The Many Forms Of Yoga

By Aazdak Alisimo

Mention yoga and many people assume it is a uniform practice. In truth, there many different forms of yoga that can be practiced and each has a different approach.

What are the many different forms of yoga? To grasp them, you will first have to understand that some forms of yoga are more popular than others. For the sake of this article, we will be discussing the most popular forms of yoga, so that you may find these types at a local fitness club in your area. Those yoga classes that you are likely to come across include: Hatha, Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Iyengar, and Bikram.

Let's start with the one that is gaining a lot of attention lately: Bikram. Bikram yoga is also known as "hot yoga," and since its inception people have been yearning to learn these exercises. This movement was first begun by Bikram Choudhury many years ago with the intent that it would become an intense form of yoga. Bikram is done in an extremely hot room (usually 95 to 100 degrees), which helps to loosen tight muscles. In addition, the high heat will cause a person to sweat profusely (sweating cleanses the body). Usually, this class will contain around 10 poses, though some contain all 26 poses. Another popular form of yoga is Hatha, and you are sure to find this one near you as well.

Hatha is really quite a generalized term. Hatha encompasses many different forms of yoga, though a Hatha course will usually move at a slow pace. In many ways, Hatha is the best introductory yoga course. Also, you will find that Vinyasa is another form of yoga that beginners will enjoy due to the breath-synchronized movements and slow poses. In great contract to Hatha and Vinyasa is Iyengar ... though this type of yoga is closer to its true roots. What are the different types of yoga poses involved in Iyengar?

Iyengar is really based upon bodily alignment. Those that practice this form of yoga do so in order to hold various poses for long periods of time. There are also many props that will be used in an Iyengar course (blankets, blocks, straps), and these courses are highly addictive. As you can see, there are many sorts of yoga that you can easily take part in.

What are the different types of yoga not mentioned here? Well, there are many. The fact is that yoga is an ancient practice with many different schools and teachings. Although your local health club may offer a few of the aforementioned courses, it is better to find a true yoga center near you. Find the type that works for you (using the above information as a guide), and begin your healthy yoga filled life today.

Aazdak Alisimo writes about yoga equipment for YogaEquipmentSupplies.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Aazdak_Alisimo

Feel Great with Bikram Yoga

By Thomas T

Hot Yoga or what is also known as Bikram Yoga is getting more and more popular. So what are the benefits of this form of Yoga?

Some of the many benefits of Bikram Yoga include, body strengthening, building endurance and emotional balance as well as improving your health. Some of these benefits can be contributed to the use of heat while performing the posture series.

With the help of a heated room, you are able to get into your postures better, and your muscles stretch more readily. In a heated room you will also find that you will lose weight more rapidly if this is your goal. Another advantage is that your metabolism speeds up and this helps to breakdown glucose and fatty acids.

The heat also helps to move oxygen to your body tissue and organs, which promotes healing as well as aids in removing harmful toxins. Another great benefit of Bikram Yoga is unlike many other forms of Yoga; it will raise your heart rate and promote cardiovascular health. Beyond the obvious benefits of Yoga, this form has been known to actually help repair damaged tissue and ligaments as well as helping to cure those who are plagued with chronic ailments.

The health benefits alone may be a good reason to try Bikram Yoga, but this is by far not the only benefit to this form of Yoga. There are many others, including a means in which we can find balance in our lives.

Additional areas in which Bikram Yoga may be helpful include, relieving stress. This is important in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Stress can be a killer and the better we learn to manage our stress, the better our health can be.

The endurance required in Bikram Yoga helps you to learn how to focus your energies. This is undoubtedly a good trait to master. The better we can focus in our everyday lives, the more we can accomplish and the better we will feel about ourselves.

Though Bikram Yoga is not necessarily a highly spiritual form of Yoga, it can help in spiritual transformation. When we feel better about ourselves, it is easier to reach to a higher spiritual self.

Bikram Yoga is a wonderful form of Yoga, but it may not be for everyone. Essentially, the postures can be performed by most anyone of any age, though you may find it difficult at first unless you are in good shape and have a high tolerance for heat. It might be a good idea to begin with Hatha Yoga first and then move on to Bikram Yoga. Once you have mastered Hatha Yoga, you can be fairly certain you are ready for Bikram Yoga.

Once you reach the point that you feel you are ready to begin Bikram Yoga, you may be truly astounded by how good you begin to feel.

