About Yoga

About Yoga

The History of Yoga, The Extremely Abbreviated Version:

While it has been generally accepted that yoga has a history that spans at least 5000 years, Archeologists have recently discovered evidence (cave drawings) from three different ancient cultures which indicate that yoga could have been practiced as far back as 10,000 years ago. Evidence of yoga postures (asanas) have been found in the Mayan, Chinese and Tibetan Indian cultures, all of which predate yoga’s emergence in the Hindu culture some 5000 years ago. All that is said to point out an interesting observation about yoga: yoga seems to have a habit of emerging and becoming a popular practice among different people from different cultures and at greatly differing times.

Yoga: Spiritual vs. Religious vs. Physical Fitness:

Some people practice yoga as part of a religion, and some do not. For some, yoga is a form of working out, for others it is working within, and for others still, it is both.

The word "yoga" comes from the Sanskrit word "yuj," which means "to bind, join, attach, and yoke." You will meet people who say they practice yoga, and they mean they go to a yoga class for 90 minutes, maybe twice a week. Then you will meet others for whom yoga is a way of living; a way to help reach enlightenment.

The ancient sages approached yoga as a means to bind the body, mind, emotions and feelings (your complete self) to God. Records indicate that Patanjali, who is often referred to as “the father of yoga” and lived some 200-500 years BC, advocated yoga asana (the physical postures) as just one small part of a total system for living an ethical life. Patanjali, who was also a physician, wrote some 185 sutras (concise aphorisms) with the theme of the man’s journey or birth from a physical being to a spiritual being, the same theme which Paul so wisely and eloquently set forth in writing to his disciples in Corinth, the theme of all mystics of all lands.

According to Sri BKS Iyengar (Light on Yoga, Schoken Books, New York, 1979) "In Indian thought, everything is permeated by the Supreme Universal Spirit (Paramatma or God) of which the individual human spirit (jivatma) is a part. The system of yoga is so called because it teaches the means by which jivatma can be united to, or in communion with the Paramatma. and so to secure liberations (moksha)."

What often happens is as people enter the practice, whether for physical or spiritual reasons, they discover subtle but positive changes in themselves that extend beyond the strong, toned and flexible body that can be achieved through the practice of yoga asana. They discover that the constant chatter in the mind has slowed down, and their religious beliefs and practices begin to deepen in the space that is created between thoughts and daily concerns.

Many will delve deeper in into the practice and discover a common thread of spirituality that runs through so many cultures, yesterday and today. And some will simply take yoga for the physical benefits, and leave the spiritual discourse to those so inclined.

Yoga Today in the USA:

In the West, we typically approach yoga for its physical as well as mental benefits. Yoga strengthens the cardiovascular system, strengthens and stretches the muscles, increases flexibility and balance in the body and promotes a feeling of clarity and serenity. So, here in the West, the main form of yoga that is practiced is hatha yoga, or physical yoga.

As there are many styles of dance, so are there many forms of Hatha yoga. In fact, a new one might be developing right now, as a teacher puts his/her own stamp on a specific technique. Current popular styles include (but are not limited to):

Ashtanga	Ashtanga is the system of Yoga taught by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois at the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute in Mysore, India. This method of Yoga involves synchronizing the breath with progressive series of postures--a process producing intense internal heat and a profuse, purifying sweat that detoxifies muscles and organs. The result is improved circulation, a light and strong body, and a calm mind. This strenuous practice is recommended for those who are already engaged in an active fitness or yoga practice. The sequence of postures will be the same each class. One is expected to practice and be sufficiently knowlegable of the Primary series before moving to the Intermediate Series, where the focus is on backward bending asanas. Any class titled “Mysore” simply means self-paced practice. A teacher is present not to lead the class, but to assist with the exploration and execution of each posture as needed.

Anusara	Anusara Yoga is a modern school of yoga started by John Friend in 1997.The emphasis of the school is on a set of "Universal Principles of Alignment" which underlie all postures, "heart opening" postures and the spiritual/meditative benefits of hatha yoga. Attainable bliss and joy in practice and everyday life are an important aspect of the underlying philosophy of this school. Many western students with a modernist bent find this school attractive. John Friend draws the following analogy on the use and interplay of three parts of the Anusara practice, Attitude, Alignment, and Action: “A musician (yogi) makes music (performs an asana) by expressing his heart (Attitude) through the playing (Action) of a properly tuned instrument (Alignment of the body). The highest expression of an asana (the most beautiful music that a musician can potentially play with a particular instrument) occurs when the instrument of the body is optimally Aligned, the Action is strong and balanced, and the Attitude is spiritually pure and powerful.” - John Friend

Bikram	This form of yoga is named after and taught by Bikram Choudury and is often called "the original hot yoga". Bikram Yoga is a series of 26 postures practiced in a room that is heated to 100+ degrees Fahrenheit with 70% humidity. “These twenty-six poses are meant to systematically move fresh, oxygenated blood to each organ and fiber of the body, and to restore all systems to healthy working order,” (from Bikram’s book, Beginning Yoga Class). It is practiced in front of mirrors and lasts around 90 minutes. The postures are easily accessible with only one “pretzel” pose in the series. Practicing the postures in heat allows a deeper stretch which can result in deeper releases of tension throughout the body. However, care should be taken that the body does not over-stretch, resulting in injury to areas unaccustomed to that much flexibility. Some people love the profuse sweating that is generated by this yoga, while others are turned off by or simply cannot tolerate the intense heat. Those with low blood pressure or certain physical conditions should check with their doctors before attempting this class.

