infoSPIKE

Yoga - A General Overview

Because yoga has been around for centuries, there are almost more variations than we can list. But here is a brief description of some
of the many and varied types of yoga that you may enjoy on your quest to finding the yogic path that best suits you.

Postures and breathing are the focus of all yogic disciplines, but some have other foci as well or perform the breathing and postures in a

certain way to generate the desired goal or effect. Vinyasa style yoga, for example, flows from one posture to the next with a focus on
rhythmic breathing. Quick, focused, and not for the beginner, Vinyasa style yoga includes types like Ashtanga, Power Yoga, Jivamukti,
Kali Ray TriYoga, and White Lotus.

Iyengar style yoga, on the other hand, is much slower and focused more on fully experiencing each pose and each breath to its fullest
potential. Deep intent on the details of each movement helps the practitioner experience a peace and relaxation throughout the mind
and body. Props can be used to help beginners and those with disabilities hold poses.

Yoga began as a religious endeavor toward enlightenment and today, there are still forms of yoga that you can practice to explore your

spirituality. Many religions practice their own forms of meditation and yoga, but you will also find a non-denominational version in some
of the following spiritual yogic paths: Sivananda Yoga, Integral, Ananda, Kundalini, ISHTA, Kripalu, Anusara, and Tibetan.

Should you come across a form of yoga described as ‘hatha,’ this is a combination of any of the above types of yoga and more.

Focused on promoting a balance between meditative and strength poses, this is a common form of yoga in the West and may be a
good place for beginners to start.

But don’t stop there! So many different styles of yoga abound that there’s no need to settle with the first kind you try. Instead, take

classes in as many as are available in your area and choose the one that suits you best.

Yoga for the Soul
There are a variety of types of yoga that focus solely on spiritual practice and the integration of soul, mind, and body. Yoga as a spiritual
practice is what the original practitioners intended. In the West, those original practices have been modified to suit different

temperaments. There are too many to list here, but these are some of the most popular.
Sivananda: Sivananda yoga is a philosophical practice created by Swami Sivananda who wanted practitioners to “serve, love, give,
purify, meditate, realize.” Following 12 postures from hatha yoga that focus on the spine, Sivananda yoga’s goal is to integrate
understanding, emotions, body, and mind. Students may also utilize chanting, pranayama, and meditation to release any physical

blocks to this total integration of self.
Integral: In 1966, the Reverend Sri Swami Satchidananda created Integral yoga with the intent of helping students integrate the
philosophy of yoga in their daily life. Using classic hatha postures as meditation, Integral yoga balances the physical effects of practice
with the relaxation effects.

Ananda: In the 1960s, Swami Kriyananda created Ananda yoga. This practice utilizes silent affirmations during each pose to intensify
the benefits of each asana. Simple hatha poses prepares the brain for meditation while focusing on proper alignment and pranayama to
for better self awareness of spirit.
Kundalini: Kundalini yoga was once a guarded secret practiced only by a select few, but in 1969, it came to the United States. By
using postures, dynamic breathing, chanting and mantra meditation, students focus on awakening the energy at the base of the spine

and controlling its flow up through each of the seven chakras.
Even if your primary focus for your yoga routine is exercise, with a little bit of focus, controlled breathing, and discipline, any form of
practice can be a meditation of the spirit.

Yoga for Relaxation

Yoga, based upon the principle of combining the mind with the body, provides a simple, but effective, form of relaxation. Life is hectic

and we are constantly faced with problems and demands in our workplace and at home. We seek ways to alleviate the stress, cope
with the unexpected, and maintain a comfortable balance in our everyday activities. Stress can have far-reaching effects on our
relationships with family, friends, and co-workers and over time, our body slowly but surely wears down. We are left mentally,
emotionally, and physically exhausted, needing to relax, but unable to do so. The answer for many of us is in the art of yoga.

Yoga provides relaxation for the mind and body; it eases the tired, overworked muscles and frees the mind from worry and stress. Just
as a battery will wear down, so will our bodies; they need recharging too. In a vicious circle of mental and physical exhaustion, we
remain in a state of constant alert, seldom resting and losing sleep. We are left vulnerable to illness and the inability to put things in

perspective, in short, to relax. Practicing yoga asanas, or forms, combined with slow and rhythmic breathing exercises, will bring the
body more in tune with the mind.

Yoga is a calming, soothing form of relaxation, one that releases an inner peace throughout your body. Yoga is a means of turning the
negative aspects in our everyday lives into the more positive and rewarding feelings we need for ourselves and toward others.