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.
Vini Yoga
Today in the fitness industry one of the swiftest growing movements is the great art and practice of yoga.
In case you have been out of touch with what has been happening for the past couple of years, yoga is sweeping through aerobics studios and health clubs all across the World and it’s finding acceptance as a fitness activity as well as a means to balance the energy of the body and reduce stress and thereby restore a feeling of calmness.
It is therapeutic, restorative and is based on one’s individual breath. This means that the length of a movement is determined by the ability of the individual to inhale and exhale fully.
It seems that many postural imbalances are due to breathing restrictions. Vini yoga is based on the premise that the body’s energy is more balanced if you are able to balance your breathing.
When you improve your breathing you not only improve your posture, but you improve your overall energy and develop the sense of being centered.
Dru Yoga
Dru Yoga is a potent and graceful form on yoga. It is based on directed breathing, soft flowing movements and visualization. Its foundations were set in ancient yogic tradition.
Dru Yoga works on the body, spirit and mind. It improves flexibility and strength, creates core
stability, builds a heightened sense of positive thinking, is deeply relaxing and rejuvenates your
entire being.
Dru Yoga was designed to be practiced by people of all different fitness levels, different abilities and all age groups. This is a style of yoga that can quickly be picked up or you can learn more about it over your lifetime.
Dru Meditation
If it has been one of your goals to learn how to meditate in order to feel that inner calmness or to be a stress reliever, then try Dru Meditation! The Dru approach to meditation will help bring you balance no matter what or how you are feeling.
If you seem to be agitated, Dru meditation will help to bring you a feeling of calmness. If you feel exhausted, this form of meditation will give your energy.
It will bring peace to your spirit if you are feeling anxious. The most important thing that Dru meditation will do for you is to bring you to that still place within you, with its sense of achievement, fullness and deep healing properties that only meditation and yoga can bring.
If you really want to learn Dru meditation, the best way to do this is to attend a workshop or a meditation retreat in your area. If you are not able to do that, you might try a guided Dru meditation that is available on CD.
You will find that Dru meditation can help alleviate fatigue and stress and bring you focus and calm. If only you can do ten minutes daily of meditation, it will make a great difference.
Hatha Yoga
Hatha yoga is a type of yoga that was introduced by
Yogi Seatmarama. This was a yogic sage that lived in
India in the 15th century. This is the most popular
form of yoga.
Several other styles of yoga originated from this type
including Bikram Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, Power Yoga and
Ashtanga Yoga. The word “hatha” comes from two
Sanskrit terms: “ha” which means “sun” and “tha” which
means “moon”. Thus, the Hatha branch of yoga unites
pairs of opposites.
Hatha Yoga strives to achieve balance between the body
as well as the mind. It tries to free the spiritual
elements of one’s mind through Asanas or physical
poses, meditation and breathing techniques or
Pranayama.
Asanas are different body positions that are designed
to improve one’s health and remove diseases in the
body. These positions were originally meant for
meditation because these postures tend to make you
feel relaxed for long time periods.
By regularly practicing Asanas, you will gain muscle
flexibility, bone strength, the development of
concentration, will power and self-withdrawal.
Pranayama is the science of breath control. This is an
integral part of Hatha Yoga. The yogis of ancient
times believe that in order to control one’s mind you
had to control the breathing. This practice can also
help unleash any dormant energies that are lying deep
within your body.
When you practice Hatha Yoga, you are able to
recognize your hidden mental and physical potentials.
As you continue your performance of Asanas, you will
gain more strength and flexibility and learn to stay
relaxed during stressful situations.
The History of Yoga
Yoga combines aspects of exercise, meditation, and fitness and serves to unify the mind, body, and spirit. Yoga is a practice that has evolved throughout its history and is strongly rooted in tradition. Yoga originated in India as a system of health and fitness and was first mentioned in the Rig Veda, the oldest of India’s sacred texts. The practice of Yoga is estimate to be over four thousand years old, and while it has evolved since its origins the basic principal of fitness for the mind, body, and soul remains the same today.
