What Is the Difference Between Yoga and Power Yoga?

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Traditional Yoga vs. Power Yoga

Well, I guess I’m the best person to answer this question, considering I grew up from age 15 in Traditional yoga. By Traditional yoga, I mean a vinyasa yoga practice I studied in India called Ashtanga yoga. I am also the person who coined the term “Power Yoga.“

The difference between the two is nothing and/or everything. Let me explain. In India, most of the yoga practices are not physical, so right there you could say there are many differences between Power Yoga and most yoga practices.

So, what’s the point of yoga?

The goal of yoga is enlightenment, so you could also say that anything that leads to enlightenment is a yoga practice. Yes, Power Yoga leads to enlightenment, so then you could say there is no difference.

What is Power Yoga and How Do You Do It?

The objective of Power Yoga is to strengthen the benevolent and eradicate the malevolent.

To do this, we have to become aware of our mental state or the places our minds dwell, and with this awareness, we can decide if we want to dwell in the place our mind is dwelling or not. This choice gives us the opportunity to empower or disempower the mind states that benefit (benevolent) us or hinder (malevolent) us. I feel from my own experience, this is aligned with the objective of all yoga, so in that, there is no difference.

To do all this, we take a unique path. Yet if you could understand the thousands of different ways yoga is expressed in India and throughout the world, you could even say[……]

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kundalini Yoga – 10 Benefits of Kundalini Yoga

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Kundalini yoga is a form of yoga that focuses on spiritual awakening, self-awareness, and physical health. It incorporates a combination of physical postures, breathing exercises, chanting, and meditation to create a comprehensive practice that addresses the needs of the body, mind, and soul. Kundalini yoga is an ancient practice that has been passed down for generations, and its benefits have been experienced by people of all ages and backgrounds.

What is kundalini meditation?

Kundalini meditation is a type of meditation that is designed to awaken the Kundalini energy that lies dormant at the base of the spine. The Kundalini energy is believed to be a powerful source of spiritual energy that can bring about profound transformation and enlightenment.

During a Kundalini meditation practice, individuals typically sit in a comfortable position and focus on their breath or a specific mantra. The intention is to quiet the mind and bring awareness to the body, allowing the Kundalini energy to rise up through the chakras.

There are many different types of Kundalini meditations, each with its own specific focus and intention. Some examples include:

Breath-focused meditation: This type of meditation involves focusing on the breath and using specific breathing techniques to help awaken the Kundalini energy.

Mantra meditation: Mantra meditation involves repeating a specific mantra, such as “Sat Nam” or “Om,” to help calm the mind and activate the Kundalini energy.

Chakra meditation: Ch[……]

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Karma Yoga Programme

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SIVANANDA YOGA VEDANTA CENTRE

Interested in serving others? In deepening into yourself?Karma Yoga, or selfless service, is the first of the Four Paths of Yoga, and according to the great yogis like Swami Sivananda, it is the foundation on which all Yogic practice is based.

Time and again, great yogis guide us to the wisdom of purifying our heart. There is no better way to achieve this than through selfless service.

Our Karma Yoga programme at the Centre is an opportunity to be a part of a non-profit Sivananda organization that extends the world over – a global community of practitioners looking to do good in the world, to deepen their practice, and to live for something bigger than themselves.

Come experience the unique gifts of Karma Yoga. Open into yourself. Cultivate lasting friendships. Observe the transformation that comes with selfless service.

Serve. Love. Give. Purify. Meditate. Realize.

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Jnana Yoga, The path of knowledge

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Introduction of Jnana Yoga:

Jnana Yoga is one of the three classical types of Yoga and is termed the “Yoga Of Meditation”. As per Advaita Vedanta, Jnana Yoga is defined as the “absolute consciousness awareness” that can be achieved through study and meditation. The key to jnana Yoga is Intellect.

Jnana yoga is the yoga of knowledge — not knowledge in the intellectual sense — but the knowledge of Brahman and Atman and the realization of their unity. Where the devotee of God follows the promptings of the heart, the jnani uses the powers of the mind to discriminate between the real and the unreal, the permanent and the transitory, good and bad, and right and wrong.

The path of knowledge, or Jnana Yoga, is the experiential knowledge of the Self. The literal translation of Jnana or Gyana is “knowledge.” This path emphasizes a process of gaining wisdom through a cognitive engagement with the divine. Though one begins on this path by reading scriptures and listening to talks by spiritual masters, knowledge ultimately becomes experiential and becomes ingrained in the seeker through divine grace.

