The first mention of yoga is found in, and is used in the sense "curb, harness". Various scriptures speak of the manifestation of yoga at the same time as the creation of the material world.
According to legend, god Shiva discovered and learned the secrets of yoga in meditation and passed them on for development, as a means to comprehend the truth and get rid of illusions. In other scriptures this is done by Brahma, giving birth to Knowledge, Yoga, Renunciation and Tapas.
Hatha yoga- the direction of yoga, from ancient times, combining its first steps: ethical and moral aspects, Asanas, Pranayama, as well as cleansing techniques of Shatkarma. From Sanskrit verbatim "Ha"- this is the Sun, "tha"- moon. The solar aspect symbolizes strength and activity, the lunar aspect symbolizes flexibility and relaxation. In the literal sense, "hatha" is translated as the union of the sun and moon, strength and flexibility. In the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, the author of Swatmarama deciphers the term "hatha" as a combination of two bija mantras. "Tha" is prana, the force of life, and "ha" is the mind, mental energy. Hatha yoga represents the union of pranic and mental forces, when combined, the awakening of higher consciousness occurs.
The goal of hatha yoga is to create an absolute balance of interaction and processes of the physical body, mind and energy, which ensures the preparation of the practitioner for the higher levels of yoga. The classic texts on hatha yoga are the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Shiva Samhita, Gheranda Samhita and others.
Exists many styles of hatha yoga. In this article, we will tell about the directions of yoga, the most famous in the West.
Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga
The founder of the Ashtanga Vinyasa school is Sri Pattabhi Jois, a famous student of Sri Tirumalai Krishnamacharya. The term "ashtanga" means "eight foundations" and goes back to the eight basic principles of this type of yoga. Ashtanga vinyasa is a type of hatha yoga, which is a dynamic practice in which sequences of asanas pass one into another through vinyasas (sequences of movements accompanied by breathing), bandhas (energy locks), drishti (focus on different areas of the body). For all postures, a certain number of vinyasas are set - from five to eight. There are about seven levels of Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga, depending on the level of difficulty of the practice.
According to one of the opinions, the beginning of these practices was laid in the Himalayas and Tibet, where the cool climate made it possible to engage in actively dynamic practices, and there was no great burden on the heart, as it could happen in the hot Indian part. One of the most famous dynamic complexes is the Salutation to the Sun "Surya Namaskar". The complex combines 12 asanas with pranayama, and can also be performed with mantras and visualization concentrations at the same time.
Iyengar Yoga
One of the styles of hatha yoga, which was founded by Bellura Krishnamacharya Sundararaja Iyengar, a student of Sri Tirumalaya Krishnamacharya. Iyengar came to yoga at a young age due to very poor health, his personal practice was very strict and tough. Over time, he shifted the focus from the degree of strength and endurance training to the deep and static tuning of each position in yoga, so he systematized more than 200 asanas and created his own system, which is methodical and gradual. A characteristic feature of this direction is a detailed detailed construction of the body in asanas with various auxiliary materials - props in the form of bricks, belts, rollers, blankets, etc., a special place is also given to safety. Each asana is performed for a long time and the transition to the next asana is slow and smooth.
“The most important thing in yoga is not the breathing technique, the knowledge of asanas, or the flexibility of the joints. The most important thing is to lay out the rug and start exercising.” B.K.S. Iyengar.
Vini yoga
A style of yoga introduced by T. K. V. Desikachar, son and disciple of Sri Tirumalai Krishnamacharya. Vini yoga (viniyogah - “application”, “action”) is a soft and dynamic practice, which is more related to the field of yoga therapy. An individual and at the same time a comprehensive approach to classes, which are built depending on the age, cultural level, physical and mental capabilities of the practitioner, is characteristic of this type of yoga. In addition to the basic and compensatory yoga postures, attention is paid to breathing, Vedic chanting in combination with asanas, mudras, bandhas, meditations and the study of philosophy, yogic texts. The practice can begin both with the study of the sutras and with meditation. Vini yoga is taught individually from teacher to student, depending on the therapeutic goals.
Sivananda Yoga
This hatha yoga technique was developed by yoga practitioner Swami Sivananda. Sivananda Yoga is a classical Indian yoga based on five principles: correct exercises, correct breathing(pranayama), proper relaxation (shavasana), proper nutrition, right understanding (study of scriptures and meditation). The practice includes training the body, studying the scriptures, selfless work, service to the world, composure of the mind and no asceticism.
Classes begin with the Salutation to the Sun Surya Namaskar complex, after which static asanas are held, consisting of 12 basic asanas, which go in a certain order and their variations: Shirshasana, Sarvangasana, Halasana, Matsiasana, Pashchimottanasana, Bhujangasana, Shalabhasana, Dhanurasana, Ardha Matsyendrasana, Bakasana, Padahastasana, Trikonasana. In the process of development, complex options are supplemented. Yoga practice includes pranayama, meditation and mantra chanting. In this style of yoga, strict asceticism is not welcome. Swami Sivananda was a doctor and developed his system of exercises, taking into account their deep therapeutic effect, in practice the emphasis is on relaxation.
