Yoga is "Unity"

Experienced Yoga practitioners often feel discouraged when a naturally gifted dancer, gymnast, or martial artist, performs an advanced asana with little effort. As I have mentioned before, there are people with elongated joint capsules and their extraordinary range of motion is a gift. You and I may have to work at it, but the many rewards of Yoga practice are still there.

Yoga and Low Carb Diets

Yoga is an ancient system of movement designed to generate vibrant health and well being. Excellent health and well being are experienced in the results of a yoga practice such as: stress reduction, increased energy and awareness, increased flexibility, focused mind and strong body. In our modern world there are so many types of yoga to choose from that it can be confusing and difficult to start a yoga program. Do you have to practice postures(asanas) in a hot room for an hour and a half in order to enjoy the benefits of this ancient art? And, is it necessary to execute postures under strict guidelines created for East Indian bodies and minds? As a yoga instructor my answer would be no. A successful yoga practice supports the goals of the practitioner without rigidity.

Important Facts About Yoga Teacher Training Online

Yoga teacher training online allows yoga teachers to complete different yoga certification courses on their own schedule and at their own pace. While online classes are not designed to replace the importance of traditional classes, online training can serve as non-contact hours for different certification programs including the Yoga Alliance certification and the American Council on Exercise Certification.

How To Choose Online Yoga Certification Programs

Yoga is one of the most popular, fastest-growing activities in the world. This is because yoga practice offers a wide range of physical, psychological and emotional benefits. Because it is such a fast-growing activity, yoga teachers are very in-demand. There are many folks who are looking to take advantage of this demand by becoming yoga teachers. The only way to do this is to go through the proper training. There are lots of different training options available, but some of the most economical and convenient training options are online yoga certification programs.

Health Benefits of Yoga: Simply Fantastic

Some people avoid Yoga because they think it is only for people who are athletic, strong, young and flexible. This could not be further from the truth. There is no doubt that Yoga is a unique type of exercise, however people who regularly practice Yoga enjoy many health and fitness benefits. If you are avoiding Yoga, you are actually missing out on benefiting your body, your spirit and your mind. Read this article to learn about how Yoga can be beneficial to your life.

Insight Into the Benefits of Power Yoga

Yoga provides lasting transformation and instant gratification - both of which are very important in the fitness world. Physical exercise that is monotonous can often be discouraging and can lead to stagnation. Yoga, however, can help to change your mental and physical capacity at a faster rate and can help to prepare your body and mind for health that will last long-term. Yoga can be practiced by people of all ages and this is considered a major advantage of Yoga. Yoga helps to improve your overall health and fitness while helping to relive stress. Yoga helps to get you more focused by un-cluttering your mind.

Benefits of Becoming a Yoga Teacher

Yoga has gained in popularity all over the globe, thanks to the many benefits that it has. As the demand for yoga increases, the need for good yoga teachers has also increased. It is no surprise that many consider it to be one of the best ways to rejuvenate your body and mind. Just as there are benefits for practicing Yoga, there are benefits to becoming a teacher of yoga. In this article, we will discuss about the various benefits that a person can acquire by becoming a teacher of Yoga.

Tips and Information for Getting Started With Yoga

I guess that if you are reading this, you have not been "too" intimidated by pictures of people smilingly contorting themselves into seemingly impossible, and possibly painful, positions. Apparently, you also have at least a somewhat open mind about "alternative" ways to exercise, improve health, and (dare I say the word, "meditate") learn a method of relaxation and focus that seems a little... well... weird!

Yoga - The Art of Living

"Yoga" is a very popular word all over the world. People usually practice yoga not only with the intention to defend against the diseases but to know the spiritual world which will provide the ultimate peace, prosperity in life. The Yoga is an ancient spiritual form collected from earliest Indian manuscripts called Vedas. At that time Yoga was limited to the Rishis and Munis. And after that, the mantras and its applications were passed from generation to generation by word of mouth. In Patanjali, the Yoga Sutra was written for the first time. And through Yoga Sutra the philosophy behind Yoga was recognized. Yoga means spiritual discipline. In Hinduism, Buddhism and in Jainism the spiritual discipline is being performed till now through some different religious positions.

