Well I don’t know what is more exciting – I am writing and posting this entry via my ipad OR this post is my humble attempt at explaining yoga (not Yoda as one of my friends thought it was called – lol).

So first as with anything yoga is a journey, enjoy it and with each breath you will stretch a little deeper into your understanding of this exhilarating physical, mental and spiritual practice.

Yoga means “union” in Sanskrit, the language of ancient India where yoga originated. Yoga menajatrio between the mind, body and spirit. (seriously – wait til your Kundalini is awakened)

To end any misunderstandings, Yoga is more than just stretching, it is really about creating balance in the body through developing both strength and flexibility. And the various practices take you through the performance of poses or postures.

There are many different styles of yoga being taught and practiced today. Although all of the styles are based on the same poses, each has a particular emphasis.

The different types of Yoga practices:

HATHA
Hatha is a very general term for many physical types of yoga that are slow paced and gentle. These classes tend to be a great introduction to Yoga.

– I have enjoyed many if these classes throughout my travels across the us. I tend to find these classes very relaxing and peaceful due to their gentle nature.

VINYASA
Vinyasa, which means breath-synchronized movement, tends to be a more vigorous style based on the performance of a series of poses called Sun Salutations, in which movement is matched to the breath.

ASHTANGA & POWER YOGA
Ashtanga, which means “eight limbs” in Sanskrit, is a fast-paced, intense style of yoga. A set series of poses is performed, always in the same order. Ashtanga practice is very physically demanding because of the constant movement from one pose to the next.

– I tend to get in a Vinyasa or Ashtanga class a couple times a week. They are a great workout and definitely challenge the mind and body.

IYENGAR
Based on the teachings of the yogi B.K.S Iyengar, this style of practice is most concerned with bodily alignment. Iyengar practice usually emphasizes holding poses over long periods versus moving quickly from one pose to the next (flow). Also, Iyengar practice encourages the use of props, such as yoga blankets, blocks and straps, in order to bring the body into alignment.

– excited to hear some feedback on these classes.

KUNDALINI
The emphasis in Kundalini is on the breath in conjunction with physical movement, with the purpose of freeing energy in the lower body and allowing it to move upwards. In Kundalini, the exploration of the effects of the breath (also called prana, meaning energy) on the postures is essential.

– wow and wow! Like I said wait til your Kundalini is awakened, it is pretty awesome. It can take a lot of practice to get to a point of this happening, but it is well worth the wait.

BIKRAM/HOT YOGA

Pioneered by Bikram Choudhury, this style is more generally referred to as Hot Yoga. It is practiced in a 95 to 100 degree room, which allows for a loosening of tight muscles and profuse sweating, which is thought to be cleansing.

– some people love and sone people hate it. I would not recommend this as one of your first classes.

(much gratefulness to about.com and wikipedia for the definitions for the different practices)

So the best things is to pick a type of yoga and pop into a class near you to try it out. (check out yogafinder) You are going to want to try multiple instructors and different studios to find what is comfortable for you and will allow you to grow in your journey.

Whether you are a newbie or a yogi we want to hear about your journey. Let us know about your practice.

Namaste