The founder of this school is the famous yogi Swami Satyananda Saraswati, a student of Swami Sivananda, who is the author of more than 80 books. In 1963, Satyananda Saraswati founded the Bihar School of Yoga in Munger, which combined an ashram and a modern research center. Interestingly, the Buddhist University of Nalanda, which was located in this area in the Middle Ages, was taken as a model. The center founded by Saraswati simultaneously houses an ashram and a modern research center, which accepts not only Indian, but also Western students. The practice of hatha yoga of the Bihar school of yoga is to perform a small number of asanas that have a therapeutic effect, pranayamas, mantras and cleansing techniques - Shatkarma, with an emphasis on awakening the Kundalini and preparing the body for Yoga Nidra.
kriya yoga
Kriya yoga (kriya in Sanskrit means "action" or "movement") originated in ancient times and gradually developed through practice and experience. The full form of Kriya Yoga contains more than seventy kriyas, of which about twenty are widely known. The method became known thanks to Guru Lahiri Mahasaya, he also received it from Mahavatar Babaji. Paramahamsa Yogananda made a great contribution to the development of kriya yoga. Kriya yoga classes include preparatory exercises hatha yoga, perfection in mudras and bandhas, stimulating the nerve nodes and endocrine glands, the development of conscious breathing, the ability to find mental paths (channels) and chakras, breathing meditation practices, light, sound. There are no limits to the practice of kriya yoga.
Founder - Dhirendra Brahmachari (1925-1994). Vyayama is translated as exercise, rotation, kneading; sukshma - subtle, that is, an exercise of subtle impact or affecting one or more close areas of the body.
The essence of vyayama is best characterized by the main name of the exercises - vikasaka (with emphasis on the second syllable). Vikasaka is the study of various parts of the body, the removal of so-called blocks and clamps, which affects both the physical and mental state. The name just indicates the area being worked out - parts of the body, chakras, marmas.
Vyayama can be practiced both by beginners with the aim of gradually developing a culture of movement, quality preparation for the practice of asanas and vinyasas, working out joints and ligaments, removing blocks and clamps, and by continuing and experienced yoga practitioners in order to improve coordination, develop balance, work out moments that are not involved in statics, increasing the vital capacity of the lungs, etc. For the same reasons, the practice of vyayam can be useful in the training of dancers, practitioners of martial systems. If necessary, vyayama can be a warm-up for the practice of asanas or another workout, or it can be an independent practice for 1.5-2 hours, completely working out the whole body.
Tri Yoga (TriYoga Kali Ray)
Trai yoga is called "meditation in motion." Soft practice, asanas flow one into another and are performed synchronously with breathing. The continuity of practice leaves no time for the mind to return to ordinary reflection. The Kali Ray system has many unique exercises that are not found in other yoga schools. More importance is given to mudras - specific hand gestures that direct the flow of energy.
Yoga for seniors
The peculiarity of the practice is that the simplest poses are chosen. The emphasis of the lesson is on general tonic and relaxing asanas. When explaining, complex descriptions and Sanskrit names are avoided, the simplest and most figurative vocabulary is used.
Yoga Nidra
yoga nidra translated from Sanskrit means "sleep yoga" or the art of conscious relaxation, the borderline state of mind between wakefulness and sleep. The unique technology of the Bihar school, developed by Swami Satyananda Saraswati. Yoga Nidra was considered a secret science, but since the 60s of the last century, thanks to lectures and the book of the same name, Saraswati has spread throughout the world. The practice is a special meditation in a motionless lying position with pranayana and visualizations, supported by sankalpa (intention, attitude), which allows you to get rid of unnecessary habits, complexes, anxieties and achieve certain aspirations. It is often referred to as psychic sleep, deep relaxation with inner awareness. One hour of yoga nidra is equal to four hours of normal sleep.
Kundalini yoga
A modern trend in yoga, which gained worldwide distribution in the 60s thanks to Yogi Bhajan. Previously, this technique was transmitted only from a teacher to a worthy student. During the years of the spread of Kundalini yoga in America, there was a boom in drug addiction, alcohol and other addictions, and the practice of yoga became a lifeline in the matter of returning to healthy lifestyle life. A person who has recently begun to practice effective Kundalini Yoga can experience an incredible effect of awakening energies in a short period of time and allow himself to replace some addictions with new experiences. Since the 90s of the last century, the style of Kundalini Yoga has been available in Russia. In the practice of Kundalini Yoga, classical hatha yoga asanas with dynamic elements are used, combined into special sequential kriyas (actions), often with intense breathing techniques, concentrations, mudras, bandhas (energy locks), mantras.
Yoga 23
The basis of the Yoga 23 direction was laid by Andrey Sidersky in 2003. Subsequently, the system developed and transformed taking into account the practical and theoretical developments of students and colleagues of the author's style. It incorporates the latest developments in the field of hatha yoga, martial arts, modern sports training systems, fitness, swimming and freediving. Asanas in yoga 23 are performed under a metronome with a given tempo and rhythm, most often standard for everyone, sometimes a pendulum is used to determine the necessary asanas for a group of practitioners. The practice is based on 23 matrices, which are basic sets of exercises that are the foundation for practicing this area of yoga. All exercises are divided into five levels from simple to complex. There are even specialized training programs, for example, for the training of freedivers, special forces and even for astronauts.
Universal Yoga
The direction founded by the Ukrainian yoga master Andriy Lappa. The universal yoga is based on a complex system that includes the experience and practices of Iyengar yoga, Tibetan Himalayan yoga, Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga in combination with the author's individual techniques. Yoga classes are a balanced practice that combines classical static and dynamic asanas and complexes (Surya Namaskar, Chandra Namaskar, Shiva's Dance), pranayama, mantra chanting, mudras, rasas (psychoenergetic techniques for controlling auditory and visual channels), drishti.
Universal yoga does not have rigid and unchanging schemes, restrictions that practitioners are required to adhere to. Each instructor can change and direct the practice as he sees fit, placing different methodological emphases in accordance with individual goals. The practice must remain free and conscious.
