Yoga has an ever growing number of schools, styles and traditions of performing yoga. Its being adopted by many as their refuge in this fast paced world. It has no fixed method but is an adaptation of what you believe it to be. Each person models yoga as per their requirements and needs. Thus, the world of yoga has various forms and styles of yoga which have evolved over many years.
Yoga
Named after one of the most formidable names in the world of yoga Shri BKS Iyengar, this yoga is very suited for solving ailments such as carpal tunnel syndrome, diabetes, arthritis, sciatica and many others. It involves focussing entirely on asanas and attaining proficiency in them before moving on to pranayama and other stages towards self-realization. This ensures the body is physically strong enough to proceed to the next level. It also involves the use of many props to enable better performance of an asana.
Viniyoga
This system has been spread far and wide by T.K.V Desikachar, the son of the great Shri Krishnacharya, the guru of shri iyengar. The postures and gentle and mainly ask the student to concentrate on breath. It incorporates pranayama and other breathing techniques into the physical aspect of yoga ie asanas. This practice is generally suited for students with chronic disease as in this type, asanas are not held for too long but for brief periods.
Ashtanga/Power Yoga
This kind of yoga is based on the teachings of K Pattabhi Jois of Mysore. It is a very vigorous form of yoga which completely exhausts and individual. There is a fixed series of postures, with each practitioner jumping from one pose to another with barely a break in the middle. it is done while doing the Ujjayi Pranayama. It is a very intense form of yoga. This kind of yoga is less for medicinal or therapeutic purposes and more for people desiring an intense workout session.
Bikram/Hot Yoga
This is a highly intense style of yoga done in a room often heated to over one hundred degrees. The sequences of the poses to be done are pretty much the same to ashtanga yoga, but they hold the poses for 30-60 seconds each. This practice is very beneficial for recovery from various ailments but should be done with care.
Kripalu Yoga
It is a new kind of yoga in which a pranayama and meditation techniques are incorporated into asanas. It is a form of improvisation of the asanas which you perform according to the way you can perform them. It is also referred to as “meditation in motion”. They also integrate kundalini practices.
Kundalini
This style of yoga is more connected with the religious aspect attached to yoga. Strong breathing techniques are used along with the asana, chanting and meditation as well. The nervous system is stimulated to an extent which is difficult to monitor and thus this type of yoga is not recommended for people with medical conditions. Vigorous breathing is done while repeating a mantra in the mind and doing the asana. It works for the pranic body, helps to release toxins and improves circulation.
Integral Yoga
This type of yoga integrates all types of yoga. It is a gentle style which includes asanas, pranayama, chanting and meditation as well as discussions of philosophy and ancient texts. It encourages karma yoga (selfless service) among its followers. Therapy is a major feature of integral yoga.
Tantra
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It is a multi-faceted yogic tradition which includes a wide range of practices all aimed towards cleansing the body. Tantra seems to have a bad reputation as it has been associated with tantric practices which are close to witchcraft and witchlore. However tantra is merely the use of cleansing practices (kriya), ayurvedic herbs and dietary advice along with yoga and pranayama.
Exploring the world of Yoga
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