What is Yoga?

What is Yoga?

Yoga is an age-old art, science, philosophy and discipline. The Yoga tradition

encourages one to live their lives responsibly and with devotion to the divine

(whatever that means to you). Yoga is not a religion but it can help you

deepen any spiritual path you may be on. Yoga does not require you to have

a spiritual path. Yoga asks you to live with awareness, integrity, and

compassion for all creation.

What is Hatha Yoga?

Hatha (ha-ta) Yoga asks that we commit to a daily practice that involves

ethical behavior, physical postures, breathing exercises and other practices

(8 limbs of Yoga). The physical postures of Hatha Yoga helps us to observe,

explore, balance, and integrate the body/mind with the breath. Through

the practice of the physical postures health is restored and maintained, the

emotions are stabilized and the mind becomes more peaceful.

What is Iyengar Yoga?

Iyengar Yoga is a method of Hatha Yoga developed over a period of over

60 years by Mr. B.K.S Iyengar of Pune, India. Iyengar’s teachings are

deeply grounded in the ancient yoga tradition. His own experience

practicing and teaching has produced some significant improvements and

the principles of Iyengar Yoga are compatible with the modern science of

physical therapy. Iyengar Yoga combines classical Yoga traditions with

innovative approaches including:

-An emphasis on the standing poses to build strength, stamina, stability,

balance, and correct body alignment

-Using props such as walls, blocks, straps, bolsters, chairs, blankets, sand

bags (weights) and other items to facilitate learning and to increase the

accessibility of the poses

-Specific sequencing of the poses

-Holding the poses longer

-Careful, individual adjustments

Iyengar Yoga places special focus on developing strength, endurance, and

correct body alignment while maintaining flexibility and encouraging relaxation.

Iyengar Yoga is meditation in action; the self is explored through discovery

and release of physical tension patterns and psychological resistances. Iyengar

Yoga places no emphasis on goals but rather encourages students to finely

tune the manner in which they move. The focused concentration that is

required to observe your body allows you to take your attention inward,

bringing quietness and integration to the mind/body. Iyengar Yoga encourages

the weaker parts to strengthen and stiffer areas to stretch. Practiced correctly

Iyengar Yoga can often help alleviate many physical conditions. Practicing

Iyengar Yoga has helped many students relieve pain from chronic tension, lower

back problems, sciatica, scoliosis, bursitis, knee injuries, and other aliments

including ones that are psychological in nature. Your self-image, posture,

flexibility and coordination can be enhanced and you may be relieved from

depression or fatigue while experiencing greater concentration and more

enjoyment out of life.

In Yoga, you start from where you are and go from there.