| Power Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Basic Yoga, Bikram Yoga, | | | | developed by Bikram Choudhury. It is generally |
| Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga: No, it's not the little green | | | | practiced in a room that is heated to 105 degrees |
| dude from STAR WARS. And no, as some tend to | | | | Fahrenheit, with a relatively low humidity. The class is |
| be easily confused, it doesn't come in flavors. So what, | | | | then led through a series of 26 postures. Due to the |
| in essence, is Yoga? I'm glad you're thinking along | | | | heat, the elasticity of the muscles are released to their |
| those lines... let's take a little journey to India. | | | | full potential (based on each individual's personal |
| Etymology of the Word Yoga | | | | potential), as the class continues. Such a class is great |
| Derived from the ancient tongue of Sanskrit, yuj, the | | | | for muscle and mental endurance training, as well as |
| root of the modern and contemporary term of yoga, | | | | for working on flexibility. |
| carries with it many different meanings. Yuj itself would | | | | Goals and Point of a Yoga Practice |
| be considered a verb in many Latin-based languages, | | | | From enlightenment to tighter buns, yoga goals are as |
| meaning "to control," "to concentrate on" or "to yoke." It | | | | unique as the individual. Several people have strayed |
| has been concluded that other meanings represent the | | | | from practicing yoga because it has been derived |
| action of a uniting or joining, as well as conceptual | | | | from spiritual practices. Of course that's not a bad |
| definitions of a "mode, manner or means." | | | | thing, but apparently some people are worried that |
| History of Yoga | | | | they'll melt if they tune into something deeper than their |
| When considering the root of the word yoga, it is | | | | biceps and triceps. |
| easier to grasp its original intention. Originating in India, | | | | Truth be told, if you want faster results in a weight |
| Yoga is in actuality not just something, but some things. | | | | training program, or in a weight loss program, consider |
| The ancient practices that are still utilized today are | | | | getting into a few yoga classes each week. Everyone |
| believed to offer great insight and spiritual | | | | from "Suzie Homemaker" in the Midwest to elite |
| enlightenment as to the very nature of existence, | | | | dancers in NYC, will experience that the more "types" |
| through a process of deep meditation. It has many ties | | | | of exercise you throw at the human body, the faster |
| to personal beliefs as well as popular world religions. | | | | and more positive the muscles respond. This has to do |
| The dates of such a practice have been traced as far | | | | with a little something known as Muscle Confusion. |
| back as 3000 BC, where archaeologists have found | | | | Yoga Equipment |
| multiple seals of the Indus Valley Civilization depicting | | | | You don't need to take out a second mortgage to |
| individuals and god-like beings in meditative postures. | | | | snag some great yoga equipment, and it all starts with |
| As early as 900 BC, ascetic practices were recorded | | | | a mat. Cheap enough and worth every penny! Guys |
| in the Brahmanas, part of the Vedas. | | | | new to the practice of yoga might catch themselves |
| As time passed, evidence of practices in the Hindu | | | | thinking, "I'll just tough it out on the hardwood...." Nope. It'll |
| religion became more prominent. This was especially | | | | cost you less than 15 bucks, and save your knees and |
| true, as this concept of what is now considered "yoga" | | | | elbows from a terrible fate. |
| continued to grow and change as is evidenced in the | | | | Going one step further, if you're the type of person |
| middle Upanishads c. 400BC. Further "defined" by the | | | | who sweats a lot during physical exertion, consider a |
| Bhagavad Gita (c. 200BC), which translates to "The | | | | simple yoga mat blanket. Not only are blankets nice for |
| Song of the Lord" and which offers the first glimpse of | | | | absorbing sweat, water from a bottle, lotion from your |
| a "codified" yoga, the book included many meanings to | | | | hands, etc., they are a must if you're considering a |
| the modern term, yet focused on on three: Karma | | | | Bikram class. As fun as "Slip 'n' Slides" are, that's the |
| Yoga, Bhakti Yoga and Jnana Yoga. | | | | last thing you want your yoga mat to become during |
| Different Types of Yoga | | | | class. |
| As the practice of yoga grew throughout India, it would | | | | Yoga Straps and Yoga Blocks are also very helpful |
| become integral to everything from Hindu and Buddhist | | | | for maintaining poses for longer durations while |
| religious practices, the reaching of Moksha or to simply | | | | avoiding muscle strain in the process, and can be of |
| offer better overall health and physical performance | | | | great help to newcomers and the experienced alike. |
| through the practice of posturing. Presently, an individual | | | | List of Basic Yoga Poses |
| looking to participate in the practice of yoga can find | | | | Uttanasana - Standing Forward Bend or Bend |
| several different types, all of which are all generally | | | | Paschimottanasana - Intense stretch of the west |
| based on a series of Asana, or "sitting postures." | | | | Adho Mukha Svanasana [ - Downward Facing Dog |
| Yoga practices such as Hatha Yoga (Ha meaning sun | | | | Bhujangasana - Cobra |
| and Tha meaning moon -- and if found in certain | | | | Dhanurasana - Bow |
| Sanskrit dictionaries, Hatha = Forceful), is what the | | | | Halasana - Plow |
| Western world has widely accepted as "yoga," and is | | | | Vajrasana - Diamond Pose |
| practiced for physical and mental health throughout | | | | Shavasana - Corpse Pose |
| that part of the globe. Hatha takes on new meaning | | | | Trikonasana - Triangle Pose |
| for those looking for religious and mental enlightenment | | | | Virabhadrasana I - Warrior I Pose |
| through the practice of yoga, as it was developed as, | | | | Virabhadrasana II - Warrior II Pose |
| for lack of better terms, a stepping stone to Raja | | | | Tadasana [ - Mountain Pose |
| Astanga Yoga. | | | | Balasana - Child's Pose |
| Power Yoga and Bikram Yoga | | | | Virasana |
| Several yoga practices have become popular in the | | | | List of Advanced Yoga Poses |
| western world, an include both power yoga and | | | | Bakasana - Crow/Crane Pose |
| Bikram yoga. Power Yoga, depending on the instructor, | | | | Garudasana - Eagle Pose |
| is simply a method in which the postures are repeated, | | | | Tittibhasana - Firefly Pose |
| and/or held longer, in order to create a strength training | | | | Shirsasana - Head Stand |
| program out of a yoga class or private study. | | | | Pada Galavasana - Flying Crow Pose |
| Bikram Yoga is also known as Hot Yoga, and was | | | | Natarajasana - King Dancer Pose. |