All About Ashtanga Yoga

YOGA IN INDIA 

Yoga is a spiritual discipline that originated in India. The practice of yoga is believed to have begun with the dawn of civilization. It was born even before religion was born, several thousands of years ago. It is believed that Shiva, who was the Adiyogi or the first practitioner of yoga imparted his knowledge to seven rishis called Saptarishis on the banks of the lake Kantisarovar in the Himalayas. These Saptarishis spread this ancient science across Asia, the Middle East, Northern Africa and South America.

In the west, yoga gained popularity as physical exercise. In India, you will discover that yoga extends beyond that. It has a meditative and spiritual core. Yoga and meditation are two sides of the same coin. They do not adhere to any particular religion, belief system or community. It is a technology for overall wellbeing.

POPULAR YOGA STYLES 

Some might argue that there are ten styles of yoga, while some may say that there are just four, some may vouch for more. Neither of them is wrong. While there are many forms and styles of yoga, the four given below have gained more popularity over the others.

Ashtanga Yoga 

Ashtanga means “eight limbs”. It is named after the eight limbs mentioned in the yoga sutra by Patanjali. It is perhaps, the most difficult forms of yoga and very demanding. It is an eight-part practice and requires strict discipling of the body and mind. If you are a perfectionist, then this is the yoga for you.

Hatha Yoga 

This is a beginner friendly yoga form that is gaining popularity in the west. In a traditional Hatha yoga class, you will be taught breathing, meditation and basic postures. The classes will be unhurried and will provide a holistic approach to the benefits of yoga.

Bikram Yoga 

Bikram yoga is for practitioners who like High Intensity Interval Training. It involves practice in a sauna like room with high temperature. This is also a great style for beginners. Each session is made up of a 90-minute workout with 26 poses taught in a room heated up to 105 Fahrenheit and 40 percent humidity.

Kundalini Yoga 

Kundalini Yoga is for people who are interested in exploring the spiritual side of yoga. It involves chanting and meditation as well along with postures and asanas. The intention of this practice is to awaken the energy at the bottom of the spine and carry it upwards. It awakes sensory awareness.

The other forms of yoga that are gaining popularity are:

Vinyasa Yoga 

If you are a beginner and like to speed things a bit, this is the style for you. This form incorporates more movements than a Hatha session and will test your body’s endurance. The style of Vinyasa depends from teacher to teacher. In any Vinyasa Class, you will be performing each sequence a number of times.

Iyengar Yoga 

Iyengar yoga is great for perfectionists. This form revolves around precision. Use of props, pillows, blocks, blankets and straps are used as aids in this form of yoga. This form of yoga allows full relaxation between each posture and does not stress you out. This yoga is not only beginner friendly, but is also easy for the elderly and disabled primarily because of its slow pace and use of props.

Yin Yoga 

This is a therapeutic form of yoga. It involves holding poses for long intervals of times (three to five minutes). It focuses on the connective tissues around the joints and relieves stress and anxiety. It encourages relaxation and stretches your patience levels. So, if your work is demanding and stresses you out, this is the form for you. Hitting an hour of Yin Yoga after work will leave you relaxed and in a better state of mind by the time you reach home.

Viniyoga 

This type of yoga is for people who are recovering from surgeries or have any specific physical needs. It allows you to achieve your goals at your own pace. It also helps in self-discovery and personal transformation.

Anusara 

Anusara yoga is based on the Iyengar Style of Yoga with added elements of spirituality. It emphasizes on uplifting the spirit and open up your heart to connect to the divine around you. All classes begin with 3 chants of Om, followed by 3 rounds of opening Invocation, and ending with one final Om.

Sivananda 

This is another form of Hatha yoga and is summarized by five principles: proper exercise (Asana), proper eating, proper relaxation (Savasana), proper breathing (Pranayama), and positive thinking and meditation. This practice involves 12 basic asanas. If you are interested in Indian Philosophy, you will like this form of yoga.

Whether you are a sportsman, a desk worker, a woman, a man, elderly, energetic, slow paced, irrespective of your lifestyle, there is yoga for you.

In this post we are going to give you an in depth understanding of Ashtanga Yoga

ASHTANGA YOGA TRAINING IN INDIA 

Ashtanga yoga is not for the faint hearted. It is the most intense and difficult styles of yoga. Ashtanga yoga requires a certain level of dedication and commitment. The easiest way to acquire this knowledge is by heading to India, for this is where you get the purest form of education on this sacred science. The most popular Ashtanga Yoga Training Schools are found in Rishikesh, Goa, Kerala and Mysore – the most magical places in India. There are many yoga schools offering Certification courses like 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training In Rishikesh which helps you master Ashtanga Yoga and take it back home to impart it amongst the others