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Finding Your Best Yoga Practice - Kripalu

Sun, 27 Oct 2008 15:46:08 GMT

posted by beYOUtv

Before you realized it was a style of Hatha Yoga, you might have heard of Kripalu as it is also one of the most well-renowned centers for yoga and health in the country located in the grand Berkshire Mountains in Massachusetts. The Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health was started in 1966 when Yogi Amrit Desai founded the Yoga Society of Pennsylvania, which was established to teach yoga classes and train teachers. It later evolved into the nonprofit wing that operates as the Kripalu Center today. For an in-depth interview of Yogi Amrit Desai, please view the piece in the wonderful spiritual magazine What is Enlightenment? (WIE) entitled “Yoga, Ego and Purification” by WIE’s founder Andrew Cohen.

What is the style/class like?

Kripalu Yoga is broken into 3 stages:

Stage 1 focuses on learning the postures and exploring the body’s own abilities
Stage 2 one holds postures longer and develops concentration and inner awareness
Stage 3 is the “Meditation in Motion” stage where movement from one pose to another arises unconsciously and spontaneously

A Kripalu class can be gentle and mellow or quite vigorous. This really depends on the teacher. So this is not a style where all teachers teach the same. I would try a few Kripalu teachers before deciding on one. But first and foremost, Kripalu is a great style for people with physical limitations and/or wanting a slower, meditative and grounding practice.

Personal insight and who might benefit from this style:

My greatest take-aways after the few Kripalu classes that I’ve taken is that they start off or feel slow, but are incredibly grounding then get very intense. I also found of all the styles that Kripalu’s whole vibe is the least judgmental and has the most varied clientele. Seriously the last class I went to ran the gamut - from a college age male jock nursing an injury, to a newly pregnant hard core yogi, to an elderly woman, to me - a yoga teacher. And everyone left class feeling challenged, centered, grounded and very kind to one another at the end of class. If you’re looking for a non-judgmental environment no matter what your level is that will focus on alignment as well as the meditative qualities of the practice - Kripalu might just be for you.

Additional Information:

Please visit www.kripalu.org

Note: Most Kripalu affiliated studios are on the east coast and span a bit to the midwest. Since Kripalu is an east coast based association, it might be difficult finding this style nationwide.

Written by: Michelle Barge

Finding Your Best Yoga Practice - Jivamukti

Thu, 24 Oct 2008 15:47:09 GMT

posted by beYOUtv

Jivamukti was developed by Sharon Gannon and David Life, two legends in the New York Yoga scene having taught continuously since 1989 out of their NYC based studio. Their meeting has become downtown legend: Sharon was a member of a band, and David owned the famous Life Café (also the spot where Jonathan Larson wrote the award winning musical Rent) in the East Village that also showcased music, poetry and art. You can say the rest is history. Sharon and David had both been studying yoga independently and before meeting one another, but together that have not only developed a style, but a following and a lifestyle.

The word Jivamukti in Sanskrit means “liberation while living…” This style of Hatha Yoga is based on the principles of bhakti yoga (devotion) and ahimsa (non-violence) which is deeply embedded into the structure of the style. The Jivamukti practice aligns the physical, spiritual and psychological aspects of yoga while staying grounded in traditional yogic philosophy.

What is the style/class like?

A Jivamukti class is intense - a physical and vigorous practice, but steeped in the traditions. Class usually starts with chanting, deep listening (the teacher usually discusses an issue, or something from the Yoga Sutras), followed by asanas (movement/postures) supported by great music, followed by deep relaxation and meditation. You will work hard in a Jivamukti class, but you will leave uplifted and well, liberated - or at least on the road to it.

Personal insight and who might benefit from this style:

Jivamukti, Ashtanga and Iyengar are truly my first loves in yoga. Having lived in the East Village for 7 years before moving Uptown, Jivamukti on Lafayette Street was my first spiritual home. It’s there that I got in touch with the more sacred side of yoga and also where I pushed myself the most. I still practice there, but do feel that the huge aspect of non-violence that Sharon and David are so passionate about, swayed me from going deeper there or doing my teacher training there. I still eat meat on occasion and always felt a little self-conscious about my meat eating status while at Jivamukti. But that could just be me. You certainly don’t have to be a vegetarian to practice there, but I wouldn’t shout out in the locker room post class, “Hey let’s go to Fat Burger.” You might get some horrified glances.

Also, if you’re new to Jivamukit, I urge you to take a beginner’s class, even if you practice yoga. The only other level is open and that gets all levels. Because Jivamukti is popular, the class sizes tend to be large, thus I’ve never got a lot of adjustments in class. BUT, if you are looking for a true yogic experience every step of the way, with a real physical workout, Jivamukti might be the style for you.