Ishvara yoga
The founder of the Ishvara style of yoga is Anatoly Zenchenko. "Ishvara" in Sanskrit means "Inner Teacher", "Spirit", a divine form that has no external manifestation. The practice of asanas is built from top to bottom - from the top of the head to the feet and from bottom to top - from the feet to the top of the head, controlling every part of the body. The emphasis in Ishvara yoga is on adjusting the symmetry of the body, and only after reaching a certain physical layer students move on to pranayama and meditation practices, special attention is paid to maintaining a state of relaxation even in difficult positions. A. Zenchenko says that this style of yoga allows the practitioner to listen to his spirituality and find the "Inner Teacher", thereby forming his own individual occupation.
yoga therapy
This is a system for restoring health and preventing human diseases. Asanas and pranayamas, as well as various types of meditations, a special diet, methods of cleansing the body - shatkarma, can act as tools.
Yoga therapy as a branch of science was actively developed in the twentieth century in India, and then throughout the world. Swami Sivananda, a physician by training, popularized yoga and yoga therapy. Yoga therapy is indicated for any problems with the body, from flat feet to intervertebral hernias. Asanas affect much deeper therapeutic gymnastics, as they are performed at the psychophysiological level, while physical exercises are purely external in nature. Therefore, yoga therapy is also used for diseases of the internal organs and can even help with the correction of the psycho-emotional state. Classes are held in a slow rhythm, with long static fixations and soft pranayamas.
Correct approach to the spine - CPR
This is a method of performing yoga asanas, aimed at maintaining and strengthening the health of the spine. The technological essence of the technique can be expressed in three terms: stretching, strengthening, relaxation. Spinal traction is performed using the muscles located around the spine. Strengthening is the effect of asanas on the segments of the spine, an increase in elasticity and flexibility in healthy directions of mobility of the vertebral joints, and strengthening of the paravertebral muscles. This improves the trophism of surrounding tissues, including ligaments, muscles, and intervertebral discs. Relaxation is based on the contemplation of the state of the spine during the practice of asanas and during the period of relaxation. Attention and awareness are key factors successful practice. In addition, the key exercises in the CPR technique are the coordination of asanas with breathing and the practice of kumbhakas: Sahita and Kevala.
sri sri yoga
The founder of the direction is Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Sri Sri yoga is a modern style of hatha yoga combined with jnana yoga (the path of knowledge), bhakti yoga (the path of service and devotion) and karma yoga (the path of selfless action). Classes complement other practices and do not contradict any beliefs. The technique combines asanas, meditations and rhythmic breathing techniques proposed by Sri Sri Shankar, called Sudarshan Kriya. The training is divided into basic and advanced courses. Regular practice gives steady flexibility, strengthens the body, calms the mind and develops awareness.
Swastha yoga
The soft style of hatha yoga created by A.G. Mohan, one of Sri T. Krishnamacharya's disciples. Based on yoga therapy and Ayurvedic practice. This style combines the detailed adjustment of asanas, static postures, and dynamic vinyasas (vinyasa-krama), bandhas (energy locks), and also pays special attention to compensatory postures.
Perinatal yoga
Yoga for women who are planning a pregnancy or are already expecting a baby. The practice is adapted to the period of childbirth from preparation for conception to the first months after childbirth. Francoise Friedman, a medical anthropologist at the University of Cambridge and a yoga therapist, was the first specialist to pay attention in the late 70s and early 80s to the importance of not only adapting yoga practice to motherhood, but also the need to consider this process in a complex manner. In her research, she used knowledge from medicine, obstetrics, psychology, Ayurveda, yoga and anthropological studies of the birth practices of the world. An invariable component of yoga for pregnant women is muscle work. pelvic floor which helps prepare the birth canal. The classes pay attention to the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of a pregnant woman. Soft dynamic exercises have the effect of improving the general condition of mother and child, lead to flexibility and mobility, relieve stress on the joints, and relieve edema. Simple relaxation techniques and special breathing practices, chanting of mantras are studied, allowing a woman to control her emotions, which will undoubtedly help to go through the process of childbirth more easily.
acro yoga
The modern style of yoga is considered to be the founders of Jason Nemerom and Jenny Saur-Klein, who founded their school in the USA at the beginning of the 21st century. Acro yoga is a pair practice that combines hatha yoga exercises, acrobatics and healing arts. In the classroom, one of the partners acts as a support, the other changes asanas right in the air.
Acro yoga can be done not only in pairs - it can be done alone or in threes. The main secret acro yoga is not about the strength of an athlete, but about the right balance. The creators call their original style of acro yoga the “school of air flights”. They developed two systems at once: therapeutic and sports-acrobatic. Within a few years of its inception, acro yoga has become a favorite activity for students in North and Latin America.
Bikram yoga
The direction of Bikram yoga is the author's technique of yogi Bikram Chowdhury. Main Feature This direction is that classes are held in heated rooms in a tropical climate, with a temperature of 37-40 degrees Celsius and a high humidity of 40%. The practice consists in performing a dynamic sequence consisting of 26 hatha yoga asanas and two breathing exercises. Fixing the position in one asana takes no more than a minute. The dynamic practice of Bikram Yoga and high temperature contribute to increased sweating and the removal of toxins and toxins from the body. However, this type of yoga has an impressive list of contraindications.
Sama yoga
Yoga itself or yoga of the Dervishes originates in ancient Eastern teachings, based on the knowledge of yogic, Taoist, Sufi and Dhen philosophical schools. Classes follow a certain structure and consist of meditations, stretches, coordination movements, dances, lasso (special movements, meaning "the process of transformation, transformation"), relaxation. The fundamental element of practice is attention to your gestures, movements, body position, to your breathing, thoughts. Sama Yoga can be practiced by people of all ages.
Yoga in hammocks (FLY yoga or FLY YOGA)
Yoga classes are held in special hammocks attached to the ceiling or horizontal bar. Yoga in hammocks additional features perform asanas easier, such as backbends, stretches, somersaults and inverted positions. Before practicing FLY yoga, you should consult a doctor, as there are serious contraindications, in which case the practice is carried out according to individual program agreed with the instructor.
