Yoga Fitness: Hatha Yoga Video Tutorial

This fantastic 11 episode series walks through all aspects of Yoga Fitness using Hatha Yoga. Hatha Yoga is a specialized branch of bodily postures and techniques for health and longevity. Hatha is useful, and produces spectacular physical results, but this branch of yoga is little used by yogis bent on spiritual liberation.

The Raja Yoga seeks to control the changes in consciousness, and by this control to rule the material vehicles. The Hatha Yoga seeks to control the vibrations of matter, and by this control to evoke the desired changes in consciousness.

The weak point in Hatha Yoga is that action on this line cannot reach beyond the astral plane, and the great strain imposed on the comparatively intractable matter of the physical plane sometimes leads to atrophy of the very organs, the activity of which is necessary for effecting the changes in consciousness that would be useful.

Iyengar Practicing Backbends

Interesting to see Iyengar practicing. Wish I could do this! BKS Iyengar practicing some backbends in Pune, India 1991.

New Documentary - Yoga Unveiled

I thought this looked like a very interesting history of Yoga video. It provides an excellent overview of yoga fitness. Here is the description of the film:

'No longer an obscure practice just for spiritual seekers, yoga has truly become a mainstream practice. Now everyone from the athlete to the business man goes to yoga class. Everyone has heard of yoga, many people have gone to a yoga studio, but how many people know what yoga really is? This is the first documentary to explore that question. Yoga Unveiled transports us back to the historic roots of yoga in ancient India, and gives us illuminating snapshots of its evolution from an ancient tradition to its migration around the world. The film also explores yoga's astonishing medical potential. In this film we get a genuine glimpse of the evolution and essence of yoga.'

Bikram Yoga is Hard, Very Hard!

I found this great article online from a student newpaper at Pomona College. You think that yoga fitness is difficult? Wait until you take a look at this!

"Bikram yoga is hard. How hard? If you can still feel all of your arm muscles after the first five minutes, you’re probably doing it wrong. For 90 minutes a day, Bikram devotees go through a series of 26 poses with names like “awkward,” “spine-twisting,” and “dead body.” " ...

Read the rest of this article at: Bikram Yoga Puts Twister to Shame

Yoga Video on Laughing Yoga

I can't say I've ever come across something like this before - Laughing Yoga! It seems very odd yet I'm finding quite a bit of information online about it.

Apparently, Laughing Yoga is a technique that uses a blend of playful, simple laughter exercises. With gentle breathing and stretching exercises, rhythmic clapping and chanting of Ho Ho Ha Ha Ha in unison a simulated laughter turns into real laughter. As a means to improve health, increase well-being and promote peace in the world, Laughing Yoga can deliver this through personal transformation.

Ashtanga Yoga Demo

This amazing video shows Ashtanga Yoga poses and a level of yoga fitness that most of us would love to reach in our own lives! Enjoy - I love this video.

Bhakti Yoga – The Science Of Devotion

Bhakti means devotion to the Almighty. Bhakti yoga deals with devotion to God and achieving the union with Him. This is the easiest of all yoga types. This branch of yoga teaches the relation between the devotee and the divine. It does not involve any technical or complicated procedures. There is no need of any intellectual capacity to master this yoga. It has appealed to the common man because it gives him a feeling security and develops a kind of reliance and dependence on the object of his devotion.

Bhakti yoga assumes that there is a higher power that has created the universe and is all-powerful. This power has the capacity to confer grace and mercy on him and thus protecting him from all the harms and evils. The devotee or bhakta is expected to make himself fit for receiving this divine grace. For this, he has to practice devotion and virtue. His ultimate goal should be to unite with this divine power and rest eternally in happiness and peace. The devotee surrenders all his motives and acts to the Divine Power. He renounces all responsibilities towards the good or bad consequences of all his actions and ascribes it to the will of the Supreme.

