We have all heard of the virtues of yoga : it is good against stress, allows you to have a supple and loose body, it boosts our concentration, makes us happy and zen, and would even be a real rejuvenation treatment! Doing yoga is good, but what type of practice should you choose?
Yesterday’s yoga and today’s yoga
To fully understand what yoga is, a step back is necessary. It was in 6500 BC, in India , that the first traces of yoga were found. It is then a mixture of Hinduism and Buddhism, which gives sacred origins to yoga. And the sacred will always be present in its understanding and practice, which makes yoga a discipline that provides real physical well-being. England (certainly because of its links with India) and Germany are interested in yoga, at the end of the 19th century . More particularly to the philosophy of yoga, these countries being in search of spiritual values. In 1893, during the Universal Exhibition in Chicago, the spiritual master and philosopher Swami Vivekananda will receive a standing ovation for 2 minutes for his introductory speech on Hinduism. Multiplying conferences in the United States, he will be joined by many disciples.
In his book Raja Yoga published in 1896, he developed an adaptation of Patañjali’s Yoga Sūtra intended for Westerners which is considered the foundation of modern yoga. Another philosopher will take a very close interest in Kundalini yoga around 1920: Carl Jung, a pupil of Freud. His interest in psychoanalysis will allow him to find many parallels between Kundalini and psychology. In the 1950s, Indra Devi, the first woman of Modern Hatha Yoga , opened her yoga studio in Hollywood, where she welcomed many stars: it was to be a real notoriety booster for this practice. Since then, yoga has become popular all over the world, thanks in particular to the high priestesses of the discipline found on social networks. But it is far from what it was originally!
Yoga is really made for you!
You may have heard this sentence before! But why should yoga be so good for our body and our mind? In the West, the practice of yoga is focused on postures (asanas in Sanskrit means ritual postures) which target physical abilities and allow in-depth work: harmonious silhouette, more alert body, better balance, stronger muscles, controlled breathing, more efficient digestive, lymphatic and circulatory systems… For purists, yoga is not a sport but a discipline. It is for this reason that the mental and the spiritual are at the heart of the practice, even going so far as to develop a way of life specific to yoga. From the point of view of the mind, the benefits are numerous: controlled stress, optimized concentration, better connection with oneself and with the external environment (nature, others …) … The asanas each bring their benefit, as different are- they. For example, inversions are recommended for fluid circulation, a particular energy brought to the brain. As for the twists, they provide visceral mobilization, hence an impact on the elimination of toxins, better digestion…
That’s good, but which yoga to choose?
You are convinced by the benefits of yoga, but now you have to decide: which practice to go for? it will be difficult in this article to review all the types of yoga (there are more than 26 !) We will therefore focus on the most common. Hatha Yoga and Hatha Flow: This is undoubtedly the best known. You have certainly heard of the Sun Salutation (Surya Namaskar). The objective of this type of yoga is to find a body / mind balance through the sun (Ha) and the moon (Tha). The sessions are based on static postures maintained for several minutes, breathing techniques (prayanama). Chants or mantras can accompany the sessions. Flowis like Hatha , but with more fluid sequences. This type of gentle yoga is perfect for beginners or people unaccustomed to physical exercise. He is the most accessible.
Ashtanga
This yoga focuses on breath / movement synchronization and on the fluidity of execution of the 6 primary, intermediate and advanced postures that compose it. These 6 postures are repeated at each session in order to easily perform another well-known asana: lotus meditation. You are in very good physical condition, you are demanding with yourself, rigor and discipline do not scare you, spirituality is part of your life? You have the profile of an Ashtangi!
Vinyasa
It is a variation of Ashtanga . Fast , dynamic , athletic , repeated postures from the Sun Salutation and performed to rhythmic music, movements and transitions based on breathing: Vinyasa is clearly not suitable for beginners. It is often compared to “ a meditation through movement that circulates energy throughout the body ” If it is also appreciated by practitioners, it is because it allows you to sculpt your body and tone it.
Iyengar :
BKS Iyengar, Grand Master of Hatha Yoga , created his own form of yoga in 1966. Seriously ill when he was 14 years old, BKS Iyengar gradually adapted his knowledge of yoga to his physical condition via accessories, soft postures, easy to achieve. Based on the alignment of the body through well-defined asanas, it is similar to Vinyasa , but with postures held longer. This postural yoga, nicknamed Precision Yoga, uses accessories: chairs, belts, bolsters, blankets, blocks. The Iyengaris particularly intended for people who are injured, disabled, who have trouble maintaining their balance, who are looking for better physical condition.
Bikram
You like to be hot, to sweat, you can’t resist the call of a sauna? Bikram , or Hot Yoga , is waiting for you! Practiced in a room where the temperature reaches 40° and 40% humidity , Bikram is a yoga composed of 26 movements and 2 breathing exercises repeated twice intensively, for 90 minutes. It is very popular with people who want to lose weight and are looking for better physical condition. Its benefits are recognized in particular on the quality of sleep and the increase in bone density. But BE CAREFUL the body being stressed to the extreme, a consequent increase in heart rate and dehydration can occur. A doctor’s advice is imperative before starting Bikram yoga . Often associated with Restorative Yoga because it is complementary, Yin Yoga is based on the balance between Yin (immobility) and Yang (dynamism). The action of Yin Yoga is on the connective tissues while Restorative Yoga soothes. Each Asana aims to bring softness and appeasement because it is practiced in a state of meditation. Yin Yoga isparticularly intended for stressed people who wish to relax through a gentle, painless and calm practice. For 90 minutes, the fascias and other deep muscles are stimulated during motionless postures carried out seated or lying down, stretching carried out using accessories.
Kundalini Yoga:
Recommended for people seeking spirituality and emotional cleansing , the purpose of Kundalini is the circulation of vital energy throughout the body. Nicknamed “ Yoga of Consciousness ”, the representation of Kundalini is very telling. Imagine a snake (symbol of consciousness) asleep, rolled up on itself and placed at the level of your coccyx (the first chakra). During the different asanas, this snake wakes up, circulates along your spine harmonizing each chakra one after the other. Rather physical, the Kundalini is practiced in joy, almost without interruption, except for a few short “relaxation” breaks.
Jivamukti:
More recently, this style of yoga was created in 1984 by Americans Sharon Gannon (yoga teacher, animal rights lawyer, musician, author, dancer, choreographer) and David Life (yoga teacher, ascetic). Based on Hatha Yoga , its practice is more like that of Vinyasa and Kundalini in its dynamics. The objective being to go beyond one’s limits to free oneself and develop one’s spiritual energy, it is aimed at yogis who are already practicing.
