibrations. It is a practical blueprint to navigate through the earthly realms of the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual, toward the realization of the Divine.
Its physical practice is somewhere between Hatha and Kundalini in its nature, and yes, the rumors are true; it can include certain sexual education techniques, which may also bring one to enlightenment. . . if you're into/looking for that sort of thing. The Tantric Path encourages us to be fully our selves to reach enlightenment, and that our desire is the key to such a state, which is a radical opposition to most traditions.
We've discussed styles & disciplines, mindfulness, even the essential nature of alignment. But what is the essence of Yoga? What is the experience, the purpose?? You can practice for personal, physical, professional or any other kind of development. You can practice to be happier, or to get better sleep, to be a more compassionate person. All of these are noble pursuits, and common benefits, but they only mere expressions of the one purpose of Yoga: Oneness.
That is, Complete Union within self, and the entirety of experience.
This happens through the grace of the breath. It may sound like a bold claim, or un-satisfyingly simple to the ego/mind, which loves complications. There is great power in Yoga's simplicity. The breath, simply, generates awareness. True conscious awareness, free from the filters of the ego/mind, is that very same Oneness. It is the base expression of it, and from it, all benefit from Yoga flows. When we come into the place where we finally let go of the thinking mind, and sink into the being mind, the mind of awareness, all matter of transformation may happen.
Do Vinyasas, do Kundalini, do Bikram or whatever styles and postures you like. Practice with another, or even whilst you're by yourself. When sitting, driving, walking, or dancing. . . if the mind is present and awake to the breath in each moment, THAT is Yoga.
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