Vinyasa Flow Yoga (Vinyasa Flow Yoga)
Vinyasa flow yoga is one of the branches of hatha yoga. Vinyasa is “the connection of breath and movement”, “respiratory-motor system of exercises”, flow (flow) translated from English as “flow”, “flow”.
Vinyasa flow practice involves a smooth transition from one posture to another with the help of vinyasas (dynamic connections between asanas) connected by breathing.
The difference from Ashtanga-vinyasa yoga is that there are no clearly fixed sequences in this direction, asanas can be performed in any order, while maintaining continuous movement and breathing during practice.
The sequence is built in "waves", combining tension and relaxation, even the spine moves in waves. The continuity of practice brings awareness of each movement, without distraction to the mental fuss. Regular practice makes the human body stronger and younger, develops concentration, awakens the ability to control internal energy (prana).
Yantra Yoga
"Yantra" is a Sanskrit word that can mean a "geometric shape" such as a mandala; but translated into Tibetan, "yantra" (Tib. Trulkor) means "movement of the body." Yantra Yoga is an ancient Tibetan yoga system that includes a series of physical movements performed in a certain strict rhythm and breathing, methods of concentration. The founder of Yantra Yoga is considered to be the mahasiddha Humkar, who passed on the knowledge of Guru Padmasambhava, who, in turn, to the Tibetan yogi Vairocana in the 8th century in Tibet.
There are numerous systems of Yantra related to the various Buddhist tantric teachings, but the only system currently in use in the West is Yantra Yoga, taught since the early 1970s by the Tibetan teacher Chögyal Namkhai Norbu. In Yantra Yoga, certain movements of the body, combined with breathing and rhythm, are called yantras, which are similar to the classical asanas of hatha yoga, but the way they are performed is significantly different. One of the main points is that the very movements of the body are such that they help control the breath. Complete system Yantra yoga of Vairocana consists of 108 elements - yantras and pranayamas. There are preliminary, main and final practices in it. As a result, the vital energy is harmonized and allows the mind to discover a calm state, which is usually called contemplation.
Rajahiraja Yoga
Rajahiraja yoga (translated from Sanskrit as “king of kings”, raja or king is the mind, and the soul or atman, individual consciousness is defined as the king of kings) arose about 2000 years ago, its creator is considered Maharishi Ashtavakra, the revivalist of the practice of modern yoga master Sri Sri Anandamurthy. Training in the tradition of rajahiraja yoga is carried out by monks (acarya-sannyasins), depending on the individual characteristics of those involved. Characteristic features are the performance of asanas in a certain mode of breathing, as well as the mental repetition of the ishta-mantra (an individual mantra received from the acharya), relaxation after each asana, combining concentrations on the higher chakras (usually anahata or agya chakra).
Victor Boyko Yoga School
The author's technique of Viktor Boyko was created in 2000. The main directions in the school are yoga therapy and techniques deep relaxation. Each practitioner practices according to an individual program, which is constantly being adjusted. Group classes are held no more than once a week, but it is recommended to practice at home daily. Asanas in Viktor Boyko's yoga school are rebuilt in detail in a calm, static rhythm. Great emphasis is placed on complete relaxation, "Yoga Nidra" is applied.
Yuddha yoga
Yuddha yoga (from the Sanskrit root "yuddh" - "foundation, foundation") - "combat yoga", an ancient Lao yoga system that came from the eastern combat system of Kung Fu. Yoga practices are 49 dynamic sets of hatha yoga exercises for the development and harmonization of all body systems, relieving stress and blocks and healing at the physical and mental level, special attention is paid to the spine and lower back, various principles of breathing (correct abdominal breathing) and meditations are applied, exercises to achieve superpowers, dream yoga, higher Kung Fu systems.
Yin yoga
Yin yoga has its roots in traditional Hatha yoga and Taoist practice. The peculiarities of the method are considered to be long-term passive holding of asanas during complete relaxation. During the exercise, muscles develop and strengthen, joints remain soft and flexible, and this allows you to relax the deep layers of connective tissue. Yin yoga is like a self-administered acupuncture session. In class, the sequences are also often aimed at developing certain energy channels (known in yoga as nadis, and in Chinese medicine as meridians), which helps to improve the functioning of internal organs and the immune system, as well as the emotional state.
Tripsichora yoga
A style of hatha yoga created by contemporary ballet master Edward Clarke. Tripsikhora yoga is named after the dance group of the same name, in which the founder of this yoga area practiced and led. In his practice, to train dancers, Edward used the methods of Ashtanga yoga. So formed the new kind yoga. Tripsychora yoga includes the principles of vinyasa (exercise sequences), elements of dance, and ujjayi breathing. Practices progress from simple to complex, however, a certain amount of stamina is required to complete the sequences.
Qi-Yo Multiversal yoga
A type of yoga that combined Qi Gong, Tai Chi and Balinese practices with traditional Vedic yoga. About the Qi-Yo Method: It is a form of theosophical yoga that transcends Eastern or Western spiritual practices. It is a technique of self-discovery that is neither Eastern nor Western, it is universal. Covers different forms of yoga: hatha, bhakti, jyana, karma, mantra, laya, yantra, raja yoga. The practice includes the Qi-Gong complex, pranayama, asanas, singing, visualization, meditation and more.
Solar Yoga Method (SunShineYoga)
“This type of yoga was created for residents of the metropolis who are deprived of the opportunity to fully receive the energy of the sun, which is why the “lunar” (passive or dark) side of the personality dominates, and, as a result, fatigue and depression appear.”
The technique includes a soft, but working through the whole body practice of asanas of different levels of complexity, dynamic vinyasas, pranayamas, visualizations, and work with energy flows, meditations. Much attention is paid to awareness in the flow and work with energy.