You can see the changes that the practice of yoga has underwent if you study the time periods over which it has evolved. Yoga originated centuries ago in the pre-classical period where the ideals of physical and spiritual unity first took shape. After its inception, the classical period, post-classical period and modern period then took place and yoga evolved throughout to the form we practice today.
When most people think of yoga they envision relaxation and contortionist poses. While the poses of yoga are an important part of the practice, they are only one aspect of the entire program of unity. Yoga includes many different things such as physical poses and movements, breathing control techniques, spiritual discipline, and meditation. All of these aspects are combined to help the student reach a state of well being in physical, mental, and spiritual form.
During the 20th century a widespread interest in the practice of yoga caused this ancient tradition to become a mainstream practice. While modern yoga practices do sometimes diverge from yoga’s religious beginning, the practice of yoga is still very much about developing spiritual, physical, emotional, and mental well being.
Just as yoga has evolved into a modern form of exercise, it has also branched out into different schools of philosophy. Some forms of yoga focus more on the physical aspects of the practice while others hold true to yoga’s original meditative and spiritual practices. But no matter which form of yoga you practice, the ultimate purpose remains the same; to encourage harmony in the body, mind, and soul. Today yoga is considered to be a comprehensive exercise program that promotes much more than just physical fitness.
Several seals that were discovered at the Indus Valley Civilization sites which date back to 3300 to 1700 BC show drawings of figures that are in yoga or a meditative like posture.
There is a great deal of evidence supporting the idea that these pictures depict a form of ritual discipline which suggests a precursor of yoga. This was pointed out by the archaeologist Gregory Possehl.
He also points out the fact that there are sixteen other “yogi glyptics”. These images point to the fact that the yoga pose may not only have been used by deities but also by humans. Possehl makes the suggestion that yoga dates back to the early civilization in the Indus Valley.
There is a very widely known image named the Pashupati seal and it was discovered by John Marshall. He believed that this was a representation of a “proto-Shiva” figure.
Most modern authorities do not believe the idea that this so called “Pashupati” represents a Rudra or Shiva figure. Gavin Flood states that these views are merely “speculative”.
He feels that it is not clear from this seal whether the figure is indeed seated in a yoga posture. He does not even know if this shape was supposed to represent a human figure.
There are authorities who do support the idea that this ‘Pashupati’ figure does indeed depict a figure in a meditation or a yoga posture. This idea is supported by noted archaeologist Jonathan Mark Kenover.
In 2007, terracotta seals were found in the Cholistan Desert which is located in Pakistan. One of these seals had three pictographs on one side. When the seal is turned over, there is a “yogi” on the other side.
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.
Getting Started with Yoga
Yoga is an ancient form of exercise that uses poses, movements, breathing techniques, and meditation to improve the participant’s physical, emotional, and spiritual health. Yoga combines all of the different aspects of life to promote overall health and wellbeing. There are many different forms of yoga that you can practice, some of which focus more on physical health, some of which focus on spiritual health, but they all do combine aspects of both. Deciding on the type of yoga you should practice depends on your fitness goals not only for your body but for your mind and soul as well.
Each form of yoga uses postures and positions, some more challenging than others. It is important when you are just beginning wit yoga to have an instructor guide you through each pose and movement to make sure you are using correct posture and doing each move safely. Correctly learning how each movement and pose works will help you to determine which form of yoga is right for you.
Yoga has become very popular and there are yoga studios and classes in virtually every city and locale. Visiting a yoga studio and taking a trial class is a good way to see if yoga is for you and to get an idea of what yoga is all about. Many people think that yoga is just getting into uncomfortable poses, but it is about much more than that and can only truly be understood if you participate in the entire experience.
If you want to practice yoga at home, there are many different instructional videos that you can use to learn yoga techniques. While learning yoga yourself is not as easy as having the help of an instructor, this is an affordable alternative to classes and a great way to explore many different poses, movements, breathing techniques, and types of meditation. You can also get an overview of different yoga techniques online and find information about how to correctly do different poses and movements.
Yoga has many health benefits and is well worth exploring. Yoga promotes overall well being and helps participants to lead a balanced life by increasing fitness, flexibility, mental wellness, and decreasing stress. When done correctly, yoga techniques will bring you peace and help you to live a healthy life.