There are two ways of Jnana Yoga Practice.

Bahiranga Saadhanaa (External Practice):

Viveka (Discrimination):

When you observe that change happens constantly, and at the same time recognize the unchanging nature of the divine being within you, then you experience discrimination. Even though our bodies, thoughts, and emotions renew and fluctuate, the part of you that witnesses this process doe[……]

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10 Reasons Why We Love Jivamukti Yoga

Jivamukti Yoga is one of the most powerful and structured practices for one to experience yoga. It does not shy away from the spiritual aspects of the practice, and can be both physically and emotionally challenging. Each open class starts with opening chants, followed by teachers sharing their personal stories as well as teachings from the founders of the practice. Its signature flow of music then kicks in to cheer you along vigorous flows of yoga sequences. The best bit? Proper meditation that lets you be. It is a practice that is loved and respected by many around the world and is definitely one of our favourite forms of yoga practice. Just be warned – it can be addictive!

Here are the 10 things that make us fall in love with the practice.

1. Picking the right class

There are a few types of classes you can choose from, especially if you are new to Jivamukti: the basic class, the spiritual warrior and the open class. The basic class is usually part of a 4-week course that allows someone to learn the basics of yoga. The spiritual warrior class allows those who are short of time to practise within an hour. An open class comprises of a 90-minute session that encompasses the 5 core tenets of the Jivamukti practice. From learning more about ancient scripture (Shastra), to offering your intent of devotion (Bhakti), the practice also focuses on practising kindness to others and yourself (ahimsa). We especially love the focus on music (nada) and meditation (dhyana). There are centr[……]

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The 10 Best Iyengar Yoga Books

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My Recommendations for the Best Iyengar Yoga Books

There are many good yoga books on all the different aspects of yoga. I’ve accumulated a number of excellent books that help me with my study, practice, and teaching of Iyengar Yoga. It was difficult paring down my list to what I thought were the 10 best, but this list will give you a place to start if you’re interested in Iyengar Yoga or yoga in general.

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0:03 / 0:10Read MoreI chose books on Iyengar Yoga that represent different facets of the study and practice of yoga, including good all-purpose books for learning and practicing yoga asanas (poses) and pranayama (breathing exercises), books that focus on health-related issues and different segments of the population, and books on the philosophy of yoga.

Important Note: Light on Yoga, by B.K.S. Iyengar, is by far the most important Iyengar Yoga book. I list it second only because, in my experience, many beginners are daunted by the amount of information given and the number of very difficult poses featured. Any serious Iyengar Yoga student should have this book, though. But the average beginner relates better to books with bigger “prettier” pictures and less text.

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These are the Iyengar Yoga books that I most commonly use.

My own photo, my own books

1. Yoga: The Iyengar Way: Silva, Mira, and Shyam Mehta

Yoga: The Iyengar Way was one of the two first yoga books I bought when I started yoga, and it’s still one of my fav[……]

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WHAT TO WEAR TO HOT YOGA

If it’s your first time in a hot yoga studio or you’re turning it up with a heater in a yoga class at home, you might be wondering what to wear to hot yoga. And while your yoga practice accepts you wherever you are with whatever you’re wearing, there are certain types of clothing that will help you have a more streamlined practice and give you freedom to move and flow.

In general, the best outfit to wear to hot yoga is moisture-wicking, lightweight, and doesn’t restrict your movement. Your outfit needs might even be different depending on the type of yoga you’re doing.

Here are a few suggestions on what to look for and our favorite recommendations from Alo Yoga.

PERFORMANCE FABRIC

Look for fabrics that are designed to be moisture-wicking — now’s not the time to grab sweatpants or that heavyweight 100% cotton T-shirt. Your best bet will be tops and bottoms specifically designed with performance or technical fabric to keep the sweat and odor at bay. Features like mesh and cutouts will also keep things ventilated.

Airlift Laser Cut Speedy Bra Tank & Shorts

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Idol Performance Tee

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2. FITTED CLOTHING

While something tight might seem restrictive, in the case of hot yoga, it can be helpful. A sports bra that keeps everything in place and sleeves that don’t flop up, down, and in your face can make your practice less distracting. Trust us — do Downward Dog once in a loose shirt and you’ll understand why. And when it comes to pants, leggings make sure that you’re not tripping or pre[……]

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