STI yoga
Ana Shane's author's technique. The style of yoga is based on cycles - "sets" of asanas aimed at working out individual muscle groups. STI yoga consists of 12 author's sequences aimed at point, injury-free work with the body: SETU BANDHA - backward bends; BALANCE - no comment; HANUMANA CYCLE - cross twine; SAMAKONA - longitudinal twine; SUPTA - lying yoga, inverted asanas; PADMA - lotus; WARRIOR - virasanas, virabhadrasanas, switching on the sensitivity of the feet; NS - lower racks, their detailed detuning; ARMUS - disclosure of the chest and shoulder; RAJAKA - lightness in backbends and flexibility in hip joints; PARIVRITA - the correct approach to twists; BUDDHA - foot behind the head.
Shadow yoga
The founder of the Shadow Yoga School is Sandor Remete. This is one of the approaches to the study of hatha yoga, which considers the limitations (blockages, habits) of the physical body as layers of frozen shadows. Through dynamic sequences of exercises in the proposed sequences (there are 4 in total), breathing techniques and bandhas, the body is freed from these restrictions, and the mind is freed from the layers of conditioned existence. Shadow Yoga is a synthesis of the essential techniques and exercises of traditional Hatha Yoga and the internal martial arts. It also uses the provisions of "marma-stana" (the science of 108 vital points of the body), the science of "nadis" (thin channels) and "vayu" (main winds).
Power Yoga (Power Yoga)
The founder of the style is Beryl Bender Burch. The foundation of the school is Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga. In 1995, Beryl offered her own view of yoga as a tool for improving the body, which is an effective system of physical exercises and does not pay much attention to the spiritual aspect of the practice. Power yoga is one of the young styles that combines dynamics and statics through vinyasas, relaxation, concentration, balances and breathing techniques, meditation, yoga nidra.
Unlike the Pattabhi Jois methodology, this direction offers a variability of sequences, shorter sets, a somewhat simplified detuning of asanas and the absence of a bunch of ujjayi-bandhi-drishti.
Yoga for weight loss (Slim-yoga)
The creator of the style is Ksenia Tishko. Yoga for weight loss or Slim yoga is a special practice of hatha yoga that combines diaphragmatic breathing with the use of bandhas. During the classes, kriyas and pranayamas, asanas and dynamic complexes, meditation, mantra Om.
Adequate yoga
A modern method compiled by Sergei Agapkin. Adequate yoga is referred to as yoga therapy, combining traditional yoga practices and the achievements of modern medicine and science. The knowledge and experience of traditional yoga schools are used in practice. This style is based on the detail of asanas in the tradition of B.K.S. Iyengar, supplemented by the principles of building swastha yoga complexes by A.G. Mohana, a wide arsenal of dynamic practices of the D. Brahmachari tradition and relaxation practices. Classes are built sequentially, including yoga therapy, sukshma-vyayama, pranayama, meditation, yoga nidra.
Apnea yoga
The creator of the method is Alexander Dudov. The APNEA YOGA system (apnea from the Greek “no wind”, “no breath”) is a modern training system, which combines ancient yoga techniques, qigong, various sports and fitness training, as well as methods for training freedivers - deep divers while holding their breath. It is the systemic breath holding and attention control when performing asanas that are characteristic of this modern style of yoga.
Kaula yoga
Method of Ilya Dunaevsky. Kaula yoga is a modern type of yoga developed on the basis of Eastern schools of yoga and modern developments of Western science. Classes are divided into levels, they combine soft dynamic practices of asanas and vinyasas, long static holdings of energy locks, full yogic breathing, yantra, mantra and gong meditation practices, free shamanic dances.
aishwara yoga
Aishwara yoga (translated from Sanskrit "divine yoga") is a discipline transmitted by Sri Tathata. Group complex practice, consisting of asanas, pranayamas, meditation, chanting mantras and bhajans. Aishvara yoga is the path of Raja yoga, which has chosen as its tool for knowing oneself control and mental discipline from hatha yoga - concentration and introspection.
Free yoga (Yoga Freedom)
The author's method of Lyudmila Krivtsova. Free yoga is an integrated approach and method of working with the body and spirit, combining different practices of single, couple yoga, wave gymnastics, as well as including elements of dance, contact improvisation, kundalini yoga and others. Exercises are aimed at developing sensitivity and flexibility, allowing you to easily and quickly relieve tension in the body.
open yoga
The style of the Open Yoga School is based on a unique approach - to help people find their own way to correct execution exercises and practices. In the school of Open Yoga, it is believed that there can be only one criterion for the "correct" performance - this is an internal feeling of harmony and an experience of joy during practice. The practice of open yoga consists of: kriya yoga, hatha yoga and others different kinds yoga, pranayama, mantras, nyasa yoga, raja yoga, visualization yoga, meditation. During the performance, the instructor helps to find a position that allows you to relax as much as possible and experience the joy of yoga practice. This is the position that gives the most pleasure. Ascetics are not allowed.
Namaste, friends! We all have preferences in yoga, some like static asanas, others like to move dynamically in the flow, but which is more effective? Which practice will lead to the health of the static or dynamic?
“Muscles are developed by the brain, which can do as much and even more than dumbbells” - Eugene Sandov.
Have you heard about static in yoga? This is when you hold the asana, as much as your strength is enough!
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
It turns out that statics was used at the beginning of our era by Shaolin monks to develop the strength of warriors. Now, static exercises used in the training of weightlifters, rowers, athletes, yogis :)))
But what is a side effect for a weightlifter athlete, then for a yoga bonanza - flexibility, strength, endurance, handstand🏃🏼♀️
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
And here are the advantages of strength static training:
- unlike dynamic practice, isometric does not increase body weight, while speed and endurance remain;
- less tiring, does not require a long rest to restore the body;
- improves elasticity and plasticity, develops tendons after injuries;
- lose weight (burn fat)
- a low pulse with static makes it possible to exercise for people with moderately high blood pressure.
