Tag Archives: hatha yoga

Standing up against those who say that yoga is a religion

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Some people think yoga is a religion (or has religious overtones) and won’t give it a go as a result. I’ve seen churches kick classes out of their halls and community centres when they realise there are yoga classes happening under their roof.

This is a real shame because people could miss out on yoga’s physical benefits if they listen to these ill-informed views.

That said, although yoga is definitely not a religion, it is a way of life for many people. For them it includes elements beyond the exercises and breathing techniques we focus on in yoga classes. These other elements are probably the ones that wrongly create the religious perceptions and concerns.

yoga is a religion
photo credit: leo.prie.to via photo pin cc

There are eight elements to yoga. In most western classes, or modern interpretations of yoga, we take part mainly in the third, fourth and fifth elements.

These are the eight elements of yoga:

Yama

This means restraint. Yoga is about restraint from unhealthy actions such as cheating, stealing, and violence.

Niyama

Niyama means observance, or being content, pure, tolerant, remembering and studious.

Asana

Asanas are the exercises that most people recognise yoga for. The poses have names such as warrior 2, downward facing dog, frog, tree and teachers will often use their Sanskrit names like Utanasana.

Pranayama

Pranayama are breathing techniques such the complete yoga breath.

Pratyahara

This is the moment before meditation begins, effectively preparation for meditation. It means the withdrawal of the mind from the senses.

Dharana

Dharana is concentrating on one object for a length of time.

Dhyana

This is meditation, the other yoga element that most people recognise. It involves the ability to create an image of an object, place or person and becoming immersed in that image. Or it could simply be clearing the mind of all thoughts.

Samadhi

Finally samadhi is realising your own nature, or becoming more self-aware.

I do not believe that any of these elements would be at odds with any religion a person may have. They are life choices in the same way as following a certain type of diet, or committing to an exercise routine agreed with a personal trainer.

It’s a different way of looking at yourself and the world. These elements can improve quality of life, regardless of your race, religion or profession. And of course you can find classes involving only the exercise element and nothing else – or classes that embrace all 8 elements. It’s up to you.

yoga is a religion

For me personally, yoga means stress reduction, better sleeping, better posture, greater flexibility and muscle tone, improved energy levels and other things I have written about in earlier yoga posts. Wouldn’t it be a shame to miss out on this simply for fear that yoga is a religion?

Perhaps those who peddle the myth, or those who close down community classes don’t really understand what yoga is about. If they put their prejudices aside and tried to understand it for what it really is then they might find that their main excuse for avoiding it is not an excuse at all.

Over to you: This is a tricky subject. I know some will disagree with my view. Some might take a deeper spiritual view of some of the elements but I still don’t think that makes those that claim yoga is a religion right. What do you think? Leave a comment. Share your thoughts. Let me know.

Update: Since I wrote this blog the UK press published an example of Catholic church banning a yoga class based upon it’s incorrect view that yoga is a religion. Madness.

yoga is a religion
Click on the photo to go to the article.

 

Seven styles of Yoga you’ll find in UK Clubs, Community Centres and Private Studios – which is right for you?

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If you are thinking of trying Yoga you might be a little confused about all the different styles. On timetables in clubs you’ll see titles like Hatha, Ashtanga, and Vinyasa. On posters in community centres and private studios there’ll be words like Bikram and Ivengar.

The good news is that all of them are good for you. Doing any form of yoga tones and strengthens your body and can refresh your mind. You may find that it helps lower stress levels and improves your flexibility.

Yoga is about 5,000 years old and even though there are many different styles, all based on the same poses, each style has a different focus. Here then is a description of seven styles of Yoga you’ll find in UK Clubs, community centres, church halls and private studios.

Hatha Yoga: In actual fact most styles of Yoga have developed from Hatha Yoga, but if you see this style on a class timetable you can expect a gentle pace and a focus on breathing and maybe a little mediation and relaxation. It’s not too strenuous or difficult and as such is a great style for beginners.

seven styles of yoga
photo credit: gbSk via photo pin cc

Vinyasa Yoga: Expect to be constantly on the move and flowing directly from one pose into the next. You match breath to the flow of poses so you will find yourself inhaling in one position and exhaling in another. There may be more of a focus on the “sun salutation” here – 12 or more poses linked together into one sequence. More strenuous than Hatha Yoga you might find that this increases your stamina.

Ashtanga Yoga: In this style you’ll explore more of the “8 elements of Yoga” than the pose and breathing elements of the previous two. The pace is quite fast and there are many push-ups (the fabulously named Chaturanga Dandasana). This is definitely for fitter people looking to strengthen their bodies and improve their flexibility, but it can also allow you to get in touch with your spiritual side if you so wish. Ashtanga usually follows the same set of moves in every practice so you will know what to expect every time.

Power Yoga: This style is a modernised form of Ashtanga and can be just as tough if not more so. The main difference is that the teacher will follow different sequences in each class which means that there will be more variety of exercise. There may also be less or no emphasis on the more spiritual elements of Yoga here as well.

seven styles of yoga
photo credit: gbSk via photo pin cc

Iyengar Yoga: The emphasis here is on bodily alignment and precision in the poses. Expect to use blocks, straps and even towels to help achieve the moves which are often held for long periods of time. This is another good style of Yoga for beginners precisely because of the focus on technique. And you’ll explore some of the other “8 elements” as well.

Bikram Yoga: Practiced in a very hot room heated to between 95 to 100 degrees F, expect to sweat buckets and flush toxins out of your body. The heat can help ease tight muscles. If you want to push yourself then this is a good class for beginners and experts. As with Ashtanga the sequence of exercises is always the same – in this case 26 poses over the course of 90 minutes.

