Peconic River Yoga, Riverhead, New York

YOGA

Yoga originated in India over 5000 years ago. Yoga is Sanskrit for "union". In Yoga, the asanas (physical postures) are the means of finding the "inner posture", which is the experience of complete inner stillness, harmony, peace, integration, balance ...unity of body, mind, and spirit. This state of wholeness is grounded in a discipline known as the 8-limbed path:

1. yamas (codes of conduct)
2. niyamas (self observation)
3. asanas (postures)
4. pranayama (breathing techniques)
5. pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses)
6. dharana (concentration)
7. dhyana (meditation)
8. samadi (self-realization)

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 some of these schools. To read more about the different schools of yoga, go to www.yogajournal.com/basics/165

Many instructors receive a certification to teach from a certain school, but find that over time, their teaching style begins to include a blend of several different traditions. As a yoga practitioner, It is important to keep in mind that while there are many styles of yoga, their is only one YOGA!

At Peconic River Yoga, our first priority is the safety and well-being of each student. Namaste!

Kripalu

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

-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.

"Health is Wealth. Peace of Mind is Happiness. Yoga Shows the Way.

Vinyasa

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.

Iyengar

From his home in Pune, India, B.K.S. Iyengar reigns as one of the most influential yogis of his time. At 80 years old, he continues to teach thousands of students from all over the world, encouraging them to penetrate deeper into the experience of each pose. This is the trademark of Iyengar Yoga?an intense focus on the subtleties of each posture.

In an Iyengar class, poses (especially standing postures) are typically held much longer than in other schools of yoga, so that practitioners can pay close attention to the precise muscular and skeletal alignment this system demands. Also specific to Iyengar, which is probably the most popular type of yoga practiced in the United States, is the use of props, including belts, chairs, blocks, and blankets, to help accommodate any special needs such as injuries or structural imbalances.

"In forward bends, for example, if someone's hamstrings aren't flexible, he or she can use a prop to help extend the spine. The wall is often used for support in a variety of poses," explains Janet MacLeod, who teaches at the Iyengar Yoga Institute in San Francisco. "Using props gives the student support, allowing them more freedom to breathe deeply into the pose." For more information, visit www.iyisf.org

Integral

In 1966, the Reverend Sri Swami Satchidananda introduced an entire generation of young people to his yogic philosophy: "an easeful body, a peaceful mind, and a useful life." His goal was to help people integrate yoga's teachings into their everyday work and relationships, which he hoped would promote greater peace and tolerance worldwide.

"Integral Yoga uses classical hatha postures, which are meant to be performed as a meditation, balancing physical effort and relaxation," says Swami Ramananda, president of the New York Integral Yoga Institute in Manhattan. In addition to a gentle asana practice, classes also incorporate guided relaxation, breathing practices, sound vibration (repetition of mantra or chant), and silent meditation. For more information, visit