Another style of yoga is Vinyasa. Vinyasa yoga is slightly more vigorous than Hatha yoga, but is less intense than Ashtanga yoga; a happy medium between the two.
Vinyasa yoga has similarities with Ashtanga yoga, in that both link breath with the movement through the poses. The main difference between the two is not only the pace, but the poses. In Ashtanga yoga, the sequence of poses is called a series and the series do not change. In Vinyasa, the poses are called sequences, rather than series, and the sequences often change, depending on your instructor and their mood.
Vinyasa yoga sessions are much more focused on bringing the breath and movement into perfect synchronization. This means that while beginning yogis are welcome, you should have at least a clear understanding of the basic poses involved in yoga.
A Vinyasa session usually starts with several sun-salutations to get the body warmed up and limber. This is followed by more intense poses and stretching. Now don’t be fooled here, this doesn’t mean you’re getting off light. You then begin to move through the poses a more intense pace than Hatha yoga.
Vinyasa yoga is an excellent choice for those wanting a little more out of their practice while still maintaining the variety of Hatha yoga.
Showing posts with label yoga. Show all posts
Showing posts with label yoga. Show all posts
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Styles of Yoga Series
Styles of Yoga Series- Part One: Hatha Yoga
Yoga is fast becoming a mainstay in maintaining good physical health and it is hard not to be persuaded to try it. But with so many styles and variations out there, how does one choose the right style? In this series, we’ll explore first the traditional styles of yoga and then the more contemporary variations that have come about in the last century.
Lets start with the most traditional style: hatha yoga or flow yoga. Hatha yoga is a general practice that focuses on slow, gentle movements linking breath with movement of the body. Most beginning yoga classes are hatha yoga. Unless a class is specified, such as vinyasa yoga, it is generally safe to assume that you are taking a hatha yoga class.
Hatha yoga is often very slow paced and each pose is held for several seconds, often a minute at a time. Breathing, meditation, and proper stretching and alignment are also emphasized in hatha yoga. This practice is ideal for any skill level, those wanting to reduce stress levels in the body and mind, and those with arthritis, chronic pain or injury.
Hatha yoga is a great place to learn each basic pose, like child’s pose or downward-facing dog. Hatha yoga also teaches proper breathing technique and meditation. Most people can learn these poses easily and even become comfortable enough to practice yoga at home.
So if you are a newcomer to yoga, or an old friend looking to rekindle a bond, hatha yoga is a great place to start.
Yoga is fast becoming a mainstay in maintaining good physical health and it is hard not to be persuaded to try it. But with so many styles and variations out there, how does one choose the right style? In this series, we’ll explore first the traditional styles of yoga and then the more contemporary variations that have come about in the last century.
Lets start with the most traditional style: hatha yoga or flow yoga. Hatha yoga is a general practice that focuses on slow, gentle movements linking breath with movement of the body. Most beginning yoga classes are hatha yoga. Unless a class is specified, such as vinyasa yoga, it is generally safe to assume that you are taking a hatha yoga class.
Hatha yoga is often very slow paced and each pose is held for several seconds, often a minute at a time. Breathing, meditation, and proper stretching and alignment are also emphasized in hatha yoga. This practice is ideal for any skill level, those wanting to reduce stress levels in the body and mind, and those with arthritis, chronic pain or injury.
Hatha yoga is a great place to learn each basic pose, like child’s pose or downward-facing dog. Hatha yoga also teaches proper breathing technique and meditation. Most people can learn these poses easily and even become comfortable enough to practice yoga at home.
So if you are a newcomer to yoga, or an old friend looking to rekindle a bond, hatha yoga is a great place to start.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
The Health Benefits of Yoga
The Health Benefits of Yoga: Why Everyone Should Do It
Yoga is an increasingly popular practice, now offered in most gyms and workout studios across the U.S. But why are so many people drawn to it? What is the big deal?
The big deal is the amount of health benefits from practicing yoga. Flexibility is often what comes to mind when one thinks of yoga; but there are more benefits to yoga than just becoming flexible.
The first thing that yoga teaches is breathing and meditation. Meditation has long been used to fight stress and depression, as well as heighten your awareness of your mind and body in harmony. Meditation is essentially a concentration on what is going on at present. Meditation slows the breathing and heart rate, and increases the alpha, theta, and delta brain waves, which are the physiological opposites of a stress response.
Yoga also has great physical benefits, first and foremost being flexibility. You can reach around to scratch the middle of your back without feeling like you have to dislocate your shoulder to do it. You can bend down to smell the flowers and not worry about being able to stand back up. Flexibility also means your joints are healthier, which can help prevent injury and treat mild forms of arthritis and fibromyalgia.
Another physical benefit of yoga is the ability to achieve strength in your entire body, starting with your core. A strong core also carries with it a stronger lower back. Many people have some form of a lower back injury or weakness and keeping your core strong is essential in maintaining a healthy back.
Balance is crucial in life. Standing yoga poses encourage your body and mind to learn how to achieve and maintain balance. There are also arm balancing poses that increase the strength in your arms and shoulders.
Yoga teaches you how to maintain strength and agility and balance in your body and your mind. Yoga can be as relaxing or as intense as you want it to be. Yoga can be tailored to you and your body and your needs. Go ahead, give it a try.
Yoga is an increasingly popular practice, now offered in most gyms and workout studios across the U.S. But why are so many people drawn to it? What is the big deal?
The big deal is the amount of health benefits from practicing yoga. Flexibility is often what comes to mind when one thinks of yoga; but there are more benefits to yoga than just becoming flexible.
The first thing that yoga teaches is breathing and meditation. Meditation has long been used to fight stress and depression, as well as heighten your awareness of your mind and body in harmony. Meditation is essentially a concentration on what is going on at present. Meditation slows the breathing and heart rate, and increases the alpha, theta, and delta brain waves, which are the physiological opposites of a stress response.
Yoga also has great physical benefits, first and foremost being flexibility. You can reach around to scratch the middle of your back without feeling like you have to dislocate your shoulder to do it. You can bend down to smell the flowers and not worry about being able to stand back up. Flexibility also means your joints are healthier, which can help prevent injury and treat mild forms of arthritis and fibromyalgia.
Another physical benefit of yoga is the ability to achieve strength in your entire body, starting with your core. A strong core also carries with it a stronger lower back. Many people have some form of a lower back injury or weakness and keeping your core strong is essential in maintaining a healthy back.
Balance is crucial in life. Standing yoga poses encourage your body and mind to learn how to achieve and maintain balance. There are also arm balancing poses that increase the strength in your arms and shoulders.
Yoga teaches you how to maintain strength and agility and balance in your body and your mind. Yoga can be as relaxing or as intense as you want it to be. Yoga can be tailored to you and your body and your needs. Go ahead, give it a try.
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