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Gabriella
Ciaramataro of Ginseng Yoga demonstrates a twist.
Photo by Rich
Cook
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Open
up any Us Weekly magazine and you
can get the scoop on the latest celebrity-fueled fitness craze. In the '80s it
was aerobics and Jazzercise. The '90s had cardio kickboxing, then spinning, then
yoga, then pilates, then yogalates, krav maga, cardio striptease ... and the list goes on. Fitness
fads come and go, but occasionally you'll find an exercise that stands the test
of time, like yoga. Practiced for nearly 5,000 years, yoga is a form of body
conditioning that places emphasis on strengthening the body and the mind while
stimulating the soul. Who practices it? Everyone from Hindu masters to Gwyneth
Paltrow.
Yoga
is the Sanskrit word for "yoke, join or concentrate," which explains the yogic
philosophy of uniting the body, mind and soul. The six branches of yoga
recognized and practiced by Hindus are raja, karma, bhakti, jnana, tantra and hatha yoga, the last
being the form with which most Americans are familiar. With an emphasis on
physical postures, or asanas, hatha yoga has many variations devised by different gurus
over the years, each with its own set of guiding principles but all utilizing
the same basic postures. Of the myriad subtypes of hatha yoga, the most commonly practiced include Iyengar, Bikram, Vinyasa/Ashtanga, Kundalini and
Svaroopa (gentle) yoga.
Whether
you want to tone up, chill out, sharpen your mind or deepen your experience,
yoga is a holistic approach to health and fitness with styles to fit the needs
of all aspiring yogis and yoginis.
Iyengar
Developed
and still taught by the now 80-year-old B.K.S. Iyengar, this form of yoga focuses on proper alignment of
the body. Generally Iyengar classes include fewer
poses than other forms of yoga, but poses are held much longer, allowing the
body to settle into the posture and find increased alignment. Many find Iyengar yoga to be challenging because of its strict,
detail-oriented nature, while others who prefer a more vigorous, sweaty workout
claim Iyengar is too slow-paced. The use of props such
as belts, blocks, bolsters, blankets and chairs is integral to Iyengar practice.
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Yoga
dos:
· DO
wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothes.
· DO
bring a mat or a towel.
· DO
go at your own pace; yoga is not a competitive sport.
· DO
consult a physician if you have any health concerns.
Yoga
don'ts:
· DON'T
eat for at least one hour before or after yoga class.*
· DON'T
push your body farther than it's ready to go.
· DON'T
come to class late or leave early; warm-up and cool-down poses are integral to
the practice.
*Some forms of yoga, like Bikram, have more specific rules about eating and drinking;
check with your chosen studio before attending a class.
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Bikram
Bikram yoga, also called "hot yoga," was brought to
America
by Bikram Choudhury in 1971
and consists of 26 postures repeated in the same order in a studio heated to
nearly 105 degrees Fahrenheit. This controversial form of yoga is not right for
everyone. Bikram devotees claim the extreme heat does
wonders for their flexibility and complexion, while other yoga practitioners
frown on this style, arguing that heat should be created from within the body
rather than externally.
Vinyasa/Ashtanga
Vinyasa, or "flow" yoga, is a vigorous form of yoga that
places emphasis on a series of postures that flow into one another. There are
many names for this type of yoga, each with its own nuances, including Ashtanga, power yoga and "flow series." All forms of Vinyasa are derived from Ashtanga,
which was founded by K. Pattabhi Jois and uses six series of movements to stretch, strengthen
and tone the entire body.
Kundalini
Kundalini was brought to the West in 1969 by Yogi Bhajan. This form of yoga incorporates postures, breathing,
chanting and meditation into each practice. The goal of Kundalini yoga is to activate the life energy within the
body and channel it through each of the seven chakras.
Svaroopa
(gentle)
Svaroopa Yoga was developed by Rama Berch, founder and director
of La
Jolla's
Master
Yoga
Academy.
A gentler form of yoga, Svaroopa focuses on healing
the body and encouraging a transcendental experience through familiar yoga
postures.
12/16/2003 By Maya Kroth, SignOnSanDiego |
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