What Is Yoga?

Yoga is a Indian system for the practice of breathing technique, postures and moral precepts.
The purpose of yoga is to achieve Samadhi (The highest state), which is a form of salvation or redemption for yoga practitioner. The Indian mystic Patanjali defines Yoga Sutras Yoga thus: "Yoga is control of thought waves in the mind."
Yoga means to "reconcile" and providers have the following philosophies:
In yoga you work to reconcile and create harmony between body and mind.

What Type of Yoga Is The Best?

When yoga first emerged in the United States, people wondered if it would just be a fad. Now, there is no question that it works and is here to stay. In fact, the curiosity seems to be, which yoga style is best? Many people base their choice of yoga on what seems more like their type of class. Have you stopped to consider, what is truly your type? We make those choices about cars, houses, companions, and then later, we discover new preferences. When choosing yoga, it is true that each style offers something unique and it is rewarding to explore what each has to offer. If your needs match the style you are taking, then you will most likely stick with it. However, if you look to a style of yoga that does not offer what would bring you more balance in your life, then you might conclude that it wasn't your thing or that the teacher wasn't good. To know your type, is in itself an exercise in yoga, revealing your True Self.

Top 7 Tips To Increase Your Yoga Teacher Income

Making a decent living from teaching yoga classes is extremely difficult unless you have 5 or more full classes each week. Promoting your other services and selling products will help increase your income.
Here are seven tips on how to increase yoga teacher income...

Yoga for Depression - Does It Work?

Consult with your doctor before stopping any medication that you are currently on. Some medications are necessary for your well-being. This article is not a substitute for medical advice.
Yoga's Role in Helping with Depression and Anxiety

3 Ethical Steps to Building Your Yoga Business

Just last October I received a call from the BBC. It was about the business side of Yoga. The question was, 'Should Yoga be marketed like a regular business? If so, should Yoga teachers have marketing education, that will help them increase their profits in Yoga business?'

Myths and Facts About the Benefits of Yoga

An ancient exercise yoga naturally provides several health benefits and without any costly equipment. If you put Yoga into your daily routine, it is surely going to give great results to you with natural health and many other benefits like peaceful mind, great body and high spirit. However, to get the greatest of benefits of yoga you must practice yoga daily.

What Is the Most Important Yoga Accessory?

Yoga is getting more and more popular. Over 11 millions Americans are enjoying it's health benefits. Do you wonder what should be the first yoga accessory you should purchase when starting your yoga class? It is a yoga mat. The mat is an essential yoga accessory. Yoga clothing changes of style, of fashion but yoga mats are the most valuable yoga accessories you will need. If you take care of it, you will keep it for a very long time. The investment is worth. Yoga is physical art that you could practice on almost any type of surface. Often in yoga classes you will find wood floors or cement. These surfaces are hard and your yoga mat will provide some comfort.

Introduction to Yoga in All Its Forms

Yoga Citta Vritti-Nirodhah - Yoga is the stilling of the mind Lake. Only when the Lake is Still and Calm can the beautiful jewel lying deep below be seen in all its glory. The jewel being the Atman or Pure Self. The Real You without the Mask.

How to Get Fit and Stay Fit With Yoga

Can Yoga really help you get fit and maintain fitness? People who practice Yoga regularly already know the answer to that, but those who have not yet discovered the benefits of Yoga may need a little convincing. Many people have it engrained in their minds that they have to jog, spin, stair climb, and crunch their way into shape. While this is all good, it is not necessary to torture yourself in order to lose weight and get fit.