So, a static training regimen develops strength, flexibility, and stretching, but almost no increase in fluidity and dynamic endurance.
In sports, the slogan was once popular: “Running from a heart attack” and he has every right to life. During dynamic training, the heart gets used to supplying blood (oxygen) to tissues at an increased rate. This is how it trains. Dynamic loads include not only yoga, but also running, swimming, walking, push-ups, squats.
Please enter an Access Token on the Instagram Feed plugin Settings page.
pros dynamic exercises:
- beneficial effect on the respiratory and cardiovascular system;
- improve metabolism;
- build up muscle mass(who wanted elastic ass, that way);
- improve joint function (yes-yes articular gymnastics dynamic);
- gets rid of excess weight(running, swimming);
- muscle tension alternates with relaxation.
I will tell you, friends, in order for the practice to be effective, to develop your strength and endurance, without side effects, it is better that the practice consists of 30% of statics, and 70% of dynamics! But since there is always a warm-up in yoga, the main part and, then you can do a dynamic warm-up, static asanas, and finish with a wonderful flight to Shavasana☺️
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Consider your practice with all the pros and cons of statics and dynamics. And always consider contraindications! They are in every asana, and almost every practice🙏🏻
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Friends, give feedback if the post was useful
Since, on the one hand, it includes full-fledged work on the whole body, and on the other hand, it does not require deepening into the religious aspect. Hatha yoga classes primarily change the inner world of a person: a deeper sense of the body allows you to better control thoughts.
Salutation to the Sun (Surya Namaskara)
Hatha yoga may include elements of various directions - depending on the teacher. A good sequence of asanas to start with is the classic Sun Salutation. ».
This complex perfectly prepares the body for other asanas, so classes often begin with it. But if you are limited in time, you can perform it separately, for example, in the morning as a charge. Of course, 15 minutes is not enough for a full-fledged practice, even for beginners. But something is better than nothing.
Complexes for beginners usually include asanas that affect the whole body. They are held in each position for a short time (less than a minute). Over time, if you feel the need for a deeper practice, it will make sense to increase the retention in individual asanas. But this already applies to a greater extent to static.
A few video tutorials to practice at home
15 minutes for energy
Basic complex for beginners, including warm-up, Sun Salutation, stretching
Relaxing complex for a healthy spine
Hourly, but not complex complex
- Do not neglect the warm-up: warming up the body contributes to a safe and at the same time deeper practice.
- Avoid sudden movements. The only thing that requires tension in yoga is the control of attention.
- Don't let yourself get hurt!
- Do even the most consciously, avoiding automatism.
- Breathe deeply and calmly: with inhalation, stretch the spine, with exhalation, relax and deepen the asana.
- Pay special attention to the back: it should not break in an attempt, for example, to reach the feet. If stretching does not allow, do not immediately strive to reach the ideal position: regular practice will help deepen the asana over time.
Of course, there are contraindications for hatha yoga. The only way to not hurt yourself is to listen carefully to your own feelings. In any case, yoga does not aim to twist everyone with the letter "Zu". Do not look at others, concentrate on your feelings and enjoy the practice.
Some firmly believe in the miracles of static asanas, others can not wait to recharge with divine energy, others learn Sanskrit after classes in order to find revelation in ancient texts. And although there are far fewer yoga centers in Moscow than in New York or London, the problem of choice is already becoming relevant. So, where to go - to ashtanga vinyasa or to the Shadow School, it's up to you.
Hatha Yoga Sri B.K.S. iyengar
In Sanskrit, "hatha" means power, fury, necessity or effort. At the same time, the syllable "ha" symbolizes the sun, and the syllable "tha" - the moon, and the main task of hatha yoga is to establish a balance in the body between the sun and the moon, activity and relaxation. First of all, hatha yoga is designed to restore physical health human: restore joint mobility, stop the curvature of the spine, normalize blood pressure and digestion, strengthen the immune system and hormonal levels. And the health of the mind and spirit should be a direct consequence of physical health.
Iyengar himself at a young age suffered from numerous diseases: malaria, typhoid fever, tuberculosis. Doctors doubted that he would last longer than 20 years, and at sixteen the young man began to practice yoga with his sister's husband, Sri Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, one of the best craftsmen yoga in India, who brought up a whole generation of teachers.
The Iyengar style is static: each asana is held for several minutes. Unlike dynamic types of yoga - ashtanga vinyasa, kundalini - here the body is literally built anew, paying great attention to the smallest nuances: stretching, muscle tension, turns and twists. Moreover, for each person, standard poses may vary slightly depending on what exactly he needs. For correct construction poses used wooden bricks, ropes, blankets and horizontal bars.
Sivananda Yoga
Swami Sivananda (1887-1963) is one of the most famous and beloved Indian yoga teachers. A doctor by training, at the age of 37 he came to Rishikesh. It was there that he decided to become a hermit. Meditating 12 hours a day and doing yoga with his teacher, Swami Sivananda continued his medical practice. In 1932, he founded an ashram in Rishikesh, which marked the beginning of his yoga school. For his time, Sivananda was almost a revolutionary: he invited the untouchables to the house and the ashram, defended the right of women to learn yoga. After Swami passed away in 1963, many of his students went to teach yoga in Europe and America.
The system of yoga created by Sivananda is a static practice. Its main difference from Iyengar yoga is that, first of all, students are taught not asanas and pranayama, but deep relaxation. It is believed that only if you are completely relaxed, asanas will be beneficial and really serve to transform not only the body, but also the spirit. Depending on the individual characteristics, mental warehouse and physical form student instructor selects the practice of relaxation. For example, to begin with, you will be taught to completely relax your face, and only then - the Cobra or Plow pose.
