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Spotlight on Anusara Yoga

Anusara is now one of the fastest-growing styles of yoga around, with some 1,000 teachers worldwide and about 200,000 students—some of ... (continued)

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Not All Yoga Is Created Equal

You say Ashtanga, I say Kundalini. What's the difference? Use this guide to find the right yoga for you.

By Jennifer Cook

As studies continue to reveal yoga's many health benefits, this centuries-old Eastern philosophy is fast becoming the new fitness soul mate for workout enthusiasts. Contemporary devotees range from high-powered execs trying to keep hearts beating on a healthy note to image-conscious Hollywood stars striving for sleek physiques. Even prominent athletes are adding yoga to their training regime to develop balanced, injury-free muscles and spines.

Yet to applaud yoga for its physical benefits alone would only diminish what this entire system has to offer as a whole. By practicing yoga on a regular basis, you may be surprised to find that you're building much more than a strong, flexible body.

"Americans are usually drawn to yoga as a way to keep fit at first, but the idea behind the physical practice of yoga is to encourage a deeper mind-body awareness," explains New York yoga teacher and author Beryl Bender Birch. "Healing and balancing the physical body helps bring clarity and focus to the mind as well."

Initially, the sole purpose of practicing yoga was to experience spiritual enlightenment. In Sanskrit (the ancient language of India), yoga translates as "yoke" or "union," describing the integration of mind and body to create a greater connection with one's own pure, essential nature.

Classes that have gained popularity in the United States usually teach one of the many types of hatha yoga, a physical discipline which focuses mainly on asanas (postures) and breathwork in order to prepare the body for spiritual pursuits.

To get started on your individual yoga quest, it's helpful to begin with a list that clearly prioritizes what needs you want to fulfill: Are you looking to sweat your way into a lean form, or does a gentler, more meditative approach sound more appealing?

"Not all practices fit into nice little cubby holes," warns Bender Birch. "There's a great deal of crossover among the various yoga schools, and there's even a diversity in teaching approaches within each discipline."

Try attending a few different types of classes, and you'll quickly discover the right match to suit your needs. Below you'll find brief descriptions of some of the hatha yoga disciplines that are being practiced in the United States.

Vigorous Vinyasas

Vinyasa-style yoga combines a series of flowing postures with rhythmic breathing for an intense body-mind workout. Here are a few different types:

Ashtanga. The practice of Ashtanga that's getting mainstream attention today is a fast-paced series of sequential postures practiced by yoga master K. Pattabhi Jois, who lives in Mysore, India. Today, yogis continue to spread Jois's teachings worldwide, making it one of the most popular schools of yoga around.

The system is based on six series of asanas which increase in difficulty, allowing students to work at their own pace. In class, you'll be led nonstop through one or more of the series. There's no time for adjustments?you'll be encouraged to breathe as you move from pose to pose. Be prepared to sweat. For more information, visit Ashtanga teacher Richard Freeman's Web site (www.yogaworkshop.com).

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Reader Comments

Mark LaPorta Roseland FL

Problem with such a list is that it loses comprehensive significance and begins to sound like marketing chatter.
A new reader might perhaps have been better served by giving an explanation of the elements of yoga and then "what questions to ask".

Chandresh Binduprasad

Namaste,

K. Pattabhi Jois should never had called his form of yoga ashtanga (in sanscrit this means 8). This system was put forth by the great Sage Patanjali a few hundred years B.C. All yoga is based on this system since Patanjali was the the father of yoga. By Mr. Jois calling his system Ashtanga Yoga has a does a diservice to all yoga students around the world.

Beginning yoga students would be better served in learning the fundamentals of yoga as put forth by the Sage Patanaji.

Furthermore, how does Mr. Jois have the audacity to call his yoga system Ashtanga? Did he not know that All yoga originates from this system and all yoga is in fact Ashtanga or 8 Limbed.

Mr. Jois has done a disservice and confused the entire system which Sage Patanjali has put together so beautifully.

In Kali Yuga, (the present age) many persons take credit for things that do not belong to them for name, fame and money.

Authentic Ashtanga Yoga was given to the Sage Patanjali by Divine means and for another teacher to use this name only confuses students of yoga.

This system was given by the Divine to the Sage Patanjali and does not belong to Mr. Jois.

Chandresh Binduprasad

By Mr. Jois using the name Ashtanga for his system of yoga only serves to confuse beginner students of yoga.

All yoga is based on Sage Patanjali's Ashtanga (8 Limbed System) This name never should have been used by Mr. Jois.

In the age of Kali, various persons take credit for things that do not belong to them.

This system was given to the sage Patanjali by Divine Means and does not belong to Mr. Jois. It was given by the Divine Beings to the Sage Patanjali.

Mr. Jois has done a disservice to the students of yoga for taking credit for Ashtanga Yoga when it fact it is Patanjali's System.

This is disgraceful!

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