Yoga Enjoy – Page 6 – All About Yoga: Poses, Types, Benefits, and More

What is Hatha Yoga?

April 3, 2022

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Hatha yoga, what exactly is this? Is this a specific yoga style? What is the difference between Hatha yoga and other forms of yoga? What should you keep in mind of with this form of yoga? All questions that arise for many yogis when we talk about Hatha yoga. Because between all new (and old) yoga styles, Hatha yoga keeps popping up. We take away all the riddles around this form of yoga, so that you know exactly what to expect with Hatha yoga.

The origin of Hatha yoga

To properly understand Hatha yoga, we must first dive into the history of yoga. Hatha yoga is the most ancient yoga style and many yoga styles are derived from this yoga style. The special thing about this style is that it is an open stream without a founder or guru. This hardly ever happens anymore these days.

Hatha yoga used to be practiced by monks who needed mild physical exercise in addition to many meditations (and in preparation for meditation). You hold the yoga postures of Hatha yoga longer, without it becoming uncomfortable. Tensions disappear from the body, so you can sit longer and more comfortably during meditation. With this yoga style you are therefore preparing yourself for your meditation.

Hatha yoga is more than just moving

But Hatha yoga is more than just moving and performing the yoga postures well. Because it is the connection between body and mind that is very important within this style. Ha-Tha means sun and moon, which are seen as contradictions within yoga. The sun stands for action, fie[……]

Bikram Yoga

Is Bikram Yoga for You? 3 Pros and Cons for Beginners

March 6, 2022

Bikram yoga may not be as safe as yogis believe, a new study suggests.

Yoga can be wonderful for your flexibility, balance and overall health. And recently, pro athletes such as Kobe Bryant, Andy Murray and Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles have begun doing Bikram Yoga, an intense form of the practice in which the moves are performed in a hot, humid room.

“One of the hardest things I’ve ever done,” is how Foles described Bikram Yoga in an ESPN interview. But he also credited the practice with helping him recover more quickly from the hits he takes during the NFL season.

Named after its founder, Bikram Choudhury, and drawing from traditional yoga techniques, Bikram employs a series of 26 postures (see diagram below). The poses are always the same and always done in the same order in a room heated to approximately 105 degrees with 40 percent humidity. The classes last about 90 minutes. The general idea is that the heat increases blood flow and circulation to the muscles.

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Photo: Bikram Yoga NYC

“By the end of a Bikram yoga class, you will have worked every muscle, tendon, joint, ligament, internal organ and gland while systematically moving fresh, oxygenated blood to 100 percent of the body,” says Bikram instructor Tori Hicks. “Bikram yoga builds strength, balance and flexibility by gently stretching and massaging the spine, muscles, tendons, joints and all internal organs of the body. Lung capacity is expanded, leading to greater vitality.”

In my first Bikram class, I[……]

Bhakti Yoga

The Ultimate Expression of Bhakti Yoga

February 1, 2022

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Bhakti Yoga is a devotional path of oneness or union with the Divine. According to Kashmir Shaivite scholars, the ultimate expression of Bhakti Yoga is service to God, Guru and other individuals, both inside and outside of the community of seekers. Some of the more well-known practices of Bhakti Yoga include spending time close to an enlightened being, chanting the divine names or mantras and ritual acts of worship, such as singing an evening arati or prayer while waving lit candles in honor of a divine being. It may appear at first that the ultimate expression of Bhakti Yoga is to chant beautifully or meditate for hours on the form of one’s Guru. However, scholars of spiritual texts and spiritual teachers repeatedly tell us that the ultimate expression of Bhakti Yoga is service to God and Guru, with the highest expression of Bhakti Yoga being service to other individuals.

When a yogi or yogini begins to walk the path of Bhakti Yoga, he or she may have a deep longing for knowledge and oneness with the Divine. A seeker who is of a devotional temperament may begin his or her sadhana by meditating, reading the scriptures and spending time in prayer and contemplation. These practices may be performed while living at home, in a Buddhist monastery, an ashram or even in a Christian monastic setting.

Initially, the Bhakta may feel inspired to serve God by serving the ritual needs of the institution. Some of these ways of serving may be to place flowers on the altar, paint beautiful[……]

Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga

Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga Beginner

January 4, 2022

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Ashtanga yoga is amongst the most dynamic or energetic forms of yoga. Many yogis usually describe it as a yoga style that is physically demanding. One notable thing about ashtanga yoga is that yogis get to perform a particular number of yoga poses, which are in a particular order. During these poses, yogis are required to synchronize their breathing with movements, in a flow known as Vinyasa. This is a traditional hatha yoga style promoted by Pattabhi Jois from Mysore, India. Ashtanga vinyasa yoga originates from an ancient text, known as Yoga Korunta. Vamana Rishi wrote this text, and then Rama Mohan imparted the text to Sri Krishnamacharya in early 1900. Krishnamacharya later imparted the text to Pattabhi Jois in early 1927.