The five basic principles of Sivananda Yoga are: proper exercise (asanas), breathing (pranayama), relaxation (shavasana), diet (vegetarian), and meditation (studying and contemplating the scriptures of the Vedas).
Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga
Another student of Krishnamacharya, Patabhi Jois, unlike Iyengar, retained the dynamic style of his teacher, laying the foundation for ashtanga vinyasa yoga, one of the most powerful and fast-acting systems of hatha yoga. In ashtanga vinyasa, all asanas are assembled using vinyas - dynamic ligaments. You will have to learn not only vinyasas, but also a special pranayama practice - it is called Ujjayi, or Victorious Breath. Synchronous with movements, breathing helps to warm up the body from the inside and accumulate a large amount of energy.
Sweating profusely during the session, you are cleansed of toxins and toxins, and thanks to vinyasas, active blood circulation is ensured. In addition, great attention is paid to the performance of special energy locks, or bandhas, which distribute energy throughout the body, as well as the direction of gaze, or drishti. Each vinyasa corresponds to a certain drishti - on the tip of the nose, on the third eye, on the palm, on the big toes, up, to the right, to the left, to the navel. This allows the practitioner to calm the mind and achieve inner concentration. In total, there are six levels in the Ashtanga system, ascending in order of difficulty.
Kundalini Yoga
Kundalini yoga is the yoga of energy channels. According to Hindu beliefs, kundalini is the original spiritual energy of creation that created the cosmos. It is present in the human body in an unawakened, dormant form at the base of the spine (muladhara chakra). In order to fulfill the main goal of yoga - to merge with the divine consciousness, the yogi must awaken the kundalini and raise it up the central energy channel along the spine to the seventh chakra. The system of kundalini yoga was developed and spread among the Sikhs - the warriors of medieval India from the state of Punjab. In the 1970s, Guru Siri Singh Sahib (Yogi Bhajan) became the first teacher to introduce Kundalini Yoga. North America and Europe.
“Some teach yoga as if it is only a set of exercises and nothing more, but such people have no right to call themselves yogis. If the flexibility of the body and the ability to assume different postures made a person a yogi, the best yogis there would be circus clowns,” says Yogi Bhajan and assures that the practice of kundalini yoga allows a person to achieve the same results in 2-3 years, which take 20-25 years to achieve with hatha yoga methods.
Kundalini yoga involves various meditation techniques (or exercises). In most cases, meditation lasts 3 minutes, 11 minutes, 22 minutes, 31 minutes, 62 minutes or 2.5 hours. Usually the eyes are closed and the gaze is focused at the point between the eyebrows (this stimulates the pituitary gland and intuition) or at the tip of the nose, which helps to control the mind. Practically in all meditative practices, mudras are used. Sometimes special types of breathing are used. Many techniques are performed to special music or are accompanied by the chanting of mantras. If there are no special instructions, then they meditate sitting, with a straight spine.
Kundalini yoga is based on kriyas - special sets of dynamic exercises combined with breathing and meditation. However, even if you do not set yourself the goal of gaining enlightenment, kundalini yoga helps restore peace of mind. The most famous American teacher of kundalini yoga is called Gurmukh, she taught "to unlock the potential and relax the mind" half of Hollywood. And Cindy Crawford recently admitted that she is now indebted to Gurmukh for Kundalini yoga and all the happy changes in her life.
Tri Yoga
In 1980, the American Kali Ray, during meditation, began to experience a state called kriyavati - under the influence of the awakened kundalini, she began to spontaneously perform asanas, breathing exercises and mudras - ritual gestures that serve to concentrate energy. From this, tri yoga was born - a very meditative, fluid practice in which static postures are replaced by dynamic kriyas. The links are like dance moves and the practice is a single soft flow. Followers of tri yoga believe that this is the original yoga, representing the cosmic power of creation, and the word "trai" in the title means the triple basic principle underlying the universe, and the three energies that are an integral part of each of us: Sat (Existence ), Chit (Knowledge) and Ananda (Bliss). And the task of tri yoga is unity, harmony and balance of the body, mind and spirit.
Shadow School Yoga
The name "Shadow Yoga" is taken from the sixth chapter of the ancient tantric treatise "Shiva Swarodaya". In this chapter, which is called "The Yoga of the Shadow Man", the various manifestations of the shadow and their meaning both inside and outside the human body are considered. According to the anatomy of hatha yoga, human body consists of three separate bodies and five shells or shadows, and the dissolution of these shadows in the process of practice is the main task of the yogi.
The teaching is based on the ancient texts of Hatha Yoga, which state that all fixed forms must be built in such a way as to develop the practice. free style- this guarantees a long life and is a necessary step in achieving enlightenment. The main postures that must be included in the practice are: standing, sitting, lying down (face down, up, sideways), side, inverted, curved, twisted, squats, balances, forward bends, backbends and spirals.
Fitness Yoga
It is not actually a school and has a very indirect relation to ancient Indian teachings. Actually, this is what remains of yoga, if you remove philosophy, ideas about the energy structure of a person, mantras, pranayama and mudras. This direction is closest to ashtanga vinyasa, from which fitness yoga inherited only a sequence of dynamic ligaments. In fairness, it should be noted that not all teachers comply with it. Often, instructors include elements of classical choreography and stretching exercises in classes. This is yoga for those who want to correct their posture, improve proportions and lose weight, but definitely prefer meditation treadmill, and pranayama - a glass of freshly squeezed juice. And if mystical associations frighten you or you simply have no time to go into details and read primary sources, do not rush to give up the thought of yoga. Fitness variation is still better than nothing.