Know the Benefits of Yoga

Yoga is likely one of the the majority primary must retain system stricken and fit. That is likewise extreme and potent treatment to different eternal illnesses. Performing yoga with standard groundwork is rated to rejuvenate overall fantastic thing about figure. Plenty yoga performers have outstanding wellbeing and fitness enhancement principally with regards to removal in quite a few ailments which don't own hard medical answer. There are many infirmities which don't experience everlasting therapy in medicinal answer, however through yoga, they may be cured effectively.

Successful Yoga At Home

Yoga has unbelievable benefits on your body and soul. If you wish to practice yoga at home, here are some tips to make your at-home yoga workout effective and successful.

Beginning a Yoga Class

The word 'yoga' means 'union' - uniting every part of ourselves - so we can feel inner peace. Celebrities such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Anniston, Meg Ryan and Cameron Diaz swear by yoga to help them focus, lose weight or stop smoking.
What's your motivation for starting yoga classes?

Yoga and Pregnancy - A Great Combination

Health Benefits of Yoga During Pregnancy
There are numerous health benefits of yoga for every individual, but yoga during pregnancy is even more important. Women have great hormonal, biological and anatomical changes throughout pregnancy that might bring about unwanted problems. Pregnancy may also make women feel trapped, insecure and unsure of the outcome of the pregnancy. All of this may cause significant physical and mental distress. But practicing yoga while pregnant, with appropriate modifications and support from their health care professional, can help women discover much needed comfort, not just through minimizing anxiousness and instilling peacefulness, but also in strengthening the body and releasing tightness in the hips in preparation for birth and also by increasing oxygen and energy. A great deal of information is available on the Internet and can also be found on a yoga DVD about pregnancy.

Different Types of Yoga/Dosha Formed By Moon in Astrology

The Moon is the lord of sign Cancer, significator of fourth house and mother, represents our deepest personal needs and our subconscious mind. It is a universal feminine energy representing protection, responsiveness and nourishment in our life.
Imagination, character, religious acts and mental capacity are indicated by Moon. Blood, uterus, menses, stomach, urinal and breasts are influenced by the strength of Moon in the chart.

Yoga for Beginners - What You Need to Know for a Successful Practice

Beginning a Yoga Practice to Get Maximum Health Benefits of Yoga
If you are just beginning to learn about yoga, you may be unsure about many things. You may be asking the question, "What exactly is yoga, how do I begin and what will it do for me?"

Will Online Yoga Videos Replace Yoga DVDs?

Although people have been doing yoga for many (thousands of) years, the techniques of how you learn it have changed. Yoga DVD's were once very popular, and although they are still as popular as ever, a new form of yoga teaching has emerged. People are now using online yoga videos to learn this amazing relaxation program. Although you may think this can be very difficult, it is proving to be very popular and more people are logging on to learn the latest moves and techniques.

Yoga - An Alternative Exercise

Yoga was first experimented with in the US in the 1960's and has steadily grown in popularity since. Approximately 30 million Americans practice Hatha yoga. Like many of the other alternative medicines, yoga promotes a whole-body approach to health and exercise. Unlike traditional medical practices yoga is a physical and mental discipline that uses posture-related techniques that involve gentle stretching, breath control and meditation. As patients delve more and more into the alternative medicine fields to cure their health problems the followers of acupuncture, chiropractic, meditation and yoga are growing at a rapid speed.

I'm Too Old and Stiff to Do Yoga - You Are Never Too Old to Do Yoga!

The media usually portrays a yoga practitioner as a very thin and flexible 20-something with her foot behind her head and an angelic smile on her face. No wonder many people think they cannot do yoga! Yoga helps you become more flexible and can even stop or reverse the aging process. We can't promise you will ever look like that model on the magazine cover, but we can promise you will feel better when you practice yoga.

Fitness Mantra for Your Mind, Body and Soul - Ashtanga Yoga!