Thomas T is the owner of http://www.yoga-instruction.net/ Lots of free info about Bikram Yoga, and more about Yoga Instruction

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Thomas_T

Yoga Past and Present

By Ashish Bhattacharya

Yoga's history has many places of anonymity and ambiguity due to its oral transmission of sacred texts and the secretive nature of its teachings. But the roots of Yoga can be traced back to more than 5000 years.

The Past

The earliest reference to Yoga was found when archaeological excavations where made in the Indus valley. Where old carvings depict a figure that some archaeologists think represents a yogi sitting in a traditional cross-legged yoga pose with its hands resting on its knees meditating.

Yoga's long rich history can be divided into four main periods of development: the Vedic Period, Pre-Classical Period, Classical Period, and Post-Classical Period.

Vedic Period

The existence of the Vedas marks this period. The Vedas contains the oldest known Yogic teachings and as such, teachings found in the Vedas are called Vedic Yoga. This is portrayed by rituals and ceremonies that try to go beyond the limitations of the mind.

During this time, the Vedic people relied on rishis or dedicated Vedic Yogis to teach them how to live in divine harmony.

Pre-Classical Yoga

The creation of the Upanishads marks the Pre-Classical Yoga. The Upanishads further explain the teachings of the Vedas.

Yoga shares some characteristics not only with Hinduism but also with Buddhism that we can trace in its history. During the sixth century B.C., Buddha started teaching Buddhism, which stresses the importance of Meditation and the practice of physical postures.

Later, around 500 B.C., the Bhagavad-Gita or Lord's Song was created and this is currently the oldest known Yoga scripture. It is devoted entirely to Yoga and has confirmed that it has been an old practice for some time. Just as the Upanishads further the Vedas, the Gita builds on and incorporates the doctrines found in the Upanishads.

Classical Period

The Classical Period is marked by another creation - the Yoga Sutra. Written by Patanjali around the second century, it was an attempt to define and standardize Classical Yoga. Patanjali's Eightfold path of Yoga also called Eight Limbs of Classical Yoga. These are:

1. Yama, which means social restraints or ethical values;

2. Niyama, which is personal observance of purity, tolerance, and study;

3. Asanas or physical exercises;

4. Pranayama, which means breath control or regulation;

5. Pratyahara or sense withdrawal in preparation for Meditation;

6. Dharana, which is about concentration;

7. Dhyana, which means Meditation; and

8. Samadhi, which means ecstasy.

Patanjali believed that each individual is a composite of matter and spirit; he believed that the two must be separated in order to cleanse the spirit - a direct contrast to Vedic and Pre-Classical Yoga that imply the union of body and spirit.

Patanjali's concept was prevailing for some centuries, so much so that some Yogis focused exclusively on Meditation and neglected their Asanas. It was only later that the belief of the body was sacred was revived and attention to the importance of the Asana was revitalized.

Post-classical Yoga

A great number of independent yoga schools and forms that where developed during the period after the Yoga sutras. As opposed to Patanjalis's Yoga, the Yoga of this era was, very much like the post-classical and Vedic traditions, characterized by the unification of body and mind.

Yogis of the past had not paid very much attention to the (physical) body, as they focused all their energy on contemplation and meditation. The new generation of Yogis however, developed a system where different exercises - in conjunction with deep breathing and meditation, would help keep the body young and prolong life. This also paved the way for the creation of Hatha Yoga, and other branches and schools of Tantra Yoga.

The Present

Modern Yoga is said to have begun by the young Swami Vivekananda from India made a deep impression on the American he introduced to. Yoga masters began to travel to the west, attracting attention and followers. In the 1920's, Hatha Yoga was strongly promoted in India with the life long work of T. Krishnamacharya . Krishnamacharya traveled through India giving demonstrations of yoga poses and opened the first Hatha Yoga School.

During the 1950s one of the foremost Yoga teachers of his time, Selvarajan Yesudian, wrote the book "Sport and Yoga", and it was through this book Yoga entered the world of sports. Today we can observe many athletes and sports teams that has incorporated Yoga in their injury reducing, strengthening and focus oriented training regimens.

In the middle of the 60s, Yoga got a real promotional boost when the Yogi Maharishi Mahesh taught Yoga to the famous pop-stars in the Beatles. Many other artists and musicians where influenced to take up Yoga as well.

Yoga became especially popular in Hollywood when Russian born Indra Devi, opened a Yoga studio in Hollywood in 1947. She taught movie starts like Gloria Swanson, Jennifer Jones and Robert Ryan, as well as educating hundreds of Yoga teachers.

