STYLES OF YOGA
There
are many styles of yoga available to students today. At Peconic
River Yoga, our certified instructors have completed a thorough
training in yoga from a variety of traditions. Below you will find
a description of these schools. It is important to keep in mind
that although there are many styles of yoga, there is only one
Yoga! As instructors, our first priority is the safety and
well-being of each student.
May the following words
of inspiration from two great Yogis guide us on our journey!
"It is worth
remembering that there is only one yoga and can only be one yoga.
True, aspirants are of different natures and resort to various
doctrines and practices to progress along the path. But one who
completes the process of yoga understands its different paths and
sees that the systematic practice of various disciplines leads to
the same place. In the end, all yogas lead to one great Yoga.
- Swami Kripalu (1913-1981)
"The purpose of yoga
and its teachers is to serve society, not to promote a system or a
style. If a style harms the person, it is not good. So, all the
teachings have to be done with respect for the person who is coming
to class. It is not the opposite, where the person is coming to
contribute to the style. We should never forget that the purpose is
to teach according to the strength, resources, and weaknesses of
the individual. Apply these great teachings according to the
ability, the possibility, the need, and the strength of the
individual. So that the person will become stronger and not
suffer." - T.K.V. Desikachar (quoted from the movie "Yoga
Unveiled")
Kripalu Yoga is a holistic approach to the practice of yoga
postures. Kripalu means "compassion" in Sanskrit. Through the
physical practice of Hatha Yoga (postures and breathing exercises)
and Raja Yoga (meditation), an
integration can occur which helps bring us into balance. The body is
strengthened and the mind becomes calm. We experience our true
nature more clearly and deeply. We begin to see and understand all
parts of ourselves, including the hidden and unacknowledged parts.
Like most yoga styles, Kripalu Yoga uses classic asanas, pranayama,
development of a quiet mind, and the practice of relaxation. What
defines Kripalu Yoga is its emphasis: following the flow of prana,
practicing compassionate self-acceptance, developing witness
consciousness, and taking what is learned "off the mat" and into
daily life.
Sivananda
"Health is Wealth. Peace of Mind is Happiness. Yoga Shows the Way."
-Swami Vishnu-devananda
Sivananda yoga is system of practice, based on traditional teachings,
with five main principles: proper exercise (asanas); proper breathing (pranayama);
proper relaxation (Savasana); proper diet (vegetarian); and positive
thinking (Vedanta) and meditation (dhyana).
This hatha yoga practice emphasizes 12 basic postures to increase the
strength and flexibility of the spine. Chanting, pranayama, and meditation
are also included, helping students to release stress and blocked energy.
Vinyasa (flow) is a form of Hatha Yoga that focuses on integrating
breath and movement, awareness and alignment, strength and flexibility,
and our practice with daily life. Postures are connected through the
breath in a progressive sequence for a transformative and balancing
effect. Vinyasa flow yoga empowers us to be explorers of ourselves with
intelligence and intuition, to honor the underlying rhythms of life and
to enjoy the flow of being fully alive. Meditation in motion...to become
unified with all around us. Vinyasa yoga liberates the flow of prana
(life energy) throughout the body.
"Asanas are the rafts. Alignment the map. Pranayama (breath) is
the wind. Intention is your guide to "smooth sailing" in your
practice.
Forrest Yoga®
...
uses intense pose sequences, compassionately taught, to develop skills in
awakening each of the senses. It teaches the you to bring aliveness, using
breath, into every cell of the body, igniting a passion
for living. Forrest Yoga® helps you to connect to the core, getting strong
and centered. Forrest Yoga® teaches you to Go Deeper, find your Truth and
encourage you to take these gifts you have earned Beyond the Mat into the
rest of your life.
Ashtanga Yoga in the Tradition
of Sri K. Pattabi Jois
The series of postures of the Ashtanga system was translated
from the “Yoga Korunta”, an ancient Indian text. T.K. V.
Krishnamcarya of Mysore, India, learned the sequence in the
early 1900’s and passed down to his student Sri K. Pattabi Jois,
now 92 years old, who popularized it throughout the world.
Ashtanga Yoga is an intensely purifying style of yoga that
builds core strength and stamina and moves through a sequence of
postures intended for internal cleansing and aligning the body.
“Vinyasa”, the coordination of breath and movement, creates an
intense internal heat that oxygenates the internal organs and
purifies the blood. Sweat is thought to be an important
by-product. When the blood becomes hot, it is thought to become
thin and circulate more freely through the body and around the
joints, eliminating body aches and pains and warding off
disease. Through the practice of a “tristhana” 1) posture (asana
with use of the bandhas or internal locks), 2) correct breathing
(ujayii pranayama), and 3) gazing points (dristhis), control of
the senses and a deep awareness of oneself is achieved. These
three also lead to three levels of purification – the body, the
nervous system, and the mind.
Most practiced is the Primary series that includes two types of
Surya Namaskara (sun salutations), a sequence of standing
postures, seated postures linked by a “vinyasa” flow, and then a
finishing sequence that includes inversions. The order in which
the postures are practiced is stressed. Manual adjustment is
given throughout by the teacher to aid the student. No props are
used. See AYRI.com or Ashtanga.com for more information.