How are you maintaining a balance with the fast paced world? Do you sometimes feel tired of life? Do you want to strengthen your body so that it can withstand the daily pressures of life? Are you sick of the daily exercises which are boring and which actually you want to avoid every morning? If your answer is a 'yes', then read on. And if it is a 'no', then I must say, there is something special for you too.

Understand Yoga - Let's Clear Up Some Popular Misunderstandings

Understand Yoga - Let's clear up some popular misunderstandings.
Yoga is a very well known form of physical exercise and mental discipline, but a lot of people don't understand Yoga and what is involved. This is not surprising when you look at the amazing popularity of Yoga as a discipline and the multitude of variations that Yoga has. Often people try out one type of Yoga only, and so they will base their overall opinion of Yoga on what they have experienced. This can be likened to people basing their knowledge of an issue in the world solely from the TV news - when the angle taken by the news organization has exaggerated the truth. The truth is that Yoga can be many things to many people especially in light of its commercialization, and so who teaches them and how they learn will naturally color how they understand Yoga.

Ways to Get a Whole Household Interested in Yoga

As a parent, or even as a child, Yoga is an ideal practice to share with your family. However given the shortage of time and constant pressures on family members to fulfil school, work and social commitment it is quite challenging to find ways to encourage your family to participate in yoga.

5 Steps to a Deeper, More Connected Yoga Practice

People do yoga for many reasons.  It is a practice that is for people of all temperaments and constitutions.  There is a yoga practice for everyone, from the paraplegic to the tri-athlete.  No matter what ails you or how active you are, you can do yoga.  Most yoga taught today comes from the physical fitness angle.  This is not bad.  It is important to have a physically demanding practice of some sort to keep the body in shape.  If you are using yoga as such a practice, great, but don't sell yourself short and neglect the other, more subtle beneficial aspects of yoga. 

Free Lessons, Lectures Highlight National Yoga Month

"NaYoMo" might seem like a word from another language to many people, but to yoga enthusiasts, it's music to their ears.
NaYoMo, for those who are unfamiliar, is short National Yoga Month which occurs every September and celebrates the practice, making it a perfect occasion for those interested in yoga to discover the benefits of the practice.

Have You Been to the Edmonton Yoga Loft?

The Edmonton Yoga Loft is perhaps one of the best Yoga studios in Edmonton. If you are searching for a great Yoga studio in Edmonton, the Yoga Loft ought to be your primary choice.
When the this studio originally opened its doors, it was strictly an Ashtanga Yoga studio. Since then, the Yoga Loft has currently added Sattva Yoga, which consists of a wide array of Hatha sequences. Some people may not like how they only offer a bit, but in my mind, I think it's about quality over quantity. You will definitely find quality. That's why it has the reputation that it does.

Private Yoga Lessons

What are Private Yoga Lessons?
Private Yoga lessons can be either one on one yoga lessons or with a small groups of up to five people. Having a one on one lesson can benefit your yoga practice immensely.
Traditionally yoga was always taught one on one however as a more cost effective measure for yoga students through group sessions, they have become the normal expected practice. You can now expect for yoga classes to have 15 to 20 students with some city classes containing 30 or more.

Yoga Teacher Training Courses in Kathmandu Rather Than India

Yoga Teacher Training Courses
For years thousands of yoga practitioners have travelled to South Asia to practice in Ashrams, develop their yoga at intensive workshops or ultimately become qualified yoga teachers on one of the many Yoga Alliance certified yoga teacher training courses India has to offer. More and more yoga companies are launching YA certified yoga courses in Varanasi and other spiritual surroundings around India.

Common Styles of Hatha Yoga

Yoga is an important component of my healthy lifestyle. For me, a balanced healthy diet is about more than just what I eat and includes all aspects of my life. If you are interested in giving yoga a try, keep in mind that yoga, like healthy eating, is not one size fits all. There are many different styles of hatha yoga being taught today from slow, gentle, and alignment-focused to fast, flowing, and athletically-challenging with everything in between. Some styles of yoga consist of doing the same series or sequence of postures every time; others offer classes that are always different.