Hot Yoga: Similar to Bikram expect that as in Power Yoga the teacher will vary the poses and the routine in each class.

Of course nothing is totally set in stone and some teachers might mix styles. You could see a class called Power Vinyasa Yoga for example.

Over to you: If you are thinking of trying Yoga which of these styles appeals. If you already practice, which do you prefer? Are there any styles that I have missed that you enjoy practicing? Please leave a comment or a link to your favourite.h

What is the difference between Yoga and Body Balance?

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In a Yoga class you might do an pose (exercise) called Warrior 2. In Body Balance you could be asked to perform the same move. You may see Yoga classes and Body Balance classes appear on the timetable in the same fitness club. So what is the difference between Yoga and Body Balance?

Crucially Body Balance is an exercise to music class based upon moves from Yoga, T’ai Chi and Pilates. Les Mills, the New Zealand based fitness giant behind the programme describes Body Balance as follows:

BODYBALANCE™ is the yoga, t’ai chi and Pilates workout that builds flexibility and strength, and leaves you feeling centred and calm.

And the exercises are often modified from the originals to make them more achievable for people of all ages and abilities.

In a Yoga class your teacher may play music but it will be very much in the background rather than a focus for your attention. In Body Balance the exercises are specifically choreographed to the music. So you might perform the Warrior 2 move during the verse of a well known song and then move into a different pose during the chorus.

Les Mills launch a new class structure every 3 months with new moves and a whole new play list of great songs.

difference between yoga and body balance
Poster for Body Balance release 58 – launching September 2012

Depending upon the style of yoga the class might embrace more of the “8 Elements of Yoga” rather than simply the exercises and the breathing awareness you will focus on in Body Balance. In Yoga there is much more to explore and for some people it can become a way of life (although others will not consider these other elements).

Sometimes, unfortunately, people can be put off Yoga because they have heard it has religious overtones (it doesn’t), or that it is about chanting and spirituality (it can be but it doesn’t have to be). Body Balance focusses entirely on Yoga based exercises and leaves out all the rest.

As a teacher of both, I have found that that Body Balance has more general appeal initially but can provide a great introduction to Yoga. Both can provide similar physical and health benefits such as greater strength, more flexibility and muscle stretch.

Many people go on from Body Balance classes to find they enjoy the “full” Yoga experience even more.

Over to you: Which do you prefer, Yoga or Body Balance? What elements of each do you prefer? Please share your thoughts and leave a comment below.

Find out more about here – What is a Body Balance class?

Find answers beginner’s Yoga questions by clicking here..

Which is hotter – Bikram Yoga versus Hot Yoga?

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Do you sweat a lot when you exercise? Me too. I sweat so much it pours out of my head like water from a tap.

That’s why I often wear a bandana when I teach. It’s not an image thing so not because I think bandana’s look cool. Just that wearing one soaks up the moisture and stops me spraying the front row participants.

Sweating like a river is almost guaranteed in Bikram Yoga and Hot Yoga – two styles I am often asked about. I studied a little about Bikram when I trained but I have only tried it once. Until recently neither styles were available in Edinburgh anyway.

So what are they and what is the difference? Well they are quite similar but they are not the same

Bikram Yoga versus Hot Yoga?

Bikram Yoga was founded by Bikram Choudhury, a yogi who has caused controversy by trying to copyright his style of yoga. This has annoyed traditionalists because they argue you can’t copyright poses that are thousands of years old. In fairness to Bikram, the aim was to copy protect his  “sequence” of poses rather than the poses themselves.

(Is this fair? Well you cannot copyright the individual words; “Mash”, “For”, “Smash”, and “Get”. But one maker of instant mash potato copyrighted the marketing strap line, “For Mash Get Smash”. Is that the same sort of thing?)

Bikram teachers have to be certified to teach the 26 pose sequence in a  special room heated to 105 degrees F with a humidity factor of 40%. This is key because it means that any Bikram Yoga class you go to anywhere in the world will always be exactly the same taught by Bikram graduates. It’s consistent and you know what to expect.

Hot Yoga is similar with a studio heated to between 94F and 105F. It’s different because the teachers will vary the selection of poses from class to class. It could vary between a gentle sequence and a harder, more energetic one.

Both styles promise the following:

“Improved sleep, reduced stress, glowing skin, lubricated joints, better blood pressure, weight improvements, improved mental clarity, better lung capacity, enhanced physical performance, toned and stretched muscles, better flexibility and chronic pain relief.”

In other words all the usual great yoga benefits with the added advantage of lots of sweating.

Before I tried Bikram I wondered how they stop the room turning into a lake with people sliding all around, or slipping into the splits unexpectedly. You need to be armed with a sticky mat, a yoga towel to cover the mat to soak up your juice, and a hand towel to mop down your “glowing” skin. I personally also needed an industrial strength bandana to boost absorption. Even the best yoga towel can become a swamp after 90 minutes of Bikram.

bikram yoga versus hot yoga

Now that both styles have come to Edinburgh I’ll certainly give them another try. My one experience was invigorating and very damp, though I felt faint at one point so drink gallons before class.

Which is better? I guess that comes down to whether you want variety or consistency. Which is hotter? Hot Yoga rooms might be slightly cooler but what’s a few degrees F when streams of sweat are oozing out of every pore of your body?

Over to you: Have you tried either of these classes? What was your overall experience? Have you a preference? Bikram Yoga versus Hot Yoga? Is the hot room an attraction or not? Please tell me your stories and share your experiences below.