Restorative yoga is a form of yoga that focuses on conscious mind and body relaxation. This type of yoga may be a good choice for people interested in releasing tension and relaxing the body and mind to relieve stress. If you are sick, recovering from an injury or have just given birth, restorative yoga has a renewing and relaxing affect. There are many physical benefits to a restorative yoga practice. Some of the conditions that may be helped by restorative yoga include anxiety, depression, fatigue, insomnia and migraines. In the poses, the body is supported using various props. Blankets, straps … Continue reading →

At some point in your practice, you may decide you want to create your own practice at home, and not using a DVD or download. You can create your own sequences and use yoga music or nature sounds in the background. Many people get nervous at the idea of beginning a yoga practice because they don’t know where to start in creating their own sequences. There are many schools of thought for creating yoga sequences, depending on the type of practice. For example, the sequences in kundalini yoga are different than in Iyengar. While there aren’t any standard rules, there … Continue reading →

Kundalini yoga is a spiritual and physical yoga practice, releasing the full potential of the practitioner. This form of yoga has been practiced in the east since ancient times and was brought to the west by Yogi Bhajan in the late 1960s. The Kundalini Research Institute promotes the teaching of kundalini yoga in the tradition of Yogi Bhajan. Kundalini is untapped energy that is located at the base of the spine. According to ancient tradition, kundalini is represented as a coiled snake. The practice of kundalini yoga is said to awaken this energy and move it up through the body, … Continue reading →

Iyengar yoga is a form of hatha yoga that was developed over 60 years ago by renowned yoga master BKS Iyengar. This is a traditional form of yoga, which is based on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. It is one of the most popular types of yoga practiced in the United States and throughout the world. This form of yoga is similar to hatha yoga in the poses. The same basic asanas are used in Iyengar yoga as in other forms of hatha yoga. There is the ultimate aim of a mind, body, spirit connection, as in other yoga types … Continue reading →

Power yoga is being found more frequently in yoga studios and is offered in many gyms that have yoga classes. If you are looking for a workout that incorporates yoga principles and are interested in burning calories and building muscle, power yoga may fit your needs. Power yoga is similar in style to Ashtanga yoga, but is a more vigorous workout. This is not a gentle stretch class and there is no meditation used in the practice. The difference is the sequences and series of poses are not as regular as in Ashtanga and the flow series and asanas used … Continue reading →

Karma yoga is also known as Buddhi yoga. This is a spiritual form of yoga based on an ancient text known as the Bhagavad Gita. The translation in Sanskrit of karma is action and yoga is union, so Karma yoga is designed to create a path of unity through action. This form of yoga is the most commonly practiced by members of the Hindu religion. It is different from hatha yoga, bikram yoga and other forms of yoga exercise in that karma yoga brings together the physical and spiritual aspects of yoga practice. Not all practitioners of Karma yoga are … Continue reading →

Vinyasa flow yoga is a term that is commonly used in a range of yoga classes. These classes are not merely stretching and slowly moving into the poses. These classes use movement from one pose to another in a flowing series of motions that is continuous. The movements are connected to the breath in a flow class. All vinyasa flow classes include flowing series of poses that synchronized to the breath, but there is wide variety in other elements of the classes. One difference is in the speed of the movements. Some classes have a quicker paced flow than others. … Continue reading →

Bikram yoga is a form of yoga practice that is also known as hot yoga. The method was developed by Bikram Choudhury, a yoga master who learned yoga in his native India, moved to the US and developed his unique method in California. This form of yoga is known as hot yoga due to the environment of the practice. Bikram yoga is done in a studio that is heated to 105 degrees. The heat serves a few functions, to promote sweating to remove toxins and to increase flexibility. The theory is that in the heated room, a deeper stretch is … Continue reading →

Often people new to yoga benefit from the advise and presence of a trained yoga instructor. This really is the best way to be introduced to the practice and be sure you are performing the asanas correctly. However, a yoga class isn’t possible for everyone. Some don’t have a studio or gym offering yoga close to home and others just can’t spare the cash for classes. The lack of access or funds doesn’t exclude you from the practice of yoga. Practicing yoga at home is possible, if you use a few precautions and start with the right materials. There are … Continue reading →

Ashtanga yoga is another popular form of yoga that is offered in many yoga studios and some gyms. In Sanskrit, Ashtanga means eight limbs. This is in reference to the eight limbs of yoga in the Yoga Surtas of Patanjali. The Ashtanga method is sometimes called a unique variation of hatha yoga. Ashtanga was developed by yoga masters Krishnamachara and Sri Pattabhi Jois. They used an ancient yoga text to devise the current practice. Ashtanga is a more athletic and vigorous form of yoga than is found in the typical hatha yoga or gym yoga class. What sets Ashtanga apart … Continue reading →