Yoga Poses For Beginners - Get Your Mind and Body in Balance

Yoga is not just a recent fad, it has been practiced in different cultures for centuries and up to the present, yoga students all over the world are benefiting from it.
One reason that Yoga is so popular is that Yoga poses for beginners are very easy to learn, even if you have never taken a Yoga class before.

Is Yoga Enough to Help You Lose Weight?

Yoga seems to be the newest fitness craze with more people signing up for yoga classes than ever before. While yoga may be a great way to tone your muscles and work on your core strength, you may be surprised to know that yoga won't necessarily help you lose weight. If you're hoping to find some weight loss motivation by turning to yoga, then you might want to heavily consider the type of yoga that you are about to sign up for. The fact of the matter is that most kinds of yoga don't allow your heart rate to speed up enough in order to lose weight. Further, strength training and cardiovascular workouts must be added to any yoga routine in order to drop a few pounds.

Finding Your Yoga Niche

In the late 19th century, Yoga was introduced to the Western World by India and since then has gone through many adaptations. Now, Yoga is practiced in five basic ways.

The Benefits of Doing Yoga

Yoga is often considered not much of a workout and a waste of time, but it is really one of the most important workouts you can do. Yoga has many benefits for your body, both physically and mentally. Men often especially hate yoga because believe it is only for women. People also dislike yoga because it's too long, boring, and However, doing yoga is very important for anyone involved in fitness.

Tips For Starting Out on Yoga Training Sessions

Yoga exercise, in their various styles, aim at a perfect collaborative functioning of the body, spirit and mind of any individual. It helps students to absolve the risks of common health hazards that can easily make an appearance. Being therapeutic in nature, yoga provides long term solutions to many potential health problems. These techniques also help one to achieve inner peace and emotional stability.

Yoga - Creating a Comfortable Practice

Yoga is becoming more and more popular here in the western hemisphere and rightfully so. When yoga is done correctly with centering, breath work, asana, and final relaxation otherwise known and Sivasana, we learn to relax and let go of stress as well as tone and stretch our muscles, loosen and make space in our joints, and create a more healthy body and mind. Through the physical practice of yoga, or asana, coupled with conscious breathing, we learn to be less reactive and more deliberate and aware of our actions. The more diligent the practitioner is about their practice the more they are able to bring the discipline and principles they learn on the yoga mat, into their daily lives.

Yoga Blankets

What is a yoga blanket? Who can use a yoga blanket? Or at least, that is what you might be thinking when confronted with the option to purchase one. A yoga blanket is an important yoga prop, that many people have long forgotten during their yoga lessons. Despite the fact that they make a very versatile prop for yoga; many people don't seem to realize the need for one. That is, until they are caught un-prepared during a weekly lesson. A yoga blanket can be used for many different poses, as well as the meditation before and afterward. Helping to make it one of the highest priority yoga props around.

Yoga Bags and Totes

Have you been struggling with your yoga equipment? Tired of dropping your mat in the snow or on the ground, just before your lesson? There is a yoga bag for everyone! From yoga bags meant to help carry your mat, all the way to an extra pair of clothes. It is a good idea to keep your yoga items organized! While your standard duffel bag may work for a while, they can be bulky and make it difficult to find all of your yoga essentials. For this reason, manufacturers have made a bag specifically for yoga practitioners!

When Does One Become A Yoga Teacher?

When you teach a friend, co-worker, or family member, one Yoga technique, you have taken the first step toward becoming a Yoga teacher. This is the traditional way Yoga was initially taught before Hatha Yoga classes became such a "magnet" to the public. Large Yoga classes are not a bad thing, but it is easy to forget the way Yoga was taught for centuries.
Now, let's fast forward into the 21st century. Today, we have access to instant information. You can learn Yoga from television, the Internet, books, DVD's, MP3's, CD's and e-Books. It would seem anyone who wants to become a Yoga teacher has all the tools, at hand, to pursue his or her dream of teaching Yoga.

