Integral Yoga includes postures, breathing techniques, deep relaxation, and meditation as the core of the practice. The purpose of yoga is to be to be easeful, peaceful and useful. Integral Yoga is the system utilized by Dr. Dean Ornish, MD, in his program for reversing heart disease. In a typical class, you gently perform (without strain) a series of postures (asanas), breathing practices, deep relaxation and meditation.
Iyengar Yoga is meditation in action . Benefits include toning muscles, reducing tension, easing chronic pain. When we strengthen weak areas of ourselves and open and stretch tight ones, our body comes to a greater balance and freedom. Iyengar is the most widely recognized approach to Hatha Yoga, was created by B. K. S. Iyengar. Iyengar yoga is characterized by attention to detail within poses and the aid of various props, such as cushions, benches, wood blocks, straps, and even sand bags. The props assist all sorts of people in doing yoga, and disabled people have been helped by yoga with the genious of Mr. Iyengar. There are therapuetic applications to Iyengar Yoga. Studying Iyengar Yoga will give you a good knowledge of classic yoga poses so that whatever other style you study, you will have the background details of how to do each posture. The teacher focuses on alignment and inner awareness. Awareness starts with the body and expands to other parts of the self as one practices.
"Because you hold the pose for a long time you can feel your body adjust into the pose. The class is a slow pace with focus on correct positioning. After the class, you will feel feel stronger and stretched and more centered."
Kripalu Yoga starts with the first stage, postural alignment and coordination of breath and movement are emphasized, and the postures are held a short time. The student progresses to the second stage with meditation included and postures held for longer periods. Finally, the practice of asanas becomes a spontaneous "meditation in motion," sort of a divine dance. Dynamic, yet gentle yoga postures and conscious breathing you will touch the peace and tranquility that lies within. The essence of Kripalu Yoga is experienced through a meditative continuous flow of postures fo gentle yet dynamic yoga. A typical class includes meditation and centering, breathing, warm up movements to heat up and prepare for poses, yoga postures, guided posture flows and relaxation.
Kundalini Yoga is done to awaken the kundalini energy in the spine by with poses, breath control, chanting, and meditation. There is a focus on the breath of fire, and movement within the prescribes sets of poses (called Kriyas). Kundalini Yoga has been successful in helping people deal with addiction, and many find it a natural way of getting high just by breathing and doing the poses. Kundalini Yoga does not rely on difficult poses. As taught by Yogi Bhajan, it consists of postures (Asanas) combined with special breathing (Pranayama), hand and finger gestures (Mudras), body locks (Bhandas), chanting (Mantras) and Meditation. In a typical class, expect precise movements, postures, sounds and breathing that activate different parts of the body and brain to produce specific results.
Power Yoga means ashtanga to some teachers such as Beryl Bender Birch, and others have combined elements of Viniyoga (adapting to one's personal needs), Iyengar (precise alignment), Bikram (hot room, classical poses in a certain sequence), and ashtanga (vinyasa flow yoga). In practice, power yoga often seems like ashtanga but without the special sequence that is followed every time. A teacher makes up a sequence, weaving up dog and down dog plus sun salutation asanas with other types of poses. The practice of Power Yoga is vigorous, and one is likely to work up a sweat. Sometimes Power Yoga is done in a heated room which makes for soft, flexible muscles and helps prevent injury.
Sivananda Yoga has a series of 12 poses, with the Sun Salutation, breathing exercises, relaxation, and mantra chanting
as the basis. These are the elements in a typical class:
- Initial Relaxation
- Mantras and Prayers
- Breathing and Pranayama
- Sun Salutation
- Leg lifts
- Headstand
- Shoulderstand
- Plough
- Fish
- Forward Bend and Inclined plane
- Cobra
- Locust
- Bow
- Spinal twist
- Balancing posture which is usually the peacock pose
- Standing forward bend
- Triangle
- Mantras and Universal Prayer
- Final Relaxation
Svaroopa Yoga supports you in Svaroopa® Yoga poses which promote healing, while you relax into a deeply peaceful state of mind. Much healing can occur when you are supported in a yoga pose more comfortably than you could create for yourself. Specialized adjustments are applied in this therapeutic form of yoga which moves slowly and gently with great awareness. Yoga Journal says “This is a consciousness-oriented yoga that also promotes healing and transformation… New students find this a very approachable style, often beginning in chair asanas that are comfortable and have a deep healing effect.”