Yoga today

Yoga today has gained tremendously in popularity and has a following over 30 million people from all over the world and is the most rapidly growing health movement of today. From celebrities to the common man everybody is now aware of the health and mental benefits of yoga, in fact many doctors recommend yoga especially for stress and relaxation. New studies have shown a high success rate up to 73 percent for treating depression with sudharshan kriya, a pranayama technique taught in the U.S. as "The Healing Breath Technique."

People's attitude towards health, spirituality, way of life and our place in society have changed quite radically. As we suffer more and more from physical and psychological stress, and fight with new and old diseases, yoga seems if not the answer a friend indeed.

Ashish Bhattacharya is an exponent of oriental and alternative medicine. Armed with a degree in East Asian Therapies from China, he has worked in a Destination Spa Mauritius, and is an expert in Mauritius resorts

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ashish_Bhattacharya

The Common Element Between the Six Branches of Yoga - Yoga

By M Alan Roberts

Most people get a little bit too wrapped up in trying to decide which branch of Yoga that they should study. They read a brief synopsis of each type and then go about trying to discern which one is the most appropriate for them. The fact is that all branches of Yoga overlap. They do so very naturally. Yoga is very natural. Whether you choose to direct your energies to the study of Hatha, Raja, Karma, Tantra, Bhakti or Jnana Yoga - doesn't really matter. You should be more concerned with what Yoga means in general terms.

Yoga is the union of the mind with the body. If we become masterful in the direction of our thoughts, then we begin to grow in wisdom. All branches of Yoga have the direct aim to bring us into constant consciousness. We need to be aware of our bodies. We need to pay attention to our posture. We need to watch our words. We'll need to choose wise actions. We need to develop joint, tendon, ligament and muscular strength. We need to assist our bodies with its internal functions. We need to constantly check ourselves in order to ensure that we're being the people that we want to be. That's what Yoga is.

People have a serious misconception about the yogic arts. They think that the goal is to twist our bodies into pretzel-like formations. Until people develop their understanding further, they do not realize that the primary goal of Yoga is for the betterment and broadening of the mind. The concept is that by controlling our thoughts effectively, we are able to focus in on the body. We are able to relax ourselves into seemingly strenuous positions with ease. This is not done simply for the strengthening and the elongating of the connective tissues that surround our joints; it's done to bring us into a state of consciousness where enlightenment is a possibility.

When you go forward into the yogic lifestyle, you are entering a lifelong process. When you expose yourself to these timeless arts, you are planting seeds in your mind. The seeds will come to fruition in the form of increased confidence, increased strength, increased awareness, increased wisdom and a superior life in general. So, do not get too wrapped up in which branch of yoga that you wish to pursue. Just pursue the concept of being in touch with you. The rest will come in time. Here is a small list of some of the uncountable benefits that you can experience constantly through the development of your yogic understanding:

Increased blood circulation with simultaneously decreased heart rates.Decreased respiratory rates.Improved delivery of oxygen and nutrients to all of the systems of the body through the blood stream.Alleviation of joint and muscular pain.Increased flexibility.Increased endurance.Enhanced ability to relax and be tranquil in any situation.A calm and composed air about yourself.A deeper understanding of your fellow humans.A deeper understanding of nature.Increased consciousness of your actions, speech and thoughts.Increased energy levels.Decreased need for sleep.Partial or complete reversal of all preventable diseases.

This list could go on forever. That's because there is no end to the benefits of Yoga. Save your questions concerning which branch to thoroughly assimilate into your life. Just start by taking a nice, full breath and stretching your hands into the sky above you. Appreciate the air that you breathe. Appreciate the nature around you. Take a break from the hustle and bustle of your daily competitive life. This is Yoga.

Alan M Roberts is a fulltime freelance writer and web developer. He is always available for consultation through his web site at http://www.10-4Life.com Visit him there often and find reasons to live!
Check this out: http://www.squidoo.com/10-4Life

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=M_Alan_Roberts

Yoga Types - Different Types of Yoga

By Ricky Hussey

There are different paths (margas) of yoga that can be taken in order to reunite with the divine energy.

An active person can realize his divinity through work and duty (Karma), a religious person through devotion (Bhakti), an intellectual person through knowledge (Jnana), and a meditative/reflective person through Raja Yoga.

