Hatha Yoga: Hatha Yoga Styles

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Hatha Yoga: Hatha Yoga Styles

Hatha Yoga is the branch of Yoga that focuses on the physical well-being of a person and sees the body as the driver of the spirit. Each of these styles of yoga use Asanas or poses to balance the body, mind and spirit. However, some emphasise the alignment of the body while others concentrate on co-ordinating the movement and breath. Ten of the most common styles of Hatha Yoga are listed below: Ashtanga Yoga, Iyengar Yoga, Viniyoga, Bikram Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, Ananda Yoga, Anusara Yoga, Jivamukti Yoga, Sivananda Yoga and Svaroopa Yoga.

Ashtanga Yoga Ð Ashtanga was developed by K. Pattabhi Jois. It is a very physically demanding form of yoga often known as Ôpower yoga'. The system of Ashtanga is based on six series of increasing difficulty. It involves performing a challenging sequence of poses with Ujjayi Breathing and vinyasas which will produce intense internal heat and a purifying sweat that detoxifies muscles and organs.

Iyengar Yoga Ð Iyengar Yoga was named after B.K.S. Iyengar. This style of yoga focuses on detail and precise alignment of postures. Iyengar yogis use yoga props such as blocks and belts. The props are meant to help achieve the best possible pose and provide support to minimize the risk of injury. Iyengar poses are held longer and repeated several times.

Viniyoga - Vini yoga roots from Sri. T. Krishnamacharya's practices, teacher of well-known contemporary masters K. Pattabhi Jois and B.K.S. Iyengar. Yogis practice modified poses to meet their specific needs. This style of yoga promotes healing and flexibility.

Bikram Yoga Ð Bikram Choudhury founded this style of yoga. It is typically practiced in a room with a temperature of up to 100 degrees. Scientifically, this warms and stretches muscles, ligaments and tendons in the order in which they should be stretched. Therefore it is a very sweaty practice. Bikram is a series of 26 Asanas accompanied by Kapalabhati Breath, the Ôbreath of fire'.

Kundalini Yoga Ð In this style of yoga, the spine is regarded as a snake. It was brought to the West by Yogi Bhajan in the late 1960s. The practice concentrates on releasing the Kundalini energy which is found at the base of the spine. Kundalini Yoga includes a series of classic poses and chanting. The emphasis however, is not on the Asana but on the chanting. Spiritual transformation is the main aim of practice.

Ananda Yoga Ð Ananda Yoga is a gentle practice. Swami Kriyananda developed this classical style of Hatha yoga that uses Asana and Pranayama to engage energies of the chakras.

Anusara Yoga Ð Anusara is a combination of Hatha yoga and biochemical principles. It is a very modern style of yoga developed by John Friend. Practice is described as heart-oriented and spiritually inspiring and concentrates on outer and inner body alignment. Different students' abilities and limitations are deeply respected.

Jivamukti Yoga Ð Perhaps the latest form of Hatha yoga, Jivamukti was created by David Life and Sharon Gannon in 1984. Like Ashtanga yoga, practice is vigorously physical but more intellectually stimulating. There is a great deal of emphasis on the educational aspect of the practice and students are taught how the philosophies of yoga came about.

Sivananda Yoga Ð Sivananda was developed by Vishnu-devananda. Practice consists of Pranayama and classic Asanas - 12 basic poses. Diet and positive thinking are also heavily emphasised on in this style of yoga.

Svaroopa Yoga Ð Rama Berch founded Svaroopa Yoga. It introduces alternative ways of doing familiar poses with deep emphasis on the spine. It aims to open the spine by developing gentle movement from the tailbone right through to the top of the spine. It is another style of yoga which is not at all athletic and more involved in consciousness and healing properties.