Additional Information:

Jivamutki Yoga School for locations and schedules
Jivamukti Founders Yoga Interview for an in-depth interview with Sharon Gannon and David Life
For two seminal books on yoga by Sharon Gannon and David Life: Jivamukti Yoga: Practices for Liberating Body and Soul and The Art of Yoga

Written by: Michelle Barge

Patanjalis Yoga Sutras

Sat, 9 Nov 2008 18:18:14 GMT

posted by pkmcr

Patanjalis Yoga Sutras

Patanjalis Yoga Sutras is a text that covers many aspects of life, beginning with a code of conduct and ending with the goal of yoga, a vision of ones true Self. The PantajalisYoga Sutras is probably the most authoritative text on yoga. It defines yoga as a focusing of the attention to whatever object is being contemplated to the exclusion of all others. Yoga isnt only about postures, or meditation, it is a way of life, or religion. In this influencing scripture there are eight steps to awakening or enlightenment through yoga. These eight astanga or limbs of yoga are: yamas, niyamas, asanas, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, and samadhi.

The yamas consist of lessons in moral and social conduct in our environment. It teaches us to restrain from lying, stealing, and greed. Non-violence and consideration toward all living things is the key. Communication with sensitivity towards others and moderation in all things we do is revered.

The niyama focuses on attitudes towards ourselves: compromising, cleanliness, serenity, devotion, and asceticism. One should study and reverence to a higher intelligence. There is an acceptance of our limitations in relation to God. It is key to have removed the impurities from the mind and body.

In the asanas, one focuses on posture practice, positioning the body while incorporating the breath to achieve a greater awareness in the mind. One is alert and relaxed without tension, while observing the reactions of the body and breath to various postures. This minimizes the effect of the external influences on the body, such as diet and climate.

Pranayama, or the restraint and control of the breath, helps with concentration, energizing and balancing of the mind and body.

Pratyahara is the relaxation of the senses, where no distractions actually activate the mind.

Dharana, or concentration, is the ability to direct the mind toward a chosen object and focus in on it alone.

Dhyana, or meditation, is the ability to develop focused interactions with what we seek to understand.

Lastly, but most importantly, Samadhi is the ultimate state of Self-realization, or union with the Source.

Yoga Beginner

Still Standing

Fri, 15 Nov 2008 19:00:23 GMT

posted by yuppmarks

Posted by sedesx7 2 hours 29 minutes ago (http://www.sequd.com)
Category: Entertainment | Tags: download still standing episodes watch

High school sweethearts Bill and Judy Miller are a blue-collar Chicago couple working to raise their three children responsibly and not lose sight of their own youthfulness

Moksha hot yoga is a unique yoga

Sun, 28 Jul 2008 19:40:26 GMT

posted by cProsperity
by Vanessa Herremans

Hot Yoga

By making yoga accessible to EVERYONE, regardless of age or fitness level, through extensive practice offerings and classes to meet any schedule, Hot Yoga strives to increase awareness and widespread adoption of yoga. Hot Yoga is not about wrapping your ankle behind your head. Hot Yoga encourages each individual’s personal growth while fostering a sense of community and friendship. We believe Hot Yoga can benefit everyone when adopted as a lifestyle practice, and as such improves the quality of one’s life.

Yoga

Yoga, in general, is a spiritual practice or discipline that helps the individual unify his/her body, mind, and heart. Yoga is an exact science based on certain immutable Laws of Nature. Yoga is thus all-embracing, all-inclusive and universal in its application leading to all-round development of body, mind and soul. Yoga is control of mind and its modifications.

Karma Yoga

Karma Yoga emphasizes spiritual practice to help the individual unify body, mind, and heart through certain practices in one’s daily life and work. Karma Yoga is selfless service unto humanity. There is a hidden power in Karma or action termed ‘Adrishta’ which brings in fruits of Karmas for the individual. The practice of Karma Yoga prepares the aspirant for the reception of knowledge of the Self.

Tantra Yoga

Tantra Yoga teaches us to identify the various factors that influence our thoughts and feelings and to transcend the obstacles to our evolution arising from ignorance, intolerance, attachment to our animal nature, and selfishness. Tantra Yoga asserts that desires are natural and that as long as we are embodied, we will have them. By means of physical and ritual cleaning, breathing exercises (pranayama), contemplation, visualization (of yantras and deities), repetition of a mantra (mantra japa), Tantra Yoga helps to unfold our divine nature.

Bhakti Yoga

Bhakti Yoga, a devotional form, generally encompasses chanting, reading of scriptures and worship practices. Bhakti yoga is based on the doctrine “Love is God and God is Love”. To kindle the candle of love with the spark of knowledge and to do the yoga of love or Bhakti Yoga. This is the essence of Bhakti Yoga.

Hatha Yoga

Hatha Yoga is a development of - but also differs substantially from - the Raja Yoga of Patanjali, in that it focuses on shatkarma, the purification of the physical as leading to the purification of the mind (ha), and prana, or vital energy (tha). Hatha Yoga is the study and practice of physical alignments and breath. Hindu texts discussing different aspects of yoga include the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, the Shiva Samhita, and many others. That which comes to mind first is Hatha Yoga an element of Raja yoga, yoga that deals mainly with physical postures and breathing.

About the Author: Yoga in Health is a great resource site for Yoga and Yoga Courses. Hot Yoga, is one style of yoga taught by a Hot Yoga Yoga Teacher