Various types of yoga are being taught and practiced in today’s world and it is very important to choose the correct type of yoga. Each type has its own philosophies and practices. Some styles of yoga are meditative and focused on spiritual centeredness. Other styles of yoga are more physical and based on poses or exercises. According to data published in 2004 in the journal Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, an estimated 15 million American adults have used yoga at least once in their lifetime, and more than 7.4 million participated in the year prior to when the research was conducted.

The varieties of poses flow one into another, always breathing through the nose. Kundalini yoga aims to awaken the potential energies at the base of the spine (Symbolised as a coiled snake) and direct this energy upwards through the spine and the Chakras thus bringing about increasing degrees of enlightenment.

Jnana Yoga

Jnana yoga is yoga that focuses on knowledge. There are seven stages to Jnana, involving study, self-realization, desire, protection of the mind, developing indifference to objects, letting the world appear like a dream, non-attachment to the world, bliss and knowledge of truth.

Bikram Yoga is the method of yoga that is a comprehensive workout that includes all the components of fitness: muscular strength, muscular endurance, cardiovascular flexibility and weight loss. Ashtanga, or power yoga, is designed to build strength and endurance. It is an aggressive workout where you move quickly from one pose to another. Ashtanga is for you if you're looking for a tough, physically challenging workout.

Hatha Yoga: Involves both pranayama (breathing techniques for life-force control) and asanas (physical postures) which are quite vigorous, and have tremendous benefits physically, as well as emotionally and spiritually. As in all Yoga pathways, the goal is not physical fitness, but rather strengthening and balancing the nervous system in order to capacitate superconscious states of awareness and energy.

Viniyoga: This is commonly used as a therapeutic practice for people who have suffered injuries or are recovering from surgery. It is a gentle, healing practice that is tailored to each person's body type and needs as they grow and change.

Vinyasa: Focuses on coordination of breath and movement and it is a very physically active form of yoga. It began with Krishnamacharya who later passed it on to Pattabhi Jois.

Mantras are words, phrases, or syllables which are chanted attentively and thoughtfully to attain certain goals. In the Mantra Yoga meditation one has to chant a word or a phrase until he/she transcends mind and emotions. In the process the super conscious is discovered and achieved. The rhythm and the meaning of mantras combine to conduct the mind safely back to the point of meditation- the higher consciousness or the specific spiritual focus.

Read out for Weight Lifting shoes Check out beauty and weight loss

Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com

Types of Yoga

By Juliet Cohen

Yoga is more than a physical discipline of keeping fit. It's an ancient concept, and has a lot to do with the philosophical and the spiritual. Various types of yoga are being taught and practiced in today’s world and it is very important to choose the correct type of yoga. Each type has its own philosophies and practices. Some styles of yoga are meditative and focused on spiritual centeredness. Other styles of yoga are more physical and based on poses or exercises. Yogas that are more physical are called Asanas. Hatha yoga is a popular type; it focuses on breathing control. Mantra yoga focuses on chanting and can be a very spiritual practice. Power yoga is great for building stamina and strength. At any rate they all seem to provide similar benefits for your mind and body.

The varieties of poses flow one into another, always breathing through the nose. Kundalini yoga aims to awaken the potential energies at the base of the spine (Symbolised as a coiled snake) and direct this energy upwards through the spine and the Chakras thus bringing about increasing degrees of enlightenment. Bikram Yoga is the method of yoga that is a comprehensive workout that includes all the components of fitness: muscular strength, muscular endurance, cardiovascular flexibility and weight loss. Ashtanga, or power yoga, is designed to build strength and endurance. It is an aggressive workout where you move quickly from one pose to another. Ashtanga is for you if you're looking for a tough, physically challenging workout.

Mantra Yoga involves the practice of chanting words or phrases repeatedly either aloud or internally thus influencing the consciousness. Jnana yoga is another popular type of yoga. This type of yoga generally emphasizes on mind in order to discern the mind. The main goal of Jnana yoga is to make an effort eternally to know, to understand and to explore more and more knowledge. Kriya Yoga is a very systemised form of yoga from the Tantras. Kriya yoga increases concentration and leads to meditation and ultimately to enlightenment but this is done more through awareness than pure concentration. Iyengar yoga is best type of yoga for beginners and for those who have not exercised at all. One can even use pillows and chairs to balance in case of lack of flexibility and if one is suffering from joint or back problems.

About the author: Juliet Cohen writes articles for fitness tips and weight loss tips. She also writes articles on home remedies.

Article Source: http://www.free-articles-zone.com/