For the Love of Yoga

Last week I had interactions with a group of healthcare professionals who expressed to me, "I thought I would love yoga." They had taken a class or two and realized yoga wasn't for them. Granted, yoga may not be for everybody, but there is a yoga teacher and yoga style out there that is fit for everyone including you. If you really want to love yoga, there is a teacher and a style out there for you.

When yoga was established millenia ago, there was only one pose. That pose was the easy seated posture (sukhasana). In ancient times, this comfortable seated position was used so that practitioners could meditate for hours. Hatha Yoga is the overall term used for all postural practices and used as additional postures were developed over the centuries. Since that time, so many Hatha Yoga lineages, traditions, and styles have grown exponentially. Two of the major lineages include Iyengar, Ashtanga.

Iyengar

Iyengar is an alignment-based yoga where props are encouraged and postures held for a few breaths. In general, this is a good style for those who have movement challenges and want to get stronger and more flexible while looking for more gentle movement. Anusara yoga is another alignment-based practice.

Ashtanga

The Ashtanga lineage takes its name from the eight branches of yoga. It is a style in which movement is nearly constant as is the breath. The same poses are repeated in every practice. It requires concentration and therefore is a moving meditation. If you are a perfectionist and like to sweat a lot, this style may be for you. Power Yoga and Vinyasa are descendants of Ashtanga yoga. All three incorporate vigorous movement and breathing practices.

There are other options, hot yoga, chair yoga, yin yoga, restorative yoga, yoga for osteoporosis, and even goat yoga. There are other styles that are being developed every day. The beauty of yoga is that it is an ancient practice with deep roots that continually changes and grows as human come up with new ideas.

For more detail about the different yoga styles, go here.

It is important to understand that yoga is much more than exercise for your body. It also encompasses the mind and the spirit. That is what sets yoga apart from being mere exercise.

Not every yoga teacher or modality will be a good fit for your needs. A highly trained teacher with years of experience, may not be the one you need at this time in your life. Personally, I like older teachers who understand where I am at this point in my life. Some people may find a 30 year old teacher with a lifetime of yoga experience who may be the teacher that they need. The teacher who is trained in the yoga style that you like may be the teacher who resonates with you. Different teachers even teach the same styles in different ways. The surroundings may also affect your practice, in studio, at home, or on video. Once in a while a teacher can simply be having an off day. We are all human.

I encourage you to try different styles of lessons, different teachers, and even different modalities to see which style fits your needs best. You can also hire a private teacher who can tailor and adapt the style specifically to your needs. As you get more familiar with the different types of yoga and teachers, you may find the love of yoga that you were originally searching for and you may even turn it into a lifetime practice! See my About Me page for the styles of yoga that I teach.

Resources:

Isha Institute of Inner Sciences (2015). Patanjali Didn’t Create Yoga. Meet the Being Who Did [Infographic].

Next week, I will return to the discussion fourth of the five Koshas.

Online Yoga Nidra Tonight

Yoga Nidra (yogic sleep) resumes online at 7:30 pm tonight. Yoga Nidra will help you to relax, release your stress and sleep better. Give yourself a treat and register for this delightful hour of self-care. Remember that if you are traveling or do not have a connection to the internet, you can still dial-in from your mobile phone or landline.

Private Lessons

I offer face-to-face private yoga lessons that are adapted to your needs. If you would like a private lesson, whether it's yoga nidra or a yoga movement class, I am happy to accommodate you as best I can. I will come to you, if you are fully vaccinated as am I. Online arrangements can also be made. Contact me using the form below.