Forrest	Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, and gaining popularity around the U.S., Forrest Yoga is the method taught by Ana Forrest. The performance of vigorous asana sequences is intended to strengthen and purify the body and release pent-up emotions and pain so that healing can begin. Expect an intense workout with an emphasis on abdominal strengthening and deep breathing.

Hatha	Hatha Yoga is a often used as a general term for the physical practice of yoga, and is what most people in the West associate with the word "Yoga". Many modern schools of Hatha Yoga derive from the school of Sri Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, who taught from 1924 until his death in 1989. Among his students prominent in popularizing Yoga in the West were Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, famous for popularizing the vigorous Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga style, and B.K.S. Iyengar who emphasizes alignment and the use of props. Hatha represents opposing energies: hot and cold (fire and water, following the same concept as the yin-yang), male and female, positive and negative. Hatha yoga attempts to balance mind and body via physical exercises, or "asanas", controlled breathing, and the calming of the mind through relaxation and meditation. Asanas teach poise, balance & strength and are practiced to improve the body's physical health and clear the mind in preparation for meditation in the pursuit of enlightenment.

Integral	Integral yoga follows the teachings of Sri Swami Sachidananda, who came to the U.S. in the 1960s, eventually founding many Integral Yoga Institutes and the famed Yogaville Ashram in Virginia. Integral is a gentle hatha practice, and classes often also include breathing exercises, chanting, kriyas, and meditation.

Iyengar	This style is taught and named after B.K.S. Iyengar. Iyengar Yoga can be practiced by anyone and focuses primarily on standing asanas. Precision and alignment are emphasized, and postures are typically held for long periods of time. This is the yoga of props—belts, blocks, ropes and blankets. This is an excellent style for the beginner, especially if you are beginning at the mid- or later- part of life, due of the emphasis on proper alignment and use of props.

Jivamukti	This style of yoga emerged from one of New York’s best-known yoga studios. Jivamukti founders David Life and Sharon Gannon take inspiration from Ashtanga yoga and emphasize chanting, meditation, and spiritual teachings. They have trained many teachers who have brought this style of yoga to studios and gyms, predominantly in the U.S. These classes are physically intense and often include some chanting.

Kundalini	“The Yoga of Awareness” as taught by Yogi Bhajan, Ph.D. Until 1969, this was a “secret” yoga practiced by householders in India, who were balancing the pressures of holding jobs and raising families. Kundalini refers to the flow of energy and consciousness that exists in all of us. It also refers to the serpent energy in the spine, which, once awakened, can lead to an eurphoric state. Yoga Bhajan expanded the teaching of Kundalini yoga in America when it was discovered as having great success in the treatment of recovering addicts. A typical Kundalini Yoga class incorporates some aspects of Hatha Yoga asanas with breath, chanting (of mantras) and meditation. This is a class which can be enjoyed by beginners to advanced students who are interested in awakening their “shakti energy”.

Power	The American version of Ashtanga, the typical Power Yoga class is vigorous, fast moving, and generates a lot of internal heat (you will sweat). This is the yoga of Beryl Bender Birch, Bryan Kest and many other American yoga teachers. It borrows strongly from Ashtanga, but changes the flow and sequence of postures with each class. This style of yoga encourages internal stillness while the physical body is moving through some challenging postures.

Sivananda	The first Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center was founded in 1957 by Swami Vishnu-devananda, a disciple of Swami Sivananda. There are now close to 80 locations worldwide, including several ashram retreats. Sivananda yoga is based upon five principles: 1. Proper exercise (Asana, focusing on 12 poses in particular) 2. Proper breathing (Pranayama) 3. Proper relaxation (Savasana) 4. Proper diet (Vegetarian) 5. Positive thinking and meditation (Dhyana)

Vinyasa	Like Hatha, Vinyasa is a general term that is used to describe many different types of classes. However, since you may come across yoga classes titled “Vinyasa Flow”, here’s an overview of what to expect: 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. A Vinyasa class will typically start with a number of Sun Salutations to warm up the body for more intense stretching which is done at the end of class. It differs from Ashtanga in that Ashtanga typically follows the same sequence of postures in each class, depending upon which series you are practicing (Primary, Intermediate, etc.). A vinyasa based class will tend to change the postures around and experiment a bit more with sequencing. This is the style taught by well-known American yogi, Shiva Rea.