Anusara Yoga

meaning: “flowing with Grace,” “flowing with Nature,” “following your heart.”

Founded by John Friend in 1997, Anusara yoga is a school of hatha yoga which unifies a life-affirming Tantric philosophy of intrinsic goodness with Universal Principles of Alignment. Anusara yoga’s remarkable growth is due in large part to its uplifting philosophy, epitomized by a “celebration of the heart” that looks for the good in all people and all things.

Ashtanga Yoga

In the tradition of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, is a vigorous flowing practice of a set sequence of postures.
There are three places of attention or action in the Ashtanga system : posture – Asana; breathing system – Ujjayi Breath with mula and uddiyana bandhas; and, looking Place – Dristhi. Asanas strengthen, purify and bring flexibility to the body. Each movement is synchronised with a corresponding breath that is steady and controlled. The bandhas (mula: pelvic floor muscles; uddiyana: lower abdominals) seal in energy, give lightness and strength and help to build the internal fire. Dristhi is the place that you look while in the asana; each posture has a corresponding Dristhi.
The Primary Series of postures is a cleansing series that helps purify the body, to better allow channelization of the behaviors of the mind. The practice of Ashtanga yoga becomes a moving meditation, through intense physical activity and mental focus.

Mysore-style Ashtanga Yoga

The Mysore style of yoga asana practice is a particular way of teaching yoga within the Ashtanga Yoga tradition as taught by Sri K.Pattabhi Jois in the southern Indian city of Mysore. There are some differences in this method from the usual modern way in which yoga is taught:

  • the class is not “led” as a whole but rather all instruction is one-on-one within the group class setting
  • students practice their own portion of the Ashtanga sequence of asanas at their own pace
  • the teacher assists each student individually by giving physical adjustments & verbal instruction

In Mysore style students learn the fixed order of postures using a specific movement-breathing technique called vinyasa krama. Through vinyasa, there is continuity via the breath from postures to posture. In the Ashtanga sequence, each posture builds from the previous – and prepares for successive – postures.

Each student is given their yoga routine according to their ability. Newer and more beginning students tend to have a much shorter practice than do those with more experience. As one gains more strength, stamina, flexibility and concentration, additional postures are given to the student. The sense of the word “given” in this context comes from how the practice is taught in India, where a yoga practice is something that a teacher gives to a student as a spiritual practice. In the West, people are accustomed to learning a lot of postures all at once – such as in a typical modern “led” yoga class. One advantage of the “Mysore” method is that, because it teaches yoga according to one’s individual capacity, it accommodates everyone of all levels even those without any prior yoga experience; and hence the class is neither too difficult nor not advanced enough for anyone.

Postures are given, one by one in a sequential order. The structure of the class depends on the teacher being able to keep track of what every student is doing with a quick glance. If students attempt something out of sequence, the teacher is less able to help in the appropriate way. If a student has trouble with a particular posture, the teacher can offer a modification that is consistent with the intention of the practice. One by one also means that once a student is given a new posture, they practice their sequence up to that posture, then do backbends if applicable (backbending is the climax, not a part of the finishing sequence), and then wind down with the finishing sequence. In general, the next posture in the sequence should be added/taught/learned only after obtaining stability in one’s last posture.

Power Yoga

Also called Power Flow, is a modern day name for a past-faced, active yoga class. It has its roots in Ashtanga Yoga. Often Power Yoga incorporates many Sun Salutations and Vinyasas. These can elevate the heart rate and generate heat in the body. Over the past five years, Power Yoga has grown in popularity, especially as people are turning to yoga as a form of cardiovascular exercise as well as it’s many other benefits. Baron Baptiste is credited as being one of the main founders of Power Yoga. If you do take lots of power yoga classes, it is good to also round it out with some slower paced, more restorative classes.

Power Yoga should be avoided by the following people:

  • Those new to yoga. It will likely move too quickly and will be hard to keep up. Those who do not know any of the yoga poses or alignment principles should avoid power yoga as their first introduction to yoga as it might lead to injury.
  • Those in poor physical health as well as those who suffer from high blood pressure or heart issues.
  • Seniors
  • Those with injuries

Prenatal Yoga:

Intro to Prenatal Yoga - about.com

Restorative Yoga

Great for any age, slower paced and gentle!

While yoga in itself focuses on muscles and proper muscle alignment, restorative yoga is all about restful postures and is designed to “re-boot” your nervous system and balance out your body.  Your muscles are to remain quiet in the restorative method.  Practicing this form of yoga will give immediate results by lowering your blood pressure and heart rate, loosen up joints and ease bones.   Restorative Yoga will help to keep your endocrine system in check and even boost the immune system.

Restorative Yoga is a wonderful way to close out your day and can be helpful in reducing insomnia as it is very relaxing for the body as well as the mind. All poses aim to reduce stress and they are all practiced using props such as a bolster or rolled blanket, blocks, cushions, a wall, a chair, yoga straps, eye pillows, etc.   The idea is comfort and relaxation and staying in a pose for many minutes.  Therefore props aid in making you comfortable and to be able to hold the position for any length of time.

Vinyasa Yoga

meaning: “Breath-Synchronized Movement ”

There can be a lot of variety in a Vinyasa yoga class but almost all classes will include Sun Salutations (a series of postures performed in a single, graceful flow. Each movement is coordinated with the breath). The class may be fast or slow, include chanting, or be very alignment-orientated, depending on the individual teacher.

There is no one single philosophy teachers must follow leaving it’s exploration open to each student’s individual personalities. This technique is sometimes also called Vinyasa Flow or just Flow, because of the smooth way the poses run together and become like a dance. The purpose of Vinyasa yoga is to create heat in the body, which in turns leads to purification through increased circulation and sweating. It also improves flexibility as well as the strength of tendons and hard tissues, allowing the student to practice advanced poses or asanas without the risk of injury.

Yin Yoga:

Suitable for almost all levels of students, Yin Yoga is a perfect complement to the dynamic and muscular (yang) styles of yoga that emphasize internal heat, and the lengthening and contracting of our muscles. Yin Yoga generally targets the connective tissues of the hips, pelvis, and lower spine.

This type of yoga has the same goals and objectives as any other school of yoga; however, it directs the stimulation normally created in the asana portion of the practice deeper than the superficial or muscular tissues (which we are calling the yang tissues). Yin Yoga targets the connective tissues, such as the ligaments, bones, and even the joints of the body that normally are not exercised very much in a more active style of asana practice. While initially this style of yoga can seem quite boring, passive, or soft, yin practice can be quite challenging due to the long duration of the poses. Remaining in the postures anywhere from one to twenty minutes! Yin and yang tissues respond quite differently to being exercised. You need to experience this to really know what Yin Yoga is all about. After you have experienced it, even just once, you will realize that you have been doing only half of the asana practice.