Ashtanga Yoga System

There are six asana sequences in Ashtanga Yoga. The most practiced and famous one, Primary series, that is known as Yoga Chikitsa that translate (yoga therapy) is supposed to detoxify and realign the body. The second series that goes by as Nadi Shodana (nerve cleansing), acts to further purify the nervous system and spinal energies. Then there is the advanced A,B,C and D Series, Witch are known as Sthira Bhaga (divine grace)

Ashtanga Yoga and Ashtanga Vinyasa

Ashtanga is a Sanskrit word, meaning eight parts. The word “Ashtanga” is very important in yoga philosophy, and it refers to the ultimate road in Patanjali’s yoga sutras. Originally, Ashtanga yoga means a doctrine that lasts for a short time, and the yoga style is known as Ash[……]

Anusara Yoga

Anusara Yoga: Good alignment with balanced action is good therapy

December 8, 2021

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Anusara® Yoga is a system of Yoga rooted in the non-dual tantric philosophy that affirms the cycles of Life. It is based on a tantric perspective that an intrinsic beneficent energy underlies everyone and everything. Oriented around the heart and the application of precise bio-mechanical Universal Principles of Alignment™, Anusara can empower you to skillfully align your inner and outer body to fully awaken to your highest potential and divine essence.

The majority of my 20 year yoga teaching path has been through the lens of Anusara Yoga. In the company of a diverse group of like hearted yogi visionaries, Anusara’s Universal Principles of Alignment™ are skillfully instructed in the poses of the physical yoga practice. Precise application of the alignment principles encourages tangible openings, the experience and recognition, a remembrance of their natural Spirit. These revelatory moments can bring experiences of healing, freedom, joy and celebration of your unique divine nature.

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I am grateful to have had the opportunity to travel the world studying with, apprenticing and assisting master the founder of Anusara Yoga, John Friend. Although he has left the Anusara yoga world and I am no longer studying with him, it is with great honor that I have been one of the principle co-founders in the collaboration of the now “not for profit, teacher-led global Anusara® School of Hatha Yoga™.”

It has been a courageous test of the soul and a challenging labor of love to help carry t[……]

Aerial Yoga

Everything You Need to Know About Aerial Yoga

November 13, 2021

What is Aerial Yoga?

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Aerial Yoga is a hybrid yoga practice which combines traditional Hatha Yoga poses, aerial acrobatic arts and body conditioning exercises performed with the aid of an aerial hammock. Classes can range from gentle and restorative to very demanding depending on how the hammock is used, making it suitable for people of all levels of experience and physical ability.

Aerial Yoga Benefits

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Aerial Yoga has all the same benefits of regular yoga with some added extras, including:

Decompression and alignment of the spine

Strengthening and lengthening of the body

Upper body strengthening

Core strengthening

Improved balance

Body awareness

Increased spacial intelligence

Relieving stress and anxiety.

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(Image via @nirvanayogavihara)

Using an aerial hammock makes inversions obtainable to everyone regardless of experience or physical condition. Our bodies get better oxygenation through increased blood flow to the brain during inversions which have many health and anti-ageing benefits such as:

Improved digestion and elimination

Improved blood circulation

Improved lymphatic drainage

Improved skin tone

Relief of spinal pain

Helps with insomnia

Energises the body and mind.

Aerial Yoga also helps to build confidence and self-esteem. “I’ve noticed most Aerial beginners are under the impression they can’t or won’t be able to perform the inversions or acrobatics in the class,” Melina tells us. “I have seen the look of pure joy on my students’ faces when they overcome their fear[……]

Acro Yoga

What is Acro Yoga? Ultimate Guide to Practice and Benefits

October 24, 2021

Simply speaking, acro yoga combines the practices, techniques, and benefits of acrobatics and yoga. It merges the Vinyasa and Hatha yoga to produce some fun-filled poses that are not only helpful in building your muscle strength and flexibility but also therapeutic.

Acro yoga poses performed by two people which means a lot of confidence, flexibility, strength, and balance is required to practice this yoga. It also helps build a strong relationship with your yoga partner as there is constant communication, mutual support, physical contact required to understand each others’ body movements.

This partner-based yoga engages you with your yoga buddy through movement, connection, and fun. Acro Yoga is more of a modern yoga form that has been constantly evolving since its introduction.

Origin of Acro Yoga

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The first traces of acro yoga can be found in 1938 when the ‘father of modern yoga’, T. Krishnamacharya has seen performing a variation of backbend yoga pose with a child. However, it was just a part of his teaching methodology. At that time it was not publicized as a particular yoga style.

Several decades later, in the 1980s, while researching methods to alleviate his back pain, Benjamin Marantz discovered techniques that involved massage and inverted therapeutic techniques and named it as AcroSage.

Practising it requires at least two people but works best with three or more. In inversion poses, one person lies on the ground as a base, while another (the “flyer”) balances on thei[……]