Bikram Yoga
The hottest (in every sense) hobby of Hollywood stars and Manhattan workaholics is yoga in rooms with an air temperature of 40-43 degrees Celsius. Its creator, Bikram Chowdhury, was born in 1946 in Calcutta and already at the age of four began taking yoga lessons from one of the most famous Indian teachers - Bishnu Ghosh, the younger brother of Paramahansa Yoganada, who wrote Autobiography of a Yogi. At 13, he won the All India Yoga Championship and held that title until the age of 17, when a knee injury left him in a hospital bed. The doctors were sure that Bikram would never be able to walk on his own, but he returned to his teacher and six months later was healthy. It was then that Ghosh blessed his student to open yoga centers in India, Japan and later around the world.
Having moved to America, Bikram developed and began to implement his own revolutionary method"hot yoga", claiming that the Indian rishis lived in a very hot climate and in fact all asanas are designed for a warm body, and practicing at a temperature of 20 degrees is complete nonsense. In 1973, he opened a studio in Beverly Hills, and since then, almost all the star residents of Los Angeles have worked there, from Madonna and Michael Jackson to Irvine Welsh and Salma Hayek. The Bikram yoga complex consists of two breathing exercises and 26 simple hatha yoga asanas, which are performed at a very fast pace (from 10 to 60 seconds for each pose).
Fans claim that Bikram Yoga cleanses the body of toxins and toxins, brings relief from back pain, migraines, asthma, diabetes, problems with the liver and spleen, and also helps to quickly recover from injuries. Doctors worry that a large load in the heat can be dangerous for the heart, and high temperatures are bad for male fertility. And Chowdhury, meanwhile, is going to patent his own asana - the first time in history when a spiritual teaching becomes a market brand.
Jivamukti Yoga
"Jiva" in Sanskrit means the individual soul, "mukti" - liberation. “We are committed to teaching yoga as a spiritual practice and remind students that they are on an arduous mystical journey towards enlightenment. And we have created a method that allows you to stay on track, ”says the creator of this system, David Life. Among those whom he and his wife Sharon Gannon set on the right path are Sting and Trudy Tyler, Christy Turlington and Russell Simpson. David (an artist and musician) and Sharon (a dancer and singer) discovered yoga in the late 1970s, studied in India with Swami Sivananda and Swami Nirmalananda, and were in fact the first to try to bring back the spiritual aspect of yoga teaching in the West - singing religious hymns and mantras, meditation and lectures on philosophy. In their classrooms, instead of white walls and rugs, students found an altar on which Shiva, St. Teresa of Avila and Glinda the fairy from The Wizard of Oz.
If you go to one of the Jivamuktiyoga centers in New York, London or Toronto, in addition to the intensive performance of classical yoga asanas in the Ashtanga Vinyasa style, you will find discussion of ancient Sanskrit texts and singing of prayers, training in pranayama and kriya yoga (purification practice). In addition, you will be shamed for eating meat and strongly recommended to become a vegetarian. And they will put the Beatles and Billy Laswell's Indian jazz on the soundtrack. David and Sharon are hilarious anarchists who say there are no rules except one: "You can contact God directly, on your own." And their jivamukti yoga is a proven way to do it in the midst of a cosmopolitan metropolis, not in the quiet of a Himalayan cave.
Power Yoga
This style was introduced in 1995 by Beryl Bender Birch. As befits a person with the surname Bender, she actually committed a small forgery, taking the sequence of the first two levels of Ashtanga Vinyasa as a basis and giving them a new name - simple and accessible to every American. In addition to exercises that strengthen muscles and increase flexibility, power yoga pays great attention to breathing and emphasizes concentration and mobilization of emotional resources. Actually, one of the main tasks of this method is to make a person not so much more enlightened as stronger, more resilient and energetic.
In addition to Birch, three other trendy power yoga teachers in the States are Brian Kest, Baron Baptist, and Mark Blanchard. The latter is a favorite of celebrities, in particular Jennifer Lopez and her namesake Aniston.
Vini Yoga
One of the most popular destinations created by the outstanding Indian teacher T.K.V. Desikachar and his American student Gary Kravtsov. The main postulate of Vini Yoga is that the practice must be strictly personalized, that is, the teacher must create a unique program for each of his students. Actually, it is reminiscent of a kind of "yoga to order." In addition to asanas, the obligatory program of vini yoga includes pranayama, bandhas, chanting of mantras and religious hymns, meditation, the study of rituals and yogic texts. At the same time, the main difference between Vini Yoga and Ashtanga Vinyasa is that in the second there are rigid sequences of asanas, and in the first sequence they are formed spontaneously, depending on the mood and specific needs of the practitioner. Excellent therapeutic technique - to get rid of diseases, bad thoughts and apathy.
Static practices are performed either with little or no movement at all; often the body remains in one position for several minutes or more. These asanas gently massage the muscles, internal organs and glands, as well as relaxing nerve tissues throughout the body. They calm the mind and prepare the practitioner for the higher stages of yoga, such as meditation. Some of them are especially effective in drawing the mind away from the objects of the senses. Others prepare the body for meditation techniques by developing stability and stillness in it. During the practice of these asanas, breathing usually slows down, and the practitioner focuses his attention on a certain part of the body (depending on the asana being performed). Most yoga asanas belong to this class, including shirshasana, sarvangasana, pashchi-mottanasana, and others.
Comments are prohibited.
PLEASE TELL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT US!
AYURVEDA FROM INDIA FOR HEALTH AND BEAUTY AT MINIMUM PRICES! LARGE RANGE IN STOCK AND ON ORDER
All site materials are protected by copyright and related rights. When using and reprinting an active link to the source of Ayurveda is required!