Devotion and faith play a vital role in this branch of yoga. The devotee or bhakta is supposed to be highly religious, should adopt a friendly stance towards all the other living beings including animals, read religious texts, concentrate on the symbol of the Divine, think and wish well for others etc. The beauty of this yoga lies in its simplicity. This has made it one of the most appealing of all the yoga types. Following this yoga develops the peace of mind in an individual. A peaceful individual will always think happy and prosperous thoughts and will thus lead a happy life.

About The Author

Sharon Hopkins is the webmaster of Yogawiz (www.yogawiz.com) that provides loads of information on basics of yoga, the need to do yoga and health benefits. Bhakti yoga is a devotional branch of yoga which teaches a person to ascribe all the events in his life to Divine Will.

Ease Into Ashtanga - Introduction to the Lessons

As I continue to find information regarding types of Yoga I stumbled on to this video on Ashtanga Yoga. This is a very good introduction to Ashtanga and would be a great way to begin your workouts. Ashtanga Yoga is a yoga system created by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois at the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute in Mysore, India. This method of Yoga involves synchronizing the breath with progressive series of postures—a process producing intense internal heat and a profuse, purifying sweat that detoxifies muscles and organs. The result is improved circulation, a light and strong body, and a calm mind.

Understanding the Different Types of Yoga

Yoga is becoming a more and more popular activity in the Western world today. The number of places holding Yoga classes is on the increase and there is a plethora of different types of Yoga. With a choice of Hatha Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga, Power Yoga, Iyengar Yoga, Bikram Yoga, Vinyasa Yoga and many more it can be easy to get confused

The article will help you to understand the difference between the most popular types of Yoga so you can choose which type is right for you.

Hatha Yoga - in Sanskrit (an ancient classical language of India) “Ha” means “sun” and “tha” means “moon”. This type of Yoga is relatively slow paced, gentle type of Yoga and is a good place to start if you are completely new to Yoga and don't know any of the asanas (poses). Like all types of Yoga, Hatha Yoga aims to unite the mind, body and spirit.

Ashtanga Yoga - this is the type of Yoga that I practice on a regular basis and means “eight limbs” in Sanskrit. It's a fast moving, intense style of Yoga practice and is based on a progressive set sequence of asanas, synchronized with the breath. Ashtanga Yoga can be quite physically demanding as you constantly move from one asana in the sequence to the next, so you'll find that it will improve your stamina as well as your flexibility and strength..

Power Yoga - this is a western interpretation of Yoga and is based on Ashtanga Yoga. A Power Yoga class may not necessarily stick to the exact sequence of poses like Ashtanga Yoga does, but it does involve practicing a series of poses without stopping and starting.

Iyengar Yoga - This type of Yoga is based on teachings by B.K.S Igengar and concentrates on the correct alignment and form of the body. Unlike Ashtanga Yoga, there is an emphasis on holding each pose for a long period of time rather than moving constantly from one pose to the next. Iyengar Yoga uses props such as blocks and straps to help align the body into the different poses.

Vinyasa Yoga - Vinyasa means breath synchronized movement and is another fast paced type of Yoga, with an emphasis on breathing. A practice typically starts with sun salutations and moves on to more intense stretching. Throughout the practice each pose is balanced with a counter pose.

Bikram Yoga - otherwise known as “Hot Yoga”, is practiced in a room heated to 105 degrees, with a humidity of around 40%. Generally a sequence of 26 different poses is practiced during a Bikram Yoga class and the hot temperature helps to loosen muscles. Due to the high temperature most people sweat a lot during the class and this helps to cleanse the body of toxins.

If you're just starting out or have never done any Yoga before, I recommend trying a few different types of yoga to find out what you like best.

Remember, there's no rule that says you have to stick to one type of Yoga. I like Ashtanga Yoga best, but I also go to occasional Iyengar and Hatha Yoga classes for a bit of variety.

To find out more about the different types of Yoga visit the Free online Yoga Guide

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