Posts Tagged ‘Sivananda yoga’
Sivananda Yoga
Sivananda Yoga, which was named after the teaching of Swami Sivananda, is a form of hatha yoga. The training focuses on preserving the wellness and health of the practitioner.
People who teach this style of yoga must all be graduates of the training course in Sivananda Yoga. The students who take this Sivananda Yoga Teacher Training Course vary widely in age and their degrees of ability.
Unlike Ashtanga Vinyasa, which is yoga’s more athletic program, Sivananda training centers around frequent relaxation as well as emphasizing full, yogic breathing.
Method
The Sivananda training method tries to retain the body’s vitality, retard the decaying process and lessen the chance of getting a disease by naturally and simply cultivating the body.
The philosophies of Sivananda training are summarized in five basic principles:
- Proper breathing or Pranayama
- Exercise or Asanas
- Relaxation of Savasana
- Diet: A vegetarian diet is recommended. The yogic diet is limited to sattvic foods and you may not have any rajasic or tasmasic foods.
- Positive thinking and meditation or the practice of Vedanta and Dhyana
A training session typically begins with each practitioner resting in Savasana. Everyone begins with Anuloma Viloma and Kapalabhati and precedes with rounds of Surya namaskara.
This is all before starting with the standard program that takes into consideration the twelve basic asanas. The average session runs for about 90 minutes.
The traditional program is usually left up to the flexibility of the instructor. This allows for some
variation which is important so as not to allow sessions to become boring for the participants.
Which Type of Yoga is Best for You?
There are different forms of yoga. This type of exercise can leave you toned and supple or you may even be spiritually enlightened according to some teachers. Yoga is the latest thing.It has reshaped some of the greatest stars all the way from Madonna to Sting.
Some forms of yoga are more physical and some are highly spiritual. Yoga is extremely good for fatigue, depression, arthritis, aging, stress-related illness, migraine, PMS, back pain and mobility problems.
You must first decide why you wish to start yoga and then go about choosing the appropriate form for you. The principles of yoga are quite simple – relax, tune out everything and stretch and you will feel better.
If you are looking to get fit these types of yoga are for you:
Hatha yoga
This type of yoga is based on controlled stretching.
An emphasis is placed on developing a flexible spine.
This type of yoga is excellent for all levels of
fitness.
Vini yoga
This type of yoga is gentle and safe and is very good
for older people. It is taught by a teacher called a
Desikachar and is usually taught on an individual
basis.
If you really want to get physical then you should
choose these types of yoga:
Lyenger yoga
This type of yoga focuses on correct postures. It
often makes use of ropes and blocks to maintain these
postures.
Sivananda yoga
This type of yoga is suitable for every age and covers
a wide range of poses which range from simple to
complex.
Ashtanga yoga
This type of yoga is known
as power yoga. It is very demanding and is only
suitable for those people who are very fit.
For those of you who want to get spiritual, then you
would want to choose from these types of yoga:
Raja yoga
This is often referred to as royal yoga. It is
concerned with the mind.
Dru yoga
This is group yoga which concentrates very heavily on
breath work.
Jnana yoga
This concentrates on the philosophical aspects of
youga and is very spiritual and meditative.