Yoga Teacher Retention Tips

How can Yoga teachers make new students realize the value of long-term training? Is it just luck, or where you are located, that draws appreciative Yoga students? Is there a method for teaching Yoga to new students, without scaring them off? Let's look at many solutions to keep the interest of your established Yoga students and those new Yoga students, who just walked in the door.
When a new student arrives to learn Yoga, he, or she, may not have any previous Yoga experience. When teaching Yoga to new students, it is wise to see it from their viewpoint. Everything is new, including your staff, your system, and your method of teaching Yoga. It is up to the Yoga teacher to make of all these components "user friendly."

Yoga for Pain

Is Yoga really a cure for pain? What kind of Yoga teacher should you visit for pain management? What style of Yoga would be best, if you are constantly feeling pain? In which cases would Yoga not be advisable for students in severe pain? Let's look at some pain management solutions that Yoga has to offer.
Is Yoga really a cure for pain? Many Yoga students swear by the results they have received from regularly attending Yoga classes, two or three times per week. In truth, Yoga has its limits - just like any diet. Can you imagine if you were going to diet wisely once a week? You can imagine the results.

What is Yoga? Asana in the Context of the Six Yogas System

What Is Yoga?
Yoga is freedom. It is love. It is pure, radiant, unobstructed joy. It
is pure awareness, wide-awake and clear.
~ Richard Freeman, director of The Yoga Workshop, in Boulder, CO
Here in the United States, on the cusp of 2006, just about everyone has heard the word "yoga." For many if not most, the word conjures images of scantily-clad beings with expanding and twisting limbs: a well-worn "scene" in health clubs, retreat centers, and yoga spaces throughout the country. In other words, it brings to mind the practice of asana ~ sequences of physical movements and postures ~ which, as it turns out, represent just a tiny slice of the entire "pie" that is the Yoga Tradition(s) of the larger world (universe, cosmos). Now there's nothing wrong with the practice of asana (I do it myself, and find it quite wonderful!), but it might be useful to be able to place this particular aspect of yoga onto its larger "map" ~ to have a sense of the tradition(s) from which it arises and to which it returns, and to understand asana to be just one of many possible entry-points into this vast and beautiful territory. So let's explore ...

Five Reasons Why You Should Not be a Yoga Teacher

Truthfully, there are no reasons why any of us cannot be, or do, what we want, as long as you are not hurting anyone. You should always strive to be the best you can be. However, you may find that many people create obstacles, in front of themselves, to avoid success.
This is truly ironic that we hold ourselves back from making achievements, and teaching Yoga is just one of many goals that are not fully realized. Below is a list of common reasons why many good Yoga practitioners do not pursue their goal of becoming a Yoga instructor.

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.

Don't Be a Shmogi, Taking Yoga Back

From Shmoga Back to Yoga
I have some good news and I have some bad news. I'll start with the bad news. There has been an attempt to hijack and kidnap yoga from us. And now the good news, you can take it back. Many practitioners call themselves yogis or yoginis but they have taken the sacred practice of yoga and changed it to an inaccessible and inauthentic practice. They are who I call Shmogis(ginis), or phony yogis! Many of these Shmogis have tried to take yoga away from the masses by spreading myths about the practice and I want us to take yoga back.

Yoga Body, Yoga Spirit: Can We Have Both?

It's easy to understand why John Friend highly recommends the book Yoga Body: The Origins of Modern Posture Yoga "for all sincere students of yoga." Because, Mark Singleton's thesis is a well researched expose of how modern hatha yoga, or "posture practice," as he terms it, has changed within and after the practice left India.

Yoga for Beginners - Are You A Yoga Master? You Might Already Be One!

I have my own personal answers to the above questions and are they are within this article.
However you are here on this page because you may be searching for yoga instruction or searching for help with your stress relief, pain, anxiety or unhappiness. Or maybe the title perked your interest? So why not keep reading? Maybe you will learn something about you never knew before. I could go into yoga history here, but that's a whole other page, for now just read on to learn the basics or foundation every aspiring yoga student should be aware of.

Which Type of Yoga is Right For Me?

With the popularity of yoga rising throughout the western world, you have probably heard about it's healing powers by now. However, you still aren't sure exactly what kind of yoga may be right for your lifestyle. Chances are, you have probably asked everyone you know who practices yoga. While they may have a few suggestions, they may be bias in their decision making when it comes to which type of yoga you should choose.
Iit is fairly simple to find the right kind of yoga for you. Especially if you have all of the information there is to know about yoga. First and foremost you should try to consider why you are planning on entering the yoga lifestyle. Whether it was suggested to you from your doctor for medical treatment, or if it is a means for you to reconnect with a healthy lifestyle.

Yoga Videos - Find the Best Yoga Videos For You

Yoga videos are a great thing for anyone who wants to study and learn yoga in the comfort of their own home. In addition, many yoga videos are great for parents and children to do together. If you have thought about trying yoga, but you have not made the leap yet, then it's time to give yoga a try with yoga videos. If you are not completely sure, you can always check out a few yoga videos from your library; to find out if this is something that you would like to do. There are also kid's yoga videos, if you want to get your children involved - this would be an excellent option. Please keep in mind to ask your physician before starting any type of exercise plan (such as yoga).

Yoga - Origin and Background

Yoga is an age-old science made up of different disciplines of mind and body. It has originated in India 2500 years ago and is still effective in bringing overall health and well being to any person who does it regularly. The word yoga is based upon a Sanskrit verb Yuja. It means to connect, to culminate or to concur. It's the culmination of mind and body or the culmination of Jiva and Shiva (soul and the universal spirit). It's also a culmination of Purush and Prakriti (Yin and Yang).

Exploring the Different Types of Yoga

Yoga is generally understood as a process of unification. This unification is multifaceted. In one dimension, it is a unification of the various systems that exist within the human being including the emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual systems. In total there are believed to be five different systems within human life. These are typically referred to as the koshas which are the physical, energetic, mental, subtle, and bliss sheaths. In our current understanding of yoga, we are working to unify these five bodies or layers of the human being.   Another process of unification occurs between of the individual consciousness and the universal consciousness.

What is Yoga?

The word yoga is often interpreted as "union" or a method of discipline from the Sanskrit word "yuj" (to yoke or bind). A male practitioner is called a yogi, a female practitioner, a yogini.
The Postures ....
The contemporary western approach to yoga is not based on any particular belief or religion, however Yoga does has its roots in Hinduism and Brahmanism. Yoga was developed by seers or ascetics living primarily in the southern parts of India. The seers observed nature and lived as close as they could to the earth, studying the many aspects of nature, the animals and themselves. By observing and emulating the different postures and habits of the animal kingdom they were able to develop grace, strength and wisdom.

Ashram Yoga - The Spiritual Tradition of Yoga From Past to Present

The History of Yoga and its Growth, Change, and Development
Yoga began its emergence into civilization some 10,000 years ago through the Tantric tradition. Evidence of deities resembling Shiva and Parvati were found in the Indus Valley civilization after archaeologists began to excavate numerous statues from ancient city grounds, reminiscence of the 10,000 year old tradition. This was the yoga of the pre-Vedic, pre-Aryan age, in which the top the tradition flourished throughout various parts of India. Shiva being the central figure in a majority of these recovered statutes gives evidence to the historical doctrine that denotes Shiva as the founder of the yogic system.

Power Yoga And Powering It Up

Power yoga is sometimes known as the western version of Ashtanga Yoga which
brought by the Indians.
Beryl Bender Birch was the one who gave the term Power Yoga. He was a teacher of
Ashtanga Yoga and at the